Manufacturing production increased by 5.5% year-on-year in June, statistics agency Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports.

The largest contribution was made by motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment, accounting for 19.5% and contributing 1.8 percentage points. Basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery followed, with output growth of 7.5% and contributing 1.6 percentage points, while food and beverages output increased by 5.8% and contributed 1.3 percentage points.

Month-on-month, seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 1.2% in June compared with May. This followed month-on-month changes of a 1.3% decrease in May and a 0.9% increase in April.

Further, seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 2.3% in the second quarter, compared with the first quarter of this year. Nine of the ten manufacturing divisions reported positive growth rates over this period.

In terms of divisions, the largest contributions were made by petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products, at 4.1% and contributing 0.9 of a percentage point, and basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery, at 4.1% and contributing 0.8 of a percentage point, the agency says.

Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales decreased by 0.5% in June, compared with May. This followed month-on-month changes of -2.8% in May and -0.6% in April.

"Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales increased by 0.6% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter. The largest positive contributions were made by food and beverages, at 2.5% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point, and basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery, accounting for 2.7% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point," Stats SA says.