JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mining production increased by 5.2% year-on-year in October 2017, according to the most recent findings from Statistics South Africa.
The largest positive contributors were iron-ore, which contributed 2.4 percentage points and coal, which contributed 1.5 percentage points.
Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 3.4% in October compared with September, following month-on-month changes of -6.8% in September and 5.4% in August.
Seasonally adjusted mining production also increased by 2.3% in the three months ended October, compared with the previous three months.
Platinum group metals (PGMs) and iron-ore were the largest positive contributors, each contributing 1.1 percentage points.
Mineral sales increased by 7% year-on-year in September.
The main positive contributors were manganese ore contributing 5.1 percentage points, iron-ore contributing 3.2 percentage points, coal contributing 2.4 percentage points and chromium ore contributing 1.7 percentage points.
Gold and PGMs were significant negative contributors.
Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 0.8% in September compared with August. This followed month-on-month changes of 5.4% in August 2017 and 3.3% in July.