Key findings: P2041 - Mining: Production and sales, January 2009

The total mining production for the three months ended January 2009, after seasonal adjustment, decreased by 10,7% compared with the previous three months. The main contributors to the 10,7% decrease were the platinum group metals (PGMs) (-5,7 percentage points) and diamonds (-3,3 percentage points).

The total value of mineral sales was 33,5% higher in 2008 compared with 2007. The 33,5% increase in the value of mineral sales followed increases of 15,9% in 2007 and 35,5% in 2006. The major contributors to the annual increase of 33,5% in 2008 were coal (12,4 percentage points or R27 841,0 million), manganese ore (6,1 percentage points or R13 772,8 million), PGMs (5,8 percentage points or R12 938,0 million) and iron ore (3,9 percentage points or R8 758,5 million).