Here is how various sectors of the economy performed in the first quarter of 2022 as per the Statistics Botswana’s recently released national accounts report.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry went up by 3.5 percent in real value added during the first quarter of 2022, relative to a decrease of 2.4 percent registered in the same quarter of 2021. The favorable performance was mainly due to an increase in real value added of Livestock farming by 6.9 percent. This strong performance was attributable to more cattle marketed during the quarter under review. Cattle sold to Botswana Meat Commission and municipal abattoirs registered a growth of 6.9 percent.
Manufacturing
The Manufacturing industry performed well during the first quarter of 2022 recording a rise of 10.3 percent in real value added compared to a decline of 7.1 percent registered in the corresponding quarter of 2021. The improved performance in the industry when compared to the same period of the previous year is attributed mainly to the favorable growth rates in the sub-industries of Diamond cutting & polishing (79.8 percent), Manufacture of beverages & tobacco products (58.9 percent) and Manufacture of textile & leather products (17.5 percent), compared to negative growth rates of 36.9, 57.0 and 6.5 percent in the corresponding quarter of 2021, respectively. The exports of polished diamonds rose by 162.0 percent. Similarly, sub-industries such as Manufacture meat and meat products, Manufacture of bakery products, Manufacture of other food products and Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products registered positive growths in real value added of 3.8, 2.8, 2.6 and 2.6 percent respectively.
Wholesale and Retail
Wholesale and Retail Trade real value added increased by 4.0 percent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to a rise of 11.4 percent registered in the same quarter of the previous year. The industry deals with the sales of fast moving consumer goods.
Water and Electricity
Water and Electricity value added at constant 2016 prices for the first quarter of 2022 was P537.5 million compared to P502.7 million registered in the same quarter of 2021, recording a positive growth of 6.9 percent. In the first quarter of 2022, Electricity recorded a positive growth of 10.8 percent as opposed to a significant increase of 62.4 percent registered in the corresponding quarter of 2021. The local electricity production went up by 8.2 percent due to improved coal uptake by Morupule Power Station. The water industry recorded a value added of P232.8 million compared to P227.8 million registered in the same quarter of the previous year, registering an increase of 2.2 percent.
Construction
The Construction industry value added went up by 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022, following a decline of 4.8 percent realized in the corresponding quarter in 2021. This industry comprises of buildings construction, civil engineering and specialized construction activities.
Information Communications and Technology (ICT)
ICT industry comprises of a) Publishing including motion pictures, etc. and printed matter, b) Radio & Television broadcasting, c) Telecommunications services and d) Computer Programming & Information Services Activities. Stable performance was observed in the Information and Communications industry which recorded a growth of 3.8 percent in real value added for the first quarter of 2022, compared to an increase of 4.0 percent registered in the corresponding quarter of 2021.
Finance, Insurance and Pension Funding
The industry comprises of Central Banking activities, Monetary intermediation & financial services, Insurance & pension funding and Financial & insurance auxiliary services. The industry registered a growth of 2.9 percent due to the favorable performance from Monetary Intermediation & Financial Services by 3.0 percent during the quarter under review. The stock of loans and deposits increased by 4.7 and 5.5 percent respectively in the first quarter of 2022.
Accommodation and Food Services
Accommodation and Food Services real value added increased by 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2022 as opposed to a contraction of 31.7 percent registered in the same quarter of the previous year. The improved performance is largely attributed to an increase of 4.9 percent in real value added of the Accommodation activities sub-industry. The enhanced performance in the Accommodation and Food Services industry emanated from increased demand for leisure and conferencing activities post COVID-19 pandemic.
Administrative Support and Services Activities
It comprises of Renting activities (renting and leasing of vehicles, renting of machinery and equipment, renting of personal and household goods etc.), Employment and Human Resource Activities, Private security and investigation activities, Cleaning and landscaping services, Business support activities. The industry also includes Travel agency activities, Tour operator’s activities and Other Reservation Service and Related Activities. Administrative Support and Services Activities real value added increased by 3.5 percent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to a slight growth of 0.8 percent registered in the same quarter of the previous year. The enhanced performance in the industry is attributed to Travel agents, Tour operators and related activities which increased by 4.9 percent as a result of increased international and domestic passenger movements by 110.2 percent witnessed during the quarter under review.
Real Estate Activities
The industry includes the activities Owner Occupied Dwellings and Real estate services. Households that own the dwellings they occupy are formally treated as owners of unincorporated enterprises that produce housing services consumed by those same households. Real estate services include buying, selling, renting, and operation of self-owned or leased real estate, such as apartment buildings and dwellings, Non-residential buildings, including exhibition halls, self-storage facilities, malls, shopping centres etc. The industry registered an improved growth of 2.6 percent due to improved performance from Real Estate Services. Property loans went up by 4.9 percent in the first quarter of 2022.
Public Administration and Defence
It includes activities of Central and Local Government together with Extra Budgetary Bodies (Parastatals). Government units organize and finance the provision of goods and services to individual households and the community at large. They are also concerned with the distribution and redistribution of income and wealth. The Public Administration and Defence sector decreased by 4.9 percent in real value added compared to 5.6 percent increase during the corresponding quarter of 2021. The compensation of employees went up by 4.1 percent during the period under review.
Human Health Activities and Social Work Activities
It Includes both public & private health and social work activities e.g. Hospital activities, medical & dental practice activities, and human health activities. Public Health is mainly the department of Health Services Management. The Health sector rose by 2.9 percent in real value added compared to a 3.3 percent increase during the corresponding quarter of 2021.
Education This includes both public and private education activities e.g. pre-primary & primary education, General secondary education, Technical & vocational secondary education, Higher education etc. Public Education is mainly the department of Teaching Service Management (TSM). The Education sector increased by 0.7 percent in real value added as opposed to an increase of 0.4 percent during the corresponding quarter of 2021.
