Subdued demand conditions weigh on manufacturing sentiment – Q1 Absa Manufacturing Survey  – The Mail & Guardian

Subdued demand conditions weigh on manufacturing sentiment – Q1 Absa Manufacturing Survey  – The Mail & Guardian

Business confidence in the manufacturing sector came under renewed pressure during the first quarter of 2026, with lacklustre demand weighing on sentiment.  According to the Q1 Absa Manufacturing Survey, the headline index number declined by 9 index points to 30 from the previous quarter. Sales volumes, orders and selling prices all experienced substantial declines. When compared to the previous quarter, the index for Domestic Sales dropped by 1…