KEY SECTORS
KEY SECTORS MANUFACTURINGThree primary pillars of the manufacturing sector in Mpumalanga account for more than60% of the output of the manufacturing sector, which overall makes up 13% of grossvalue added, regional (GVA-R).MAIN EXPORTSSTAINLESS STEELCutleryCatering equipmentSurgical instrumentsAutomotive componentsSTEEL White & grey goodsPipes & tubesWirePETROCHEMICALSPlastic productsRecycling plasticsArtificial rubber productsPaint & vanishInks & dyesFOOD PROCESSINGMaize mealMachineryFrozen & dehydratedVEGETABLES Preserves,pickles & condimentsNutsPAPER RecyclingSUGAR ConfectioneryMINING Machinery& servicesRENEWABLE ENERGYSolar & biofuelBiomassFuel, petroleum and chemical products are manufactured at the Sasol Secunda plant in Secunda, Gert SibandeDistrict. It is one of the world’s largest synthetic fuels facilities, producing 60-million litres of liquid fuel a day.Products produced include petroleum, paraffin, jet fuel, creosote, bitumen and waxes.The ferro-alloy and stainless-steel industries are based in the Nkangala District. Columbus Stainless inMiddelburg is Africa’s only producer of stainless-steel flat products. Samancor Chrome (Ferrometals),the world’s second-largest ferrochrome producer, has two plants in Mpumalanga.Agro-processing is mainly based in the Lowveld Region and consists of manufacturing forestry products(pulp, paper and cellulose), sugar at the Selati RCL Foods plants in Nkomazi and processing subtropical fruitand nuts.The province’s flourishing macadamia nut industry has a numberof large processing facilities based around the provincial capital,Mbombela. Subtropical fruits like mango, banana, papaya and citrusare processed into juice concentrate or dried for export.There is a geographical divide in the manufacturing sector. Fuel,petroleum and chemical production occurs in the southern HighveldRegion clustered around Sasol’s plants.The northern Highveld area, including Middelburg and eMalahleni(Witbank), is home to ferro-alloy, steel and stainless-steel concerns.Creative thinking kicked in when Highveld Steel’s troubles reacheda tipping point. The 1 000ha property in eMalahleni has been repurposedas a multi-purpose site for industry and commerce. Calledthe Highveld Industrial Park, the project promotes a wide range ofmanufacturing enterprises.In the Lowveld, agricultural and forestry products are processedwhile Sappi’s giant mill is close to the company’s forests south-west ofthe provincial capital, Mbombela.KEY SECTORS TOURISMThe Tourism Industry in the Mpumalanga Provinceis one of the most strategic sectors and has thepotential to grow the economy and contribute to jobcreation. The importance of tourism to the economy ofMpumalanga cannot be overstated.Despite the lacklustre global economic growth and the decline in disposableincome, foreign and domestic tourists have been steadily visiting Mpumalanga’sshores. Mpumalanga received over 2.1-million international visitors in 2024,24% of South Africa's inbound tourism market and the second-largest in South2BILLIONIncome from KrugerNational ParkAfrica. The key source countries were Mozambique,eSwatini, US, Germany, France and the UK. Mpumalangaboasts world-class parks and reserves, astonishingbotanical gardens, rivers and lakes. Safaris are a majordrawcard, and the Kruger National Park is the jewel inSouth Africa’s tourism crown which brings in R2-billionannually. Tourism subsectors such as business travel(including conference facilities), adventure, heritageand cultural tourism all hold huge growth potential.41.1International touristsin 2023million
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TOURISMSelected StrategicHigh Impact Projects:BOURKE’S LUCK POTHOLES HOTELThis natural water wonder is a major tourism attraction in theMpumalanga Lowveld. This project presents an investmentopportunity for a five-star hotel and a top-quality restaurant.Feasibility study: completedEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA): commencedModel: Joint Venture (JV), Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)BLYDE RIVER CANYONCABLE CAR PROJECTThe Blyde River Canyon is the largest and deepestgreen canyon in the world and offers a spectacularopportunity to build a cable car transporting touristsfrom the top of the canyon to the peninsula below.Feasibility study: completedEIA: commencedModel: JV, BOTGOD’S WINDOW SKY WALKThe project to build a “Sky Walk” – an income-generatingtourism attraction off the edge of the 700m God’s Windowcliffs – giving 360-degree panoramic views out and downthrough a glass floor.Feasibility study: completedEIA: commencedInvestors: securedModel: JV, BOT3.6BILLIONAge of volcanic and sedimentary rockat Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains, aUNESCO World Heritage Site.500+Bird species recorded in the Kruger NationalPark, including the Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle,Southern Ground Hornbill and Lappetfaced Vulture513Nature reserves are run by the MpumalangaTourism and Parks Agency and Kruger NationalPark is run by SANParks
