Confidence levels among South African manufacturers dipped 2 points to 26 in the third quarter of 2022, according to an Absa survey. “Although cost and stock pressures appear to be easing slightly, manufacturers are still faced with a tough operating environment,” said Justin Schmidt, head of manufacturing sector at Absa Relationship Banking. “Many manufacturers felt that business conditions worsened during the quarter with load shedding, high input costs and bottlenecks at SA ports all weighing on sentiment.”
The quarterly survey, which covers approximately 700 businesspeople in the manufacturing sector, was conducted by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) at Stellenbosch University between 10 and 29 August 2022. The confidence index ranges between zero and 100, with zero reflecting an extreme lack of confidence and 100 extreme confidence where all participants are satisfied with current business conditions.
Although it remains one of the top constraints on current activity, manufacturers have found that amid the easing of supply chain disruptions, shortages of raw materials have become less of a constraint than in 2021. Raw material cost increases slowed, while for the first time since 2020, manufacturers have indicated that they have sufficient raw material and finished goods relative to planned production and expected demand. “This should free up working capital and reduce the pressure that manufacturers have felt on their margins,” added Schmidt.
On the back of poor global growth, high inflation and an expectation that South Africa’s energy challenges will continue in the short term, the majority of manufacturers expect business conditions to deteriorate further over the next 12 months. Additionally, as insufficient demand and the cost of credit become larger constraints, manufacturers’ investment intentions have dropped significantly compared to the beginning of the year. “Manufacturers are as pessimistic about the expected business conditions in the next 12 months as they were in the fourth quarter of 2020,” noted Schmidt. In addition, manufacturers are concerned that reduced consumer disposable income could curb demand in the fourth quarter of the year, which is seasonally their peak sales period.
Economic growth aided by infrastructure spend, an acceleration in regulatory reform and a reliable supply of energy would go a long way to support the manufacturing sector in the period ahead, Schmidt said. “With many manufacturers currently investing in their own energy generation and exploring ways to consume less energy, Absa remains committed to support the manufacturing industry along their journey,” he added.
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