JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s mining output declined by 14,5% year-on-year in May, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Thursday.

Gold production was down 10,5% year-on-year, while nongold production declined by 15,1% year-on-year.

The overall mining production for the three months ended May was down 1,5%, compared with the three months ended May 2008. Platinum-group metals (PGMs) production was down 1,5% in the three months.

Meanwhile, the total value of mineral sales in the three months ended April had declined by 1%, or R630,5-million, compared with the previous three months.

This was mainly as a result of a 4,8% decline in the sale of nongold minerals, stated Stats SA.

Further, the value of mineral sales for the three months ended April was down 15,5%, compared with the three months ended April 2008.

This was owing to a 12,89% decline in PGMs, a 3,9% decline in manganese ore, a 1,9% drop in the sale of nonmetallic minerals and a 1,2% decline in copper sales.

However, iron-ore sales were up by 4,4% and gold was up by 3,1%.

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