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

Key findings regarding mining production for September 2011

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 5,1% in the third quarter of 2011 compared with the second quarter of 2011. The main contributor to the 5,1% decrease was PGMs (contributing -1,8 percentage points).

Actual mining production was 4,8% lower in the third quarter of 2011 compared with the third quarter of 2010. A year-on-year decrease of 5,4% was recorded in September 2011 compared with a revised 4,2% decrease in August 2011.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for August 2011

The seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices reflected an increase of 4,7% for the three months ended August 2011 compared with the three months ended May 2011. The 4,7% increase (R3 980,7 million) was mainly due to increases in the sales value of iron ore (contributing 3,7 percentage points or R3 101,9 million), gold (contributing 1,5 percentage points or R1 317,3 million) and other non-metallic minerals (contributing 1,0 percentage point or R823,8 million).

The actual value of mineral sales at current prices for the three months ended August 2011 increased by 17,4% compared with the three months ended August 2010. The major contributors to this increase were: