The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries¹ in the first quarter of 2020 was estimated at R2 493 798 million (R2,49 trillion), a decrease of 4,2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2019 (R2 601 911 million or R2,6 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in construction (-9,9%), followed by  trade (-6,0%), manufacturing (-5,1%), transport, storage and communication (-4,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (-4,3%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions)   (-1,0%). Increases were recorded for mining and quarrying (+3,1%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,7%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2020 were estimated at R954 332 million, an increase of 2,9% compared with R927 261 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019. Increases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+9,6%), mining and quarrying (+8,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (+3,8%), manufacturing (+3,4%), trade (+1,4%) and transport, storage and communication (+0,1%). Decreases were recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-4,2%) and construction (-0,8%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R82 526 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 12,5% compared with R94 277 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-29,0%), followed by manufacturing (-23,9%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-19,7%), electricity, gas and water supply (-19,3%), mining and quarrying  (-16,7%), and transport, storage and communication (-8,1%). Increases were recorded for trade (+26,7%) and construction (+5,1%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 493 798 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 4,2% compared with R2 392 753 million in the first quarter of 2019. Five of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual increases. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+29,1%),  followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+8,8%), trade (+7,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,4%) and manufacturing (+0,3%). Decreases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-6,3%), construction (-4,3%) and transport, storage and communication (-3,6%).