África do Sul PMI Industrial

South Africa’s seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell further to 40.5 in December 2025 from 42 in November. The latest reading signaled a third straight month of contraction in the country’s manufacturing sector, which was the steepest since April 2020, amid sharp declines in inventories and employment. The inventories sub-index dropped 9.9 points to 36.1, its lowest level since May 2020, while the employment sub-index fell 6.3 points, remaining well below the neutral 50-point mark and in contractionary territory since April 2024. "The weak performance in business activity and volatile sales orders continues to limit the scope for hiring, while shortages of specialised skills in certain niche industries also weigh on employment outcomes," said Absa.