Key findings: P3041.2 - Manufacturing: Production and sales, January 2009

Manufacturing production declines further

The estimated manufacturing production for January 2009 decreased by 11,1% compared with January 2008. The seasonally adjusted manufacturing production for the three months ended January 2009 decreased by 8,1% compared with the previous three months. This is steeper than the 5,8% decrease reported for the previous three-month period up to December 2008. Lower production levels were reported by all ten manufacturing divisions during the latest three months. The decrease was driven mainly by lower production in three divisions, namely basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (contributing -3,0 percentage points), motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (contributing -2,0 percentage points) and petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (contributing -1,5 percentage points).


Slowdown in manufacturing sales at current prices continues

Estimated sales of manufacturing production at current prices decreased by 5,1% for January 2009 compared with January 2008. However, the annual growth in the values of sales for the three months ended January 2009 increased by 2,7%    (+R7 565 million) compared to the three months ending January 2008.