Key findings: P2041 - Mining: Production and sales, March 2008

The total mining production for the first quarter of 2008, after seasonal adjustment, decreased by 8,3% compared with the previous quarter. This decrease of 8,3% was due to a decrease of 10,1% in the production of gold and a decrease of 8,0% in the production of non-gold minerals. The major contributors to the decrease of 8,3% were the production of platinum group metals (PGMs) (-5,0 percentage points), diamonds (-1,8 percentage points) and gold ( 1,3 percentage points).
The total seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices for the three months ended February 2008 reflected an increase of 10,8% compared with the previous three months. This increase of 10,8% (R6 064,1 million) can be attributed to an increase of 13,9% (R6 445,3 million) in the sale of non-gold minerals.