The primary sector, which had experienced sustained contractions since the second quarter of 2015, saw a real production increase in the second and third quarters of 2016, although this recovery lost momentum in the third quarter. Agricultural production logged seven consecutive quarters of contraction as it continues to recover from a historically severe drought.
The manufacturing sector has been very volatile, contracting by 3,2 per cent in the third quarter after growing by 8,1 per cent in the second quarter. The contraction was broad-based as this sector has been hampered by weak global and domestic demand, rising input costs and low business  8  confidence.