Mining and manufacturing down year-on-year: Stats SA

Mine workers stand underground at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine, south-west of Johannesburg, South Africa October 12, 2022.

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The latest economic wrap-up for May 2025 from Stats SA shows decline in mining and manufacturing year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, as unemployment grew to 32,9% and consumer price inflation remained below three percent.

Mining and manufacturing shrink

Mining production for March 2025 experienced a drastic 4.5 percent decrease compared to March last year, which was driven mainly by lower production in platinum group metals. Manufacturing in March 2025 saw a 2.3 percent decline year-on-year with Stats SA reporting that seven out of the 10 manufacturing divisions in the country contracted in the period, with most of the negative growth coming from reduced production in petroleum and chemical products, food and beverages and motor vehicles and other transport equipment.

Sectors showing positive gains for the quarter

Sectors such as retail trade, motor trade, tourist accommodation and land freight transport saw positive growth between January 2025 and March 2025. More people purchased new and used vehicles as the sector grew by 3.6 percent in March 2025 compared to the same month last year. Consumer spending was also positive as retail trade sales grew by a marginal 1.5 percent year-on-year for March 2025.