The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries¹ in the second quarter of 2020 was estimated at R2 068 298 million (R2,07 trillion), a decrease of 16,5% compared with the first quarter of 2020 (R2 475 787 million or R2,48 trillion).

Between the first and the second quarter of 2020, turnover decreased in seven of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in construction (-30,8%), followed by mining and quarrying (-28,3%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-21,7%), manufacturing (-19,8%), trade (-16,8%), transport, storage and communication (-11,9%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,9%). An increase was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (+1,1%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the second quarter of 2020 were estimated at R1 008 128 million, an increase of 3,7% compared with R972 145 million at the end of the first quarter of 2020. Increases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+34,3%), electricity, gas and water supply (+7,5%), transport, storage and communication (+6,8%), manufacturing (+4,8%), mining and quarrying (+4,8%) and trade (+2,4%). Decreases were recorded in construction (-4,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,7%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R62 431 million in the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of 22,2% compared with R80 240 million in the first quarter of 2020. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in trade (-42,5%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-40,1%), manufacturing (-19,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-16,9%), mining and quarrying (-14,0%) and construction (-10,3%). Increases were recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+5,5%) and electricity, gas and water supply (+2,6%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 068 298 million in the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of 16,4% compared with R2 473 320 million in the second quarter of 2019. All of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual decreases. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in construction (-35,7%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-26,9%), manufacturing (-22,1%), transport, storage and communication (-18,9%), mining and quarrying (-16,7%), trade      (-13,2%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-4,6%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-0,6%).