The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries¹ in the fourth quarter of 2020 was estimated at R2 805 395 million (R2,81 trillion), an increase of 8,4% compared with the third quarter of 2020 (R2 587 153 million or R2,59 trillion).

Between the third and the fourth quarters of 2020, turnover increased in seven industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+13,6%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+12,9%), construction (+11,5%), manufacturing (+9,2%), trade (+8,8%), transport, storage and communication (+6,3%) and mining and quarrying (+6,1%). A decrease was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-14,7%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020 were estimated at R1 050 667 million, an increase of 0,2% compared with R1 048 825 million at the end of the third quarter of 2020. Increases were recorded for construction (+22,4%), mining and quarrying (+8,4%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+4,7%), electricity, gas and water supply (+2,7%) and trade (+2,1%). Decreases were recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-23,8%), manufacturing (-4,4%) and transport, storage and communication (-1,9%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R83 118 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of 8,7% compared with R76 441 million in the third quarter of 2020. The largest percentage increase was recorded in manufacturing (+39,3%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+22,9%), trade (+22,8%), construction (+12,9%) and mining and quarrying (+8,6%). Decreases were recorded for transport, storage and communication (-9,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-4,5%) and electricity, gas and water supply  (-2,2%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 805 395 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of 7,8% compared with R2 601 911 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Six of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual increases. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+23,8%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+21,9%), manufacturing (+8,6%), electricity, gas and water supply (+6,3%), trade (+2,8%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+2,2%). Decreases were recorded for construction (-1,7%) and transport, storage and communication (-0,8%).