Economists had expected PPI to slow to 7.7% y/y.
On a month-on-month basis PPI was at 0.0% from 0.5% and against market expectations for 0.4%.
Stats SA releases five industry-specific producer price indices, with final manufactured goods representing the headline number.
"The main contributors to the annual rate of 7.2% were food products,
beverages and tobacco products," the organisation said in a statement.
The annual percentage change in the PPI for electricity and water was 8.6% in August 2014 - compared with 7.8% in July 2014.
In mining, the annual percentage change in the PPI was 3.6%, compared with 7.8% in July this year.
The annual percentage change in the PPI for agriculture, forestry and fishing was 4.2% in August 2014 compared to the previous month.
Stats SA defines PPI as a measure of the change in the price of goods, either as they leave their place of production or as they enter the production process.
- Reuters, Sapa