IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production for 2007

The reported electricity supply shortages that led to some mine shaft closures contributed to the 10,7% decrease in mining production for January 2008 compared with January 2007. For that reason, the total mining production for the three months ended January 2008, after seasonal adjustment, decreased by 3,9% compared with the previous three months. This decrease of 3,9% was due to a decrease of 9,2% in the production of gold and a decrease of 3,0% in the production of non-gold minerals. The major contributors to the decrease of 3,9% were the production of diamonds (-1,4 percentage points), gold (-1,3 percentage points) and the platinum group metals (PGMs) (-1,2 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales as at the end of November 2007

The total value of mineral sales was 16,6% higher in 2007 compared with 2006. The 16,6% increase in the value of the annual mineral sales followed a 35,5% increase in 2006 and a 14,2% increase in 2005.

The major contributors to the annual increase of 16,6% in 2007 were PGMs (7,5 percentage points or R14 450,9 million), coal (2,7 percentage points or R5 315,6 million), iron ore (1,8 percentage points or R3 498,9 million) and gold (1,3 percentage points or R2 592,9 million).