CAPE TOWN: Manufacturing production fell in April compared with a year ago, indicating a weak start to economic growth in the second quarter.
Manufacturing production decreased 2% year on year in April after increasing 4% year on year in March, a 0.3% year-on-year decline in February and a 2.4% contraction in January, Statistics SA data showed on Thursday. The decline in manufacturing output was not too surprising given the severe load shedding in April that disrupted production.
There was lower production in the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery; petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products; radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment; and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing manufacturing divisions.
The decline in manufacturing follows earlier data showing that growth in mining production slowed to 7.7% year on year from 19.5% year on year in March. Growth in mining production is supported more by the lower-base effect created last year by a strike at platinum mining than actual increases in production.
