Swaziland Economic Performance  

The real GDP growth is estimated to have plummeted to 0.4 percent in 2009, a further decline from the 2.4 percent attained in 2008. This is as a result of the impact of the second round effects of the economic crisis.

Production in a number of sectors was scaled down as global demand slowed down while other companies closed down affecting mainly the manufacturing, mining, agriculture, tourism and retail and wholesale sectors. The manufacturing sector recorded a negative growth of 4.5 percent in 2009 from a positive growth of 1.6 percent in the previous year. This was as a result of the slowing global demand and the decline in commodity prices for the country’s major exports namely; pulp, coal and textile. The mining sector saw a decline in the global prices of commodities such as diamonds and coal.

In line with the stabilization of the world economy, domestic economic growth is expected to improve to 1.1 percent in 2010 as economic activity improves transiting to a recovery. Most sectors of the economy are expected to slowly pick up as global demand stabilizes. The manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and the wholesale and retail sectors are expected to influence the growth as economic conditions moderate in these sectors.