Key findings: P2041 - Mining: Production and sales, October 2012

Key findings regarding mining production for October 2012

Mining production decreased by 7,7% year-on-year in October 2012. The highest negative growth rate was recorded for copper (-56,4%), followed by gold (-45,7%) and `other` metallic minerals       (-26,9%). The main contributors to the 7,7% decrease were gold (contributing -8,6 percentage points) and iron ore (contributing -4,0 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 7,9% in October 2012 compared with September 2012. This followed month-on-month changes of -7,0% in September 2012 and -2,4% in August 2012.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 10,2% in the three months ended October 2012 compared with the previous three months. The main contributors to the 10,2% decrease were gold (contributing -3,2 percentage points), PGMs (contributing -2,7 percentage points) and iron ore (contributing -1,6 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales for September 2012

Mineral sales decreased by 12,9% year-on-year in September 2012. The largest negative growth rate was recorded for copper (-42,5%), followed by `other` metallic minerals (-33,7%) and chromium ore (-27,5%). The major contributors to the 12,9% decrease were PGMs (contributing -3,9 percentage points), gold (contributing -3,3 percentage points) and iron ore (contributing -3,0 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 7,3% in September 2012 compared with August 2012. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,7% in August 2012 and  -1,1% in July 2012.

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 0,6% in the third quarter 2012 compared with the previous quarter. This increase was driven mainly by an increase in the sales value of PGMs (contributing 2,9 percentage points).