Manufacturing down, gold shines in mining

Cape Town - Manufacturing production decreased by 2.5% in January 2016 compared with January 2015, Statistics SA said on Thursday.

The largest negative contributions were made by basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-10.2%); motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-11.6%); and furniture and "other" manufacturing (-19.3%).

The largest positive contributions were made by the wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing division (5.1%) and the radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment division (37.1%).

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 1.8% in January 2016 compared with December 2015. This followed month-on-month changes of 1.9% in December 2015 and -1.2% in November 2015.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 1.1% in the three months ended January 2016 compared with the previous three months. Seven of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

The main negative contributors to the 1.1% decrease were the food and beverages division (-1.5%) and the furniture and "other" manufacturing division (-8.7%).

READ: SA manufacturing sector 'at crossroads'

Mining production

Stats SA also announced on Thursday that mining production decreased by 4.5% year-on-year in January 2016.

The largest negative growth rates were recorded for copper (-43.8%), iron ore (-26.3%) and diamonds (-16.1%). The main negative contributors to the 4.5% decrease were iron ore, copper and manganese ore. On the other hand, gold was a significant positive contributor.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 4.9% in January 2016 compared with December 2015. This followed month-on-month changes of -0.5% in December 2015 and 1.9% in November 2015.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 0.6% in the three months ended January 2016 compared with the previous three months.

Mineral sales increased by 2.8% year-on-year in December 2015.

The highest positive contributors to the increase of 2.8% were "other" non-metallic minerals (90.8%), gold (18.2%) and coal (7.4%).

Two minerals with significant negative contributions were iron ore (-25.7%) and manganese ore (-44.1%).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 2.9% in December 2015 compared with November 2015. This followed month-on-month changes of -2.1% in November 2015 and 1.3% in October 2015.

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