Key findings: P2041 - Mining: Production and sales, January 2011

Key findings regarding mining production for January 2011

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 3,0% for the three months ended January 2011 compared with the three months October 2010. The main contributor to the 3,0% increase was PGMs (contributing 1,7 percentage points).

Actual mining production rose by 8,1% for the three months ended January 2011 compared with the three months ended January 2010 (see Tables A and 6). A year-on-year increase of 4,3% was recorded in January 2011 compared with a 10,2% increase in December 2010

Key findings regarding mineral sales for December 2010

The seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices reflected an increase of 4,1% in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with the third quarter of 2010. The increase of 4,1% (R3 199,5 million) was mainly due to increases in the sales value of iron ore (contributing 2,3 percentage points or R1 794,7 million) and  manganese ore (contributing 1,4 percentage points or R1 039,5 million).

The total value of minerals sales was 23,6% higher in 2010 compared with 2009, following a decrease of 19,7% in 2009 and an increase of 34,0% in 2008 (see Table 8). All mineral groups and minerals contributed positively to the 23,6% increase, with iron ore and PGMs being the main contributors with 6,7 and 6,6 percentage points respectively.