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Domestic Appliance ManufacturersHousehold appliances are generally classified into the
categories “white goods”
(which include larger appliances such as refrigerators,
stoves, freezers, washing machines,
tumble driers and dishwashers) and “appliances“
(such as toasters, heaters, irons, and hair driers). Appliance Manufacture in KZNFollowing the liquidation of two domestic appliance
manufacturers - one in Alrode near Johannesburg and one
in Manzini, Swaziland - only two major local
manufacturers are left in the industry, and both of these
have factories situated in KwaZulu-Natal.
One large manufacturer of refrigerators, freezers, stoves,
washing machines and tumble driers locally has its
refrigerator and freezer manufacturing operations in
Ezakheni (near Ladysmith) and East London. The main
factory, which is situated in Jacobs, Durban, manufactures
the rest of the range of appliances. A competitor
manufacturing only refrigerators and freezers is situated
in Isithebe near Mandini on the KwaZulu-Natal north
coast. This manufacturer imports the rest of its product
range.
Apart from these two major players, there are other
smaller manufacturing operations, making fridges and other
electrical appliances as well as refrigeration
components.
South Africa has in the past imported white goods mainly
from Germany, Italy and the USA, but imports from
countries such as Korea and China have increased
dramatically over the past 2 years.
The manufacturing of white goods links upstream mainly to
steel, plastics, and electrical components. Steel
products account for 32% of inputs for household
refrigerators and freezers, 29% of inputs for household
laundry equipment, and 19% of inputs for household
cooking equipment.
White goods contribute approximately 1.8% to total
exports.
In 2006/07 approximately 94,677 tons of mechanical /
electrical appliances were imported into South Africa, of
which 65,372 tons came through the port of Durban.
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