Manufacturing output in South Africa fell by 1% year-on-year in November 2025, following an upwardly revised 0.4% rise in October and against analysts' forecast of a 0.2% increase. This marked the first decline in factory activity since August, led by wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-7.9%); basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-2.5%) and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-4.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output shrank by 1.1% in November, after a 1% rise in the previous month. Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0.6% in the three months ended November 2025 compared with the previous three months.