Key findings regarding mining production

Mining production decreased by 1,5% year-on-year in May 2019. The largest negative contributors were:

·         gold (-24,4% and contributing -3,3 percentage points);

·         diamonds (-30,7% and contributing -1,7 percentage points);

·         iron ore (-5,2% and contributing -0,7 of a percentage point); and

·         ‘other’ metallic minerals (-9,8% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point).

The largest positive contributors were:

·         coal (8,0% and contributing 2,0 percentage points);

·         PGMs (6,8% and contributing 1,6 percentage points); and

·         manganese ore (29,3% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 3,0% in May 2019 compared with April 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,8% in April 2019 and 3,9% in March 2019.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 2,2% in the three months ended May 2019 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributor was coal (4,3% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

 Mineral sales increased by 10,7% year-on-year in May 2019. The largest positive contributors were:

·         PGMs (37,9% and contributing 7,8 percentage points);

·         iron ore (68,6% and contributing 6,3 percentage points);

·         ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (34,2% and contributing 1,3 percentage points); and

·         coal (3,8% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).