According to the data released on February 9 by Statistics South Africa, in 2011 the country's manufacturing output grew by 2.5 percent year on year, after a five percent rise in 2010 following a 13 percent slump in 2009.
The improvement was attributable to production of motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment, which increased 7.7 percent, and production of basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products, and machinery, which increased by 2.8 percent, both compared to 2010.
The seasonally adjusted manufacturing production of basic iron and steel products in the three-month period ended in December 31, 2011 increased by 19.8 percent compared to the previous three months ended September 30.
Meanwhile, for basic iron and steel products, the seasonally adjusted sales of manufactured products (at current prices) for the October-December 2011 period increased by 28.4 percent compared to the July-September 2011.