Business confidence edges up

South Africa’s economic climate showed a flicker of optimism in September with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) Business Confidence Index (BCI) edging up to 121.1 from 120 in August.

This follows an index reading of 116.7 in July, signalling a cautious but steady upward trend in sentiment, according to a Reuters report.

SACCI, which releases its index every two months, attributed the rise to robust tourism, soaring precious metal prices and a surge in export volumes, reflecting resilience in key sectors, despite global headwinds.

The financial environment and economic activity displayed encouraging year-on-year trends, SACCI noted, although month-on-month data revealed pockets of concern.

The chamber highlighted that uncertainty continued to loom, particularly as South Africa grappled with the 30% tariff imposed by the US under President Donald Trump’s administration in August.

“The trade tariff regime and the imposition of reciprocal tariffs have not yet entirely found their way into recent economic data,” SACCI said, noting the potential ripple effects on local markets.

South Africa’s economy has shown modest growth in the first nine months of 2025, building on momentum from the formation of a new administration in June 2024.

However, SACCI said sustained collaboration between the private and public sectors was critical to translate this confidence into tangible investment and job creation.