Key findings: P2041 - Mining: Production and sales, April 2010

The index of total mining production was 2,7% higher in April 2010 compared with April 2009. This is the fourth positive annual growth since January 2010.

The total mining production for the three months ended April 2010, after seasonal adjustment, increased by 1,8% compared with the previous three months ended January 2010. The main contributors to the 1,8% increase were diamonds (contributing 1,2 percentage points), other non-metallic minerals (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point) and coal (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point)

Key findings regarding mineral sales for March 2010

The total seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices for the first quarter of 2010 reflected an increase of 12,1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase of 12,1% (R7 092,9 million) was mainly due to increases in the sales value of PGMs (contributing 4,4 percentage points or R2 582,6 million), coal (contributing 3,5 percentage points or R2 023,5 million), other non-metallic minerals (contributing 3,1 percentage points or R1 829,7 million) and iron ore (contributing 2,7 percentage points or R1 572,8 million).