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

The total mining production for the three months ended July 2008, after seasonal adjustment, increased by 1,3% compared with the previous three months, mainly driven by an increase of 2,2% in the production of gold, followed by an increase of 1,2% in the production of non-gold minerals. The division that made the highest contribution to the seasonally adjusted increase of 1,3% in total mining production was diamonds (contributing 1,2 percentage points), followed by iron ore (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point). Coal was the only significant negative contributor (-0,9 of a percentage point) to the mining production for the three months ended July 2008.

The total seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices for the second quarter of 2008 reflected an increase of 17,0% compared with the first quarter of 2008. This increase of 17,0% (R11 704,8 million) can be attributed to increases of 18,0% (R10 520,2 million) in the sale of non-gold minerals and 11,2% (R1 184,6 million) in the sale of gold.