According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa (SSA), in April this year South Africa's manufacturing output decreased by 49.4 percent compared to the same month of 2019.
In April, the production of basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery decreased by 65.4 percent on year-on-year basis. In the given month, the production of basic iron and steel products in South Africa declined by 82 percent, while the production of structural metal products was down by 85.1 percent, when compared to the same month of 2019. In April this year, the production of basic iron and steel products in South Africa was down by 82.4 percent, while the production of structural metal products in South Africa fell by 83.4 percent, both on month-on-month basis.
For basic iron and steel products, the estimated seasonally adjusted sales of basic iron and steel products (at current prices) in April this year decreased by 59.6 percent month on month, amounting to ZAR 3.55 billion ($210.74 million).