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South Africa’s vehicle market improved further in March. Total vehicle sales rose to 58.06K from 53.46K previously, while annual growth accelerated to 17.30% from 11.40%. The data points to stronger sales volume and faster year-on-year expansion, indicating a firmer auto market than in the prior month.

Importance: Low

Possible Market Effect: Stronger vehicle sales may modestly support sentiment around domestic demand, but the direct effect on broader South African assets is usually limited.

Source: Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.

South Africa’s Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.0 in March from 47.4 previously. With no forecast provided, the key message is that manufacturing conditions improved, but remained below the 50 threshold, indicating that contraction persisted despite the rebound.

Importance: Low

Possible Market Effect: The improvement may slightly reduce concern around manufacturing weakness, but staying below 50 means the broader industrial signal remains soft.

Source: Absa and the Bureau for Economic Research (BER).

Turkey’s Istanbul Chamber of Industry Manufacturing PMI came in at 47.90 in March, down from 49.30 previously. With no forecast provided, the key signal is that manufacturing conditions weakened further and remained below 50, indicating continued contraction in the sector.

Importance: Low

Possible Market Effect: The weaker PMI may reinforce caution around Turkey’s industrial and growth momentum, particularly if softness persists in the coming months.

Source: Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO).

The S&P Global South Korea Manufacturing PMI rose to 52.6 in March from 51.1 previously. With no forecast provided in the input, the key signal is that manufacturing conditions improved further and remained in expansion territory. The data suggests factory-sector momentum strengthened at the end of the quarter.

Importance: Low

Possible Market Effect: A higher PMI can modestly support Korean equities and cyclical sentiment, as it points to improving manufacturing activity.

Source: S&P Global.

South Korea’s March preliminary trade data showed a much stronger external performance. Exports rose 48.3% YoY, beating the 44.9% forecast and accelerating from 28.7% previously. Imports increased 13.2% YoY, below the 18.0% forecast but above 7.5% previously. As a result, the trade balance improved to 25.74B, well above the 21.20B forecast and up sharply from 15.38B previously. The overall picture points to a significant strengthening in net trade, driven by much faster export growth and a wider surplus.

Importance: Low

Possible Market Effect: The stronger surplus and faster export growth can be supportive for the won and for sentiment toward Korea’s external sector, although the weaker-than-expected import reading may also suggest domestic demand was less firm than forecast.

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Republic of Korea.

South Africa’s trade balance rose to a 36.92B surplus in February, up from 8.50B previously. The data points to a much stronger external trade position than in the prior month, indicating a significant improvement in the monthly goods balance.

Possible Market Effect: A sharply wider trade surplus can be modestly supportive for the rand, as it signals a stronger near-term external position.

Source: South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Brazil’s PPI fell 0.25% month-on-month in February, reversing the 0.32% increase previously. The data shows producer prices moved back into negative monthly territory, pointing to weaker pipeline price pressures at the industrial level.

Importance: Medium

Possible Market Effect: Softer producer prices may slightly support the view that upstream inflation pressure remains contained.

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE).

Brazil’s long-term interest rate TJLP was set at 9.13% in Q2, down from 9.19% previously. The decline points to a slight easing in the benchmark rate used for long-term financing conditions.

Importance: Medium

Source: Conselho Monetário Nacional (CMN).

Brazil’s fiscal balances deteriorated sharply in February. The budget balance fell to -100.589B from 40.062B previously, while the budget surplus moved to -16.388B from 103.689B. The data points to a significant weakening in the monthly fiscal position, marking a sharp reversal from the previous reading.

Importance: Medium

Possible Market Effect: A sharp fiscal reversal can weigh on confidence in near-term budget discipline and may keep attention on sovereign risk and funding expectations.

Source: Tesouro Nacional do Brasil.

Brazil’s public debt profile deteriorated slightly in February. The gross debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 79.2% from 78.7% previously, while the net debt-to-GDP ratio increased to 65.5% from 65.0%. The data shows a modest rise in public debt burdens, pointing to slightly weaker fiscal leverage metrics at the start of the year.

Importance: Medium

Possible Market Effect: Higher debt ratios can keep markets attentive to Brazil’s fiscal trajectory and may mildly support caution in local rates and currency pricing.

Source: Banco Central do Brasil (BCB).

The SARB Quarterly Bulletin was listed as a released item in the current data set. No numerical values were provided in this entry, so the release signals publication of a broader macroeconomic and financial update rather than a single measurable economic surprise.

Source: South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

Turkey’s February trade data showed a sharp increase in exports, but a wider deficit compared with the previous reading. Exports rose to 30.10B, well above the 21.10B forecast and higher than 20.30B previously. At the same time, the trade balance stood at -9.03B, better than the -9.20B forecast but weaker than the -8.38B previous reading. The data suggests export performance was very strong, but not enough to prevent a larger trade gap than in the prior period.

Possible Market Effect: The strong export figure may offer some support to sentiment around external demand, but the wider deficit versus the previous reading tempers that signal.

Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).