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

Key findings regarding mining production for October 2011

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 3,1% for the three months ended October 2011 compared with the three months ended July 2011. The main contributor to the 3,1% decrease was PGMs (contributing -1,5 percentage points).

Actual mining production was 6,7% lower for the three months ended October 2011 compared with the three months ended October 2010. A year-on-year decrease of 12,7% was recorded in October 2011 compared with a revised 3,9% decrease in September 2011.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for September 2011

The seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices reflected an increase of 4,9% in the third quarter of 2011 compared with the second quarter of 2011. The 4,9% increase (R4 327,2 million) was mainly due to increases in the sales value of gold (contributing 3,7 percentage points or R3 241,7 million), iron ore (contributing 1,9 percentage points or R1 642,8 million) and coal (contributing 1,4 percentage points or R1 255,4 million).

The actual value of mineral sales at current prices for the third quarter of 2011 increased by 17,7% compared with the third quarter of 2010. The major contributors to this increase were: