South Africa’s manufacturing production fell 1.7% year-on-year in June 2026, easing from a downwardly revised 4.4% decline in May and remaining in contraction for a third consecutive month. The decline in food and beverages (-3.9% vs -5.8%) and wood, wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-8.9% vs -12.9%) softened. Meanwhile, output rebounded for glass and non-metallic products (1.2% vs -8.3%), basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (0.1% vs -5.8%), and radio, television and communication equipment and professional equipment (3.3% vs -4.5%). Growth in petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastics slowed to 1.2% from 2.3%. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, manufacturing output rose 0.9%, following a revised 1% increase in May. For the first half of the year, output shrank 1.7% compared to a year earlier.