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Manufacturing Production Capacity Utilisation: Non-Metallic Minerals 2025Q3

Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (SIC 23990), such as (but not limited to) cement, lime, plaster, concrete goods, articles of concrete, cement or plaster, building materials of non-metallic minerals, ceramic goods, refractory products, etc.

Source:  Stats SA P3043

The improvement in non-metallic mineral manufacturing production capacity utilisation to an average of 79.6 percent in the first nine months of 2025, the highest level since 2018, signals a strong rebound in South Africa’s construction materials sector. This category, which includes cement, concrete, bricks and ceramics, has moved from a long period of underperformance toward near full operational efficiency. The turnaround reflects a post covid recovery in the demand for building materials in part driven by the recovery in public infrastructure projects, a gradual revival in private construction activity, and improved stability in electricity supply and logistics. After years of depressed conditions following the 2020 slump, when utilisation fell to just 64.5 percent, the industry has shown some recovery, although still well below levels reported between 200 and 2008 when utilisation levels averaged close to 90 percent.

The decline in “insufficient demand” as a reason for under-utilisation, from 19 percent in 2020 to 12.7 percent on average in 2025,  confirms a structural recovery in market absorption, suggesting that domestic demand for construction materials is now supporting rather than constraining production. This shift implies that producers are likely running at higher output levels in response to real orders rather than relying on inventory or export opportunities. However, as demand strengthens, new constraints have emerged on the supply side. The share of respondents citing raw materials as a limiting factor rose from less than 0.5 percent in 2017 to just under 3 percent in 2025, indicating tightening supply chains and potential stress in the sourcing of limestone, gypsum, and other mineral inputs. Labour constraints also edged higher, reflecting shortages of semi- and unskilled workers as operations expand, although only referred to by 0.3 percent of respondents.

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