JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s overall mining production increased by 10,4% year-on-year in August, according to official data released on Thursday.

This was the highest year-on-year increase since March, when production grew by 12,9%.

July had seen an increase in output of only 0,5% year-on-year and in June production had expanded by only 0,6% year-on-year.

The data, released by Statistics South Africa, showed that manganese ore production had increased by 112,3% year-on-year in August, diamond production by 41,7% and chromium ore production by 37,5%.

Platinum group metals output expanded by 22,7%, nickel output by 10,5% and gold production increased by 3,7%.

The production of iron-ore was down 2% year-on-year, while copper output fell by 1,8% and coal production by 0,4% year-on-year in August.

Total mining production for the three months ended August 31, 2010, was up by 4,1%, compared with the three months ended May 31, 2010.

Production had also increased by 3,8% between July and August, with nickel output up 8,5%, platinum-group metals production up 8,4% and gold output up by 4,5%.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.