IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

P2041 Mining production and sales

Key findings regarding mining production for March 2011

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 0,4% in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the fourth quarter of 2010. The main contributor to the 0,4% increase was PGMs (contributing 2,6 percentage points).

Actual mining production increased by 2,1% in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the first quarter of 2010 (see Tables A and 6). A year-on-year decrease of 1,4% was recorded in March 2011 compared with a 4,5% increase in February 2011.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for February 2011

The seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices reflected an increase of 8,4% for the three months ended February 2011 compared with the three months ended November 2010. The increase of 8,4% (R6 748,4 million) was mainly due to increases in the sales value of PGMs (contributing 3,6 percentage points or R2 921,1 million), other non-metallic minerals (contributing 1,9 percentage points or R1 506,8 million) and coal (contributing 1,0 percentage point or R802,8 million).

The actual value of mineral sales at current prices in the three months ended February 2011 increased by 31,1% compared with the three months ended February 2010. The major contributors to this increase were iron ore (contributing 11,8 percentage points or R7 158,1 million), PGMs (contributing 7,2 percentage points or R4 412,5 million), gold (contributing 3,9 percentage points or R2 351,5 million) and coal (contributing 3,3 percentage points or R2 039,8 million).