JOHANNESBURG - Stats SA released second-quarter GDP data on Tuesday that showed the economy expanded in the three months to June, ending the second recession in less than a decade.

The economy grew 2.5 percent in the second quarter.

The Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry was the biggest contributor to growth, adding 33.6 percentage points to GDP.

Q2:2017 #GDP for primary sector up 10,3%. #Agriculture up by 33,6% & #Mining up by 3,9% #StatsSA https://t.co/whDRcckw79 pic.twitter.com/DGDTK81870

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) September 5, 2017

Agriculture and mining were the only two industries that expanded in the first quarter, and both continued to perform well in the three months through June.

The #mining industry contributed 7% to SA economy in Q2:2017, #Agriculture=4%. Q2:2017 #GDP=2,5% #StatsSA https://t.co/whDRcckw79 pic.twitter.com/OaKdu01s5Y

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) September 5, 2017

The secondary sector grew by 1,9% in Q2:2017 driven by #electricity industry. Q2:2017 #GDP=2,5% #StatsSA https://t.co/whDRcckw79 pic.twitter.com/zZL1LEdIfw

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) September 5, 2017

Finance industry was main contributor to the 1,2% Q2:2017 growth in the tertiary sector. Q2:2017 #GDP=2,5% #StatsSA https://t.co/whDRcckw79 pic.twitter.com/nwKnFtIPU4

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) September 5, 2017

Government services recorded a decrease of 0.6 percentage points.

The SA #economy grew by 2,5% in Q2:2017 from Q1:2017 driven by #Agriculture & #mining industries #StatsSA #GDP https://t.co/8Z34S227Iu pic.twitter.com/c8GwoN6o5k

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) September 5, 2017

The economy entered a technical recession earlier this year after two consecutive quarters of economic decline.

eNCA