Manufacturing production for August 2011 increased by 5,6% compared with August 2010, recovering from the revised negative growth of 6,2% recorded in July 2011.

The 5,6% year-on-year increase in manufacturing production for August 2011 was mainly due to higher production in the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (40,9% and contributing 3,7 percentage points), the food and beverages division (8,7% and contributing 1,5 percentage points), the furniture and 'other' manufacturing division (11,4% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point) and the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (2,0% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production for the three months ended August 2011 decreased by 1,9% compared with the previous three months ended May 2011. Five of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

The decrease was mainly driven by lower production in the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (-9,5% and contributing -2,0 percentage points), the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (-3,5% and contributing -0,9 of a percentage point) and the wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing division (-3,0% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

However, these decreases were partially counteracted by increases reported by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (7,0% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point), the food and beverages division (2,5% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point) and the glass and non-metallic mineral products division (3,0% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point).

Source: Statistics South Africa