IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production for January 2012

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 5,5% for the three months ended January 2012 compared with the three months ended October 2011. The main contributors to the 5,5% increase were coal (contributing 2,4 percentage points) and PGMs (contributing 1,7 percentage points.

Actual mining production was 2,4% lower for the three months ended January 2012 compared with the three months ended January 2011. A year-on-year decrease of 2,5% was recorded in January 2012 compared with a revised 0,1% increase in December 2011.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for December 2011

The seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices reflected an increase of 11,3% in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with the third quarter of 2011. The 11,3% increase (R10 411,2 million) was mainly due to increases in the sales value of PGMs (contributing 3,8 percentage points or R3 513,3 million), coal (contributing 3,3 percentage points or R3 004,5 million) and gold (contributing 2,6 percentage points or R2 411,4 million).

The total value of mineral sales was 23,3% higher in 2011 compared with 2010, following an increase of 24,6% in 2010 and a decrease of 19,7% in 2009. Except for manganese ore, all other mineral groups and minerals contributed positively to the 23,3% increase. The largest increases were:

• iron ore (contributing 6,4 percentage points or R19 212,2 million);
• coal (contributing 5,3 percentage points or R15 981,9 million);
• gold (contributing 5,3 percentage points or R15 798,2 million); and
• PGMs (contributing 3,3 percentage points or R10 066,3 million).