According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the country’s mining production decreased by 7.7% year-on-year in April, with platinum group metals (PGMs) and gold having made the largest negative contributions and iron-ore the largest positive contribution.
Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 0.6% in April compared with March. This followed month-on-month changes of 3.6% in March and -3.9% in February.
Stats SA notes that seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 2.7% in the three months ended April compared with the previous three months.
The largest negative contributor was PGMs, while the largest positive contributor was iron-ore.
Meanwhile, Stats SA notes that mineral sales at current prices increased by 0.7% year-on-year in April.
The largest positive contributors were gold at 57.6% and contributing 9.4 percentage points, and manganese ore at 66.6% and contributing 3.3 percentage points.
The largest negative contributors were PGMs at -20.1% and contributing -4.7 percentage points and iron-ore at -25.9% and contributing -3.5 percentage points.
Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 6.7% in April compared with March. This followed month-on-month changes of 1.6% in March and -8.6% in February.
Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 8.5% in the three months ended April compared with the previous three months. – (Mining Weekly)
