Manufacturing sector up 2,5% in October

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0.3% in the three months ended October compared with the previous three months.

The 2.5% y/y increase in manufacturing production was mainly due to higher production in petroleum‚ chemical products‚ rubber and plastic products (11.8% and contributing 2.7 percentage points); wood and wood products‚ paper‚ publishing and printing (10.6% and contributing 1.0 percentage point); furniture and "other" manufacturing groups (6.3% and contributing 0.3 of a percentage point); and radio‚ television and communication apparatus and professional equipment (6.9% and contributing 0.1 of a percentage point).

In terms of the 0.3% increase‚ five of the ten manufacturing divisions reported positive growth over this period.

The largest contributions were made by wood and wood products‚ paper‚ publishing and printing (7.5% and contributing 0.7 of a percentage point); petroleum‚ chemical products‚ rubber and plastic products (2.6% and contributing 0.7 of a percentage point); and basic iron and steel‚ non-ferrous metal products‚ metal products and machinery (2.9% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted sales of manufactured products (at current prices) increased by 0.8% (R3.2bn) in the three months ended October compared with the previous three months. Four of the ten manufacturing divisions reported positive growth rates over this period.