According to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa, in November 2011 the countrys manufacturing output grew by 2.6 percent year-on-year, after a 1.2 percent year-on-year expansion recorded in October.
The improvement was attributable to the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division increasing production by 4.6 percent compared to November 2010, while the production of the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division shrunk by 12.6 percent year-on-year.
The seasonally adjusted manufacturing production of basic iron and steel products in the three months period ended in November 2011 increased by 6,8 percent compared to the previous three months ended August 2011.
Meanwhile, for the basic iron and steel products, the seasonally adjusted sales of manufactured products (at current prices) for the three months ended November 2011 increased by 15.7 percent compared to the previous three months ended August 2011.