# South Africa’s manufacturing sector has shown signs of recovery for the first time in nine months. The Absa purchasing managers’ index rose to 51 points in July, up from 49 points in June, indicating slight growth in factory activity. New sales orders jumped to 56 points, driven mainly by stronger domestic demand. Absa and the Bureau for Economic Research caution that the recovery remains fragile, with employment and future outlooks weakening. The sector also faces risks from new 30-percent US tariffs, which may affect exports.
SA manufacturing activity expands for the first time in nine months