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South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.3% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2016, after contracting by 1.2% in the previous quarter, Statistics SA announced today.
The year-on-year growth was 0.6%. Mike de Beer, who announced the growth stats on behalf of Statistician-General Pali Lehohla, said for the first time in a long while there was a positive growth rate in all three the large sectors.
The primary sector showed a growth rate of 8.8%, with mining up by 11.8% and agriculture down 0.8%. The secondary sector grew by 5.3% with manufacturing up by 8.15%, construction up by 0.1% and electricity down by 1.8%.
There were notable increases in the petroleum and motor vehicle manufacturing divisions. The tertiary sectors showed a growth rate of 2%, with finance up by 2.9%, transport up by 2.9%, trade up by 1.4%, government up by 1.2% and personal services up by 0.8%.
He indicated that manufacturing, mining and quarrying made the biggest contribution to GDP growth.
Manufacturing increased by 8.1%, largely due to higher production in petroleum and chemical products, rubber and plastic products and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment. There was flat growth from the rest of the economic sectors, like construction, for instance, said De Beer.
Nominal GDP is estimated at just more than R1 trillioin. The finance sector is the biggest contributor followed by government, trade and manufacturing. About R1 in R5 comes from the financial sector. Real expenditure on GDP increased by 3.4% in the second quarter on a quarter-over-quarter basis. It was mostly export driven. Government consumption expenditure increased by 1.3%.
There were declines in gross fixed capital formation and imports of goods and services. Household final consumption expenditure increased by 1% quarter over quarter.
The strongest growth came from miscellaneous goods and services (8.9%). The growth in consumption expenditure was mostly on the services side. Government final consumption expenditure increased by 1.3% quarter over quarter and gross fixed capital formation decreased by 4.6% quarter over quarter.
Construction works declined by 14.4% and machinery and other equipment by 13%. Exports increased by just over 18% in the second quarter, while imports decreased by 5.1% quarter over quarter. De Beer said the growth rate tells the same story as the last three or four years in terms of GDP growth. – Fin24
