Mining production, sales up in September

South Africa’s mining production increased by 4.7% year-on-year in September, Statistics South Africa reports.

The largest positive contributions came from platinum group metals (PGMs) (6.7% and contributing 2.1 percentage points); iron-ore (10% and contributing 1.3 percentage points); manganese ore (13.5% and contributing 0.9 of a percentage point); chromium ore (17.3% and contributing 0.8 of a percentage point); and diamonds (35.4% and contributing 0.5 of a percentage point).

Coal (-4.4% and contributing -1 percentage point) and gold (-3.7% and contributing -0.5 of a percentage point) were the only negative contributors.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 3.8% in September compared with August.

This followed month-on-month changes of 3.3% in August and -1.1% in July.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 1% in the third quarter of the year, compared with the second quarter.

The largest positive contributors were manganese ore (10.1% and contributing 0.7 of a percentage point) and chromium ore (7.3% and contributing 0.4 of a percentage point).

PGMs (-0.8% and contributing -0.3 of a percentage point) was the largest negative contributor.

Mineral sales at current prices increased by 8% year-on-year in September.

The largest positive contributors were gold (42.3% and contributing 5.1 percentage points); manganese ore (48.8% and contributing 2.7 percentage points); chromium ore (19.4% and contributing 1.5 percentage points); and coal (5.8% and contributing 1.5 percentage points).

The largest negative contributor was PGMs (-15.9% and contributing -4.3 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 16.4% in September compared with August.

This followed month-on-month changes of -21.4% in August and -1.7% in July.

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 2.5% in the third quarter from the second quarter.