Key findings: P3041.2 - Manufacturing: Production and sales, April 2013

Manufacturing: Production and sales
Preliminary: April 2013

Manufacturing production increased by 7,0% in April 2013 compared with April 2012.

The 7,0% year-on-year increase in manufacturing production in April 2013 was mainly due to higher production in the following divisions:

  • motor vehicles, parts and accessories and `other` transport equipment (18,0% and contributing 1,9 percentage points);
  • basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (9,2% and contributing 1,9 percentage points); and
  • petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (7,2% and contributing 1,9 percentage points).

Cautionary note:

Note that the Easter weekend fell partly in March and partly in April in 2013, whereas in 2012 it fell in April. This may have positively affected the performance of manufacturing in April 2013, which should be taken into account in assessing the increase of 7,0% year-on-year in April 2013. There were 18 working days in April 2012 compared with 21 working days in April 2013. The seasonally adjusted index increased by 8,4% between March and April 2013, but this change should also be treated with caution. Stats SA