https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Trade conditions worsen – Sacci

17th July 2018

By: Creamer Media Reporter

     

Font size: - +

Trade conditions deteriorated further in June, says the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci).

Sacci’s Trade Activity Index (TAI), which measures present trade conditions, moved further into negative territory, at 37, compared with 40 in May. It was also 11 points lower than in June 2017.

“The current weak trade conditions are marked by 71% of respondents experiencing decreased sales volumes and 68% of respondents [experiencing] decreased new orders,” Sacci reported on Tuesday.

According to the survey, sales volumes are under severe pressure, with the subindex seven index points lower than the 36 measured in May.

New orders followed suit, with the subindex down by four points to 32 in June.

The subdued trade conditions are accompanied by rising sales prices, with 57% of respondents indicating rising sales prices, and the subindex remaining virtually unchanged in June.

The input price index also rose by three index points to 68 in June.

Sacci noted that respondents were disquieted about the depressed economy, political uncertainty, the weak rand exchange rate and the continued increase in fuel prices. Late deliveries and complementary businesses closing down, or shrinking their activities, also disrupt trade conditions. 

Meanwhile, the Trade Expectations Index (TEI), which measures trade expectations for the next six months, moved into negative territory, at 49, compared with 51 in May.

Further, the employment subindex stayed in negative terrain at 45 points in June, while the six-month employment outlook index declined by two index points to 43 – “implying rigid employment conditions in the trade environment”.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

SBS Tanks
SBS Tanks

SBS® Tanks is a leading provider of innovative water security solutions with offices in Southern Africa, East and West Africa, the USA and an...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.067 0.129s - 157pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now