According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa (SSA), in May this year South Africa's manufacturing output decreased by 3.7 percent compared to the same month of 2013. The main reasons for the decrease included the 15.9 percent decrease in output of motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment, the 6.8 percent decline in output of basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery and the 4.3 percent decrease in food and beverages, according to the SSA.
The production of basic iron and steel products in South Africa decreased by 6.6 percent year on year in May, while the seasonally adjusted production index of basic iron and steel products decreased by 0.9 percent in the given month compared to April.
For basic iron and steel products, the estimated seasonally adjusted sales of manufactured products (at current prices) in May this year decreased by 4.7 percent month on month, amounting to ZAR 9.55 billion ($890.06 million), while the actual sales value of basic iron and steel products increased by 9.3 percent year on year.
