The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the second quarter of 2018 was estimated at R2 350 570 million (R2,35 trillion), an increase of 2,1% compared with the first quarter of 2018 (R2 302 051 million or R2,30 trillion).

Between the first and second quarters of 2018, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+10,3%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+9,4%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+3,1%), trade (+2,6%), manufacturing (+2,0%) and transport, storage and communication (+1,7%). Decreases were recorded for construction (-6,9%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-2,1%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the second quarter of 2018 were estimated at R910 361 million, an increase of 3,1% compared with R882 790 million at the end of the first quarter of 2018. Increases were recorded in mining and quarrying (+4,9%), followed by manufacturing (+3,7%), construction (+2,8%), trade (+2,8%), electricity, gas and water supply (+0,5%) and transport, storage and communication (+0,5%). Decreases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-2,3%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,1%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R86 471 million in the second quarter of 2018, an decrease of 5,9% compared with R91 847 million in the first quarter of 2018. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-27,8%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-18,5%), trade (-6,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-5,7%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-4,5%) and construction (-3,9%). Increases were recorded for mining and quarrying (+21,8%) and manufacturing (13,2%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 350 570 million in the second quarter of 2018, an increase of 4,1% compared with R2 258 314 million in the second quarter of 2017. Seven of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+15,3%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+9,0%), transport, storage and communication (+6,1%), manufacturing (+6,0%), trade (+4,1%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+3,5%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,2%). A decrease was recorded in construction (-19,2%).