KwaZulu-Natal economy by sector (% contribution), average 2000-2009

• KZN GDPR has grown steadily from 1996 to 2009, peak growth of 5.8% recorded in 2005 and 5.9% in 2007 (before sliding moderately in 2009). The province has consistently grown faster than the national economy since 2000 standing at 4.4% per annum and boasting an estimated real GDPR of R252,1bn per annum. 
• Manufacturing is the key sector in KZN contributing a steady 21% to the provincial GDPR, and generating a solid 20% of the provincial employment.
• KZN's manufacturing sector is also the second largest in the country after Gauteng Province. 21% of SA manufacturing GDP is KZN-based, compared 40% for Gauteng.  
• Coal export, commerce, forestry, fruit, manufacturing (chemicals, textiles, paper and paper products), steel, sugar, tourism, transport and communications are sectors having a bigger share of the Provincial GDPR. 
• The figure above provides the average contribution of each sector into the economy of the province, between 2000 and 2009. The figure shows that, Manufacturing (21%), FREBS (16%), Trade & Tourism (13%), and Government Services (12%) are the four most important contributors to the provincial economy.
• Though there is some mining of coal and aluminium happening in this province, the contribution to the economy is still very low, which increases an underlying opportunity to exploit collieries which have closed down or explore unexplored mines.  An agreement between Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) and Mintec would see the scanning of available mineral resources in the province to realize investment opportunities in mineral.
• Examining KZN's economy on a sectoral level, it is evident that the significance of manufacturing, transport and business service sectors are key role-players - indicating a growing maturity in the province's economic makeup.
• KZN’s agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, although the smallest contributor to the provincial economy (4.7%) is the leading contributor to the national output in this sector (a solid 26%), and is trailed at 23% by the Western Cape.

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Additional information on KwaZulu-Natal Exports

Examining KZN's economy on a sectoral level, it is evident that manufacturing, transport and business service sectors are key role-players - indicating a growing maturity in the province's economic makeup.

More information on trends relating to exports from KwaZulu-Natal over the last decade can be accessed by downloading the "Trade Trends" document - click here to download documents.