South Africa avoided narrowly a technical recession in the third quarter as a 0.7% q/q* GDP expansion reversed a 1.3% q/q contraction in the preceding three months, but growth was lower than expected and reinforced concerns that the sluggish economy is here to stay. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a 1.1% growth, while a Business Day poll suggested a 1.0% expansion.

On an unadjusted y/y basis, the country’s real gross domestic product at market prices increased by 1.0% in Q3, the lowest reading since the 2009 recession, after a 1.3% growth in Q2, data released by Statistics South Africa on November 24 showed. Markets had expected growth to be maintained at 1.3% last quarter.

According to Charlie Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital, the key reason for the lacklustre growth must have been the weak rand, which hit demand and investment, he said in Twitter.

Weak 3Q15 GDP, up just 1.0% YoY (exp 1.3%) in South Africa. Weak ZAR likely to be primary cause, hitting demand and investment

— Charlie Robertson (@CharlieTTEcon) November 24, 2015

His colleague Mohammed Nalla, head of strategic research at Nedbank, underscored that the economy is “very weak”, as a growth of 1% not enough for an emerging market that needs to address employment challenges.

“I personally do not think that the risk of a recession has left us and may raise its ugly head in 2016 again,” Nalla tweeted.

I personally do not think that the risk of a recession has left us and may raise its ugly head in 2016 again #SA #economy on the hook 3/3

— Mohammed Nalla, CFA (@MohammedNalla) November 24, 2015

Manufacturing shines

South Africa’s Q3 q/q growth was driven mainly by a somewhat surprising robust recovery of the manufacturing industry, which expanded 6.2% after shrinking 6.3% q/q in Q2 and 2.4% q/q in Q1. On a y/y basis, manufacturing grew 1.4% in Q3, the best reading in six quarters, reversing a 0.6% decline in Q2.

The rebound likely reflects improved electricity supply and the rand depreciation, which made locally manufactured goods cheaper to export. Recent investments in the vehicle manufacturing industry have boosted capacity, with the country’s vehicle exports projected to grow more than 20% this year to a record high number of about 335,000 units.

However, South Africa’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the manufacturing industry fell to a six-month low of 48.1 in October, suggesting subdued demand both at home and abroad and muted growth prospects.

Manufacturing contributed 0.8pp to the overall 0.7% q/q GDP growth in Q3, which was largely offset by expected further contractions in mining and agriculture. The q/q drop in mining deepened to 9.8% from 6.4%, while that in agriculture softened to 12.6% from 19.7%. On a y/y basis, mining edged up 1.4% from a low base given the large platinum strike last year, whereas agriculture shrank 16.2%. The prospects for the two sectors remain downbeat amid rising input costs, persisting soft commodity prices and worsening drought conditions.

On a brighter note, the trade and tourism sector** rebounded to a 2.5% q/q growth from a 0.6% q/q decline in Q2 partly due to solid public sector wage increases, and growth in the finance, real estate and business services industry strengthened to 2.8% from 2.6%. The y/y growth rate edged up by 0.1pp in both sectors to 1.2% and 3.1%, respectively.

The nominal GDP at market prices was ZAR1.007trn ($72bn) in Q3, by ZAR14bn more than in Q2. The largest industries, as measured by their nominal value added, were finance, real estate and business services with a share of 20.7%, general government services with 17.6%, trade and tourism with 14.6%, and manufacturing with 13.3%.

South Africa’s GDP growth is expected to remain sluggish at around 1.4% this year and 1.5% next year.

*on a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis

**wholesale, retail, and motor trade; catering and accommodation