
Manufacturer confidence drops to lowest level in a year and a half – Absa Survey
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GUEST – Sachin Chanderdhev - Absa Business Banking manufacturing sector specialist
The Absa Manufacturing Survey decreased by ten points to 23 in the third quarter – its lowest level since the first quarter of 2024, with Absa noting that overall business confidence in the sector remains under severe pressure, despite notable gains in sales and production activity in certain subsectors.
While manufacturers of consumer and capital goods within industries such as transport, food and furniture recorded meaningful improvements in sales and production activity, manufacturers of intermediate goods – including inputs used in the metals sector – reported significant declines in confidence levels.
The Absa Manufacturing Survey decreased by ten points to 23 in the third quarter – its lowest level since the first quarter of 2024, with Absa noting that overall business confidence in the sector remains under severe pressure, despite notable gains in sales and production activity in certain subsectors.
While manufacturers of consumer and capital goods within industries such as transport, food and furniture recorded meaningful improvements in sales and production activity, manufacturers of intermediate goods – including inputs used in the metals sector – reported significant declines in confidence levels.