November 2022

15 November 2022 – The threat of deteriorating municipal service delivery, corruption in public offices and the failures in the network industries – such as roads, rail, water, electricity and port – in the Eastern Cape (EC) was leading to increasing costs of doing business in the province, Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) chief economist Wandile […]

15 November 2022 – South Africa’s transport sector has contributed significantly to an unexpected boost in manufacturing production, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) noted in its Weekly Review on Monday. The BER said that according to the latest data released by Statistics SA, manufacturing production had risen by a surprising 2.9% year on year (y-o-y) in

14 November 2022 – South Africa, and the broader Southern Africa region continue to show signs that point to yet another favourable agricultural season in 2022/23, according to Agricultural Business Chamber chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo. He said that in their Seasonal Climate Watch report last week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) highlighted that “the

11 November 2022 – Manufacturing production increased by 2.9% year-on-year in September, with the largest positive contributions made by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (43.2% and contributing 3.7 percentage points); and food and beverage (8.1% and contributing 1.9 percentage points) sectors, Statistics South Africa reports. The largest negative contribution was made by the

10 November 2022 – Ocean freight rates are dropping but scheduling headaches for importers are far from over. As services resume, they are still nowhere near the pre-pandemic levels, particularly in Asia. Shipping lines have announced more than 80 blank sailings across the major trade routes over the next month, representing an 11% cancellation rate.

9 November 2022 – The government needs to urgently review the impact of import duties on the increasing cost of food, and remove newly imposed duties on imported french fries, according to international trade consultancy XA Global Trade Advisors. This follows the recent imposition by the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) of provisional duties on

8 November 2022 – October 16 marked World Food Day, commemorating the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. Across the world, this day offers an opportunity for countries to assess their food security conditions and efforts to boost agricultural production. One of the measures that some often use to evaluate

7 November 2022 – South Africa is unlikely to see further credit rating downgrades, while a rating upgrade is probable due to a big improvement in government finances and stronger fiscal path, say economists. International credit rating agency Moody’s Investor Service will assess its ratings on South Africa on November 18, as does Standard &

4 November 2022 – South African private sector activity contracted for the second straight month in October due to power cuts, port strikes and high inflation, a survey showed on Thursday. S&P Global’s South Africa purchasing managers’ index (PMI) crept up to 49.5 in October from 49.2 in September, staying just below the 50.0 line that divides expansions in

3 November 2022 – The UK Department of International Trade (DIT) on Wednesday released its latest “Factsheet” (actually a 17-page document) on bilateral UK-South Africa trade and investment. The Factsheet covered the four quarters ending at the conclusion of the second quarter of this year (Q2 2022) – or, on other words, Q3 2021, Q4