South Africa’s manufacturing sector returned to growth in March 2026, with production rising 0.9% year-on-year, according to data updated on 12 May 2026. The improvement marks a notable turnaround from February 2026, when manufacturing output contracted by 2.8% compared with the same month a year earlier.
The shift into positive territory ends a weakening trend and suggests a modest recovery in industrial activity. On a year-over-year basis, the March figure indicates that factories produced more than they did in March 2025, while February’s reading had shown a decline versus February 2025.
Investors and policymakers will watch upcoming releases closely to see whether March’s rebound signals the start of a sustained recovery in South Africa’s manufacturing base or a temporary relief following earlier weakness. The year-over-year comparison underscores how the sector is gradually pulling away from last year’s lower levels of output.