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

The total mining production for the three months ended April 2008, after seasonal adjustment, decreased by 4,1% compared with the previous three months. The decrease of 4,1% was due to a decrease of 5,5% in the production of gold and a decrease of 3,9% in the production of non-gold minerals. The major contributors to the decrease of 4,1% were platinum group metals (PGMs) (-3,7 percentage points), diamonds (-0,8 of a percentage point) and gold ( 0,7 of a percentage point).
The total seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices for the first quarter of 2008 reflected an increase of 13,5% compared with the previous quarter. The increase of 13,5% (R8 016,4 million) can be attributed to increases of 14,3% (R7 158,7 million) in the sale of non-gold minerals and 9,0% (R857,7 million) in the sale of gold.