Johannesburg - South Africa's manufacturing production increased more than expected by 3.8% year-on-year in March after a revised 0.4% contraction in February, official figures showed on Tuesday.
Statistics South Africa said in a statement on month-on-month basis, factory output grew 1.2%, but contracted by 0.6% in the three months to March, compared with the previous three months.
The 3.8% year-on-year increase was mainly due to higher production in the following divisions:
* food and beverages (8.2% and contributing 1.9 percentage points);
* petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (5.5% and contributing 1.2 percentage points); and
* motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (13.3% and contributing 1.0 percentage point).
Six of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over the quarter to March, Stats SA said.
The largest negative contributions to the decrease of 0.6% were made by the following divisions:
* petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-2.6% and contributing -0.6 of a percentage point);
* radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment (-22.0% and contributing -0.4 of a percentage point); and
* wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-2.8% and contributing -0.4 of a percentage point).
Seasonally adjusted sales of manufactured products (at current prices) decreased by 3.1% (-R14 752m) in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014. The petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (-10,3% or -R11 901m) was mainly responsible for the decrease in total manufacturing sales.
- Source: Stats SA