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Frederick Mitchell, Chief Economist | Aluma Capital (Pty) Ltd
Frederick Mitchell
September 14, 2026

South African Economic Performance – GDP, Economic growth and Inflation for 2026Q2

South Africa’s economy faced renewed pressure in the second quarter of 2026, contracting by 0.2% amid high input costs, elevated fuel prices and challenging global conditions. While sectors such as agriculture and finance showed resilience, continued weakness in manufacturing, mining and trade highlights the structural challenges facing the economy. With unemployment remaining elevated and inflationary pressures still a concern, policy clarity, infrastructure investment and improved business confidence will be critical to supporting sustainable economic growth in the months ahead.

The South African economy contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2026, in line with market expectations. This contraction indicates difficult market conditions and high input costs, especially fuel, which weighed on economic output for the second quarter of 2026.

Out of the ten sectors, seven experienced annual growth. Notably, the Agricultural sector grew by 3.4% in the second quarter, despite facing US tariffs on imports from South Africa. Conversely, the Manufacturing sector saw a further contraction of 3.1%, following a revised 0.1% decline in the first quarter of 2026; this was further compounded by decreases in the Mining and Trade sectors of 0.7% and 0.1%, respectively. The Finance sector grew by 2.3%, indicating some resilience despite higher market interest rates at this stage.

The contraction in economic output does not bode well for an already high unemployment rate of 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026. Slower economic growth only further exacerbates the unemployment crisis South Africa faces, especially youth unemployment, which stands at around 63% at this stage. However, there remains cautious optimism for the rest of the year, despite higher energy prices, conflicts in the Middle East, and ongoing trade tensions affecting South Africa. There is no load-shedding, and interest rates have remained stable at the SARB’s July 2026 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.  High international oil prices and imported inflation however remain of concern of the Bank, as imported inflation will move through the economy via price escalations in the transport and logistics sector as a result of higher international oil prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East at this stage. are lower, albeit with a 25-basis-point rise at the end of May. The inflation rate is above 4.0%, the upper limit of the South African Reserve Bank’s new target range, suggesting the Reserve Bank will monitor price inflation like a hawk and may increase interest rates at the next MPC meeting on the 23rd of September.

Nonetheless, businesses continue to face challenges, making it imperative for the government to provide policy clarity going forward, as some progress is being made on infrastructure-related challenges related to rail and port facilities at this stage of previously announced structural reforms. These reforms, alongside government infrastructure investments outlined in the February 2026 budget, could be the catalyst needed for sustained growth this year. It is important to mention that the AGOA agreement has only been extended until the end of 2027, and South Africa’s potential expulsion from it could jeopardise businesses exporting to the United States. Addressing these critical issues is essential for bolstering business confidence, which is crucial for driving substantial economic growth in the forthcoming months – a vital need that South Africa cannot afford to overlook at this point.

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