South Africa’s manufacturing sector showed modest growth in September 2025, with output rising 0.3% compared with the same month last year, according to Statistics South Africa.

The motor vehicles, parts and accessories, and other transport equipment division recorded a 7.6% increase, while food and beverages grew 1.8%.

There was also strong growth in textiles, clothing, leather, and footwear, which grew by 3.4% and radio, television and communication apparatus, and professional equipment which saw a year-on-year increase of 8.0%.

However, seasonally adjusted figures revealed that manufacturing production declined 0.5% between August and September, after month-on-month changes of 0.7% in August and -0.9% in July.

There were also major contractions in the wood and wood products, paper, publishing, and printing and electrical machinery sectors, which shrank, on a year-to-year basis, by 5.3% and 7.3% respectively.

The data suggests that while certain industries such as automotive and chemicals are regaining momentum, broader manufacturing activity remains fragile amid weak domestic demand and global trade uncertainty.