South Africa Mining, Manufacturing Output Fall Over 6% April

South Africa's mining and manufacturing sectors experienced significant declines in April 2025, continuing downward trends from previous months. Mining production fell 7.7% year-on-year, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline, with platinum group metals and nickel production notably dropping by 24.1% and 21.9%, respectively. Manufacturing output also decreased sharply by 6.3% year-on-year, driven by reductions in food and beverages, iron and steel, motor vehicles, and chemical industries. Despite the year-on-year declines, seasonally adjusted monthly data showed modest improvements, with mining output rising 0.6% and manufacturing production increasing 1.9% from March to April. However, manufacturing sales continued to fall slightly, reflecting ongoing challenges across most divisions. These figures highlight persistent pressures on South Africa's industrial sectors amid a mixed outlook for overall economic activity.