Economic Indicators

South Africa’s economy unexpectedly contracts in third quarter

2024.12.03 05:36

PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa’s economy unexpected contracted in the third quarter of this year, driven by a big drop in agricultural production, statistics agency data showed on Tuesday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.3% in seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter terms, whereas economists polled by Reuters had predicted an expansion of 0.5%.

Statistics South Africa said agriculture contracted 28.8% in the third quarter, primarily due to field crops.

“Maize and soy account for about 70% of field crops and we know they have had a difficult quarter due to drought,” statistician Joe de Beer told reporters.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A man looks at an item before buying at a spaza shop in Thembisa, on the East Rand, in South Africa, August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

Southern Africa has faced is worst drought in decades this year, hurting economic output across the region.

South Africa’s third-quarter GDP grew 0.3% on a year-on-year basis, also worse than the 1.2% growth predicted by economists.



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