According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa (SSA), in May this year South Africa's manufacturing output increased by one percent compared to the same month of 2018.
In May, the production of basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery decreased by 1.2 percent on year-on-year basis. In the given month, the production of basic iron and steel products in South Africa decreased by 5.8 percent, while the production of structural metal products was down by 1.9 percent, when compared to the same month of 2018. In May this year, the production of basic iron and steel products in South Africa decreased by 8.9 percent, while the production of structural metal products in South Africa was down by 9.6 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 May this year increased by 11 percent month on month, amounting to ZAR 11.79 billion ($844.70 million).