2018.11.0807:16:00UTC+00South Africa Manufacturing Output Growth Sharply Slows

South Africa's manufacturing output barely grew in September following robust gains in the previous two months, preliminary data from Statistics South Africa showed on Thursday. Manufacturing output edged up an unadjusted 0.1 percent year-on-year in September following a 1.5 percent increase in August and a 2.7 percent gain in July. Food and beverages, iron and steel and related products, and wood and paper production made the biggest positive contributions in November. Negative contributions came from petroleum, chemicals, rubber and plastic products, automobile and related parts, radio and other communication devices industries. Compared to the previous month, manufacturing output decreased 1 percent following a 0.2 percent rise in August.