Key findings for the quarter ended December 2019

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries¹ in the fourth quarter of 2019 was estimated at R2 596 609 million (R2,6 trillion), an increase of 2,9% compared with the third quarter of 2019 (R2 523 371 million or R2,52 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarters of 2019, turnover increased in three of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+12,4%), followed by trade (+9,3%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+5,8%). Decreases were recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (-16,4%), construction (-3,7%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-3,1%), transport, storage and communication (-2,8%) and manufacturing (-2,6%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019 were estimated at R943 124 million, a decrease of 0,2% compared with R945 155 million at the end of the third quarter of 2019. Decreases were recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-10,8%), manufacturing (‑5,2%), transport, storage and communication (-3,9%), construction (-2,3%) and electricity, gas and water supply (‑1,9%). Increases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+12,3%), trade (+5,4%) and mining and quarrying (+4,2%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R92 616 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 12,0% compared with R82 697 million in the third quarter of 2019. The largest percentage increase was recorded in mining and quarrying (+27,2%), followed by trade (+21,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+11,9%), manufacturing (+9,5%), transport, storage and communication (+8,4%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+2,1%). Decreases were recorded for construction (-31,4%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-2,0%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 596 609 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 2,1% compared with R2 544 057 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Six of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual increases. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+12,6%), followed by mining and quarrying (+9,8%), trade (+6,4%), construction (+3,3%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,8%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+1,0%). Decreases were recorded for manufacturing (-3,9%) and transport, storage and communication (-3,5%).