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

Key findings regarding mining production for May 2011

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 0,4% for the three months ended May 2011 compared with the three months ended February 2011. The main contributor to the 0,4% increase was iron ore (contributing 1,3 percentage points).

Actual mining production increased by 6,7% for the three months ended May 2011 compared with the three months ended May 2010. A year-on-year increase of 9,6% was recorded in May 2011 compared with a revised 12,0% increase in April 2011.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for April 2011

The seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices reflected an increase of 4,4% for the three months ended April 2011 compared with the three months ended January 2011. The 4,4% (R3 676,4 million) increase was mainly due to increases in the sales value of coal (contributing 2,6 percentage points or R2 181,6 million) and other non-metallic minerals (contributing 1,5 percentage points or R1 232,2 million.

The actual value of mineral sales at current prices for the three months ended April 2011 increased by 28,0% compared with the three months ended April 2010. The major contributors to this increase were iron ore (contributing 7,3 percentage points or R4 970,8 million), coal (contributing 6,8 percentage points or R4 618,9 million), PGMs (contributing 6,7 percentage points or R4 514,2 million) and gold (contributing 3,9 percentage points or R2 609,7 million).