IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production for December 2012

Mining production decreased by 7,5% year-on-year in December 2012. The highest negative growth rate was recorded for PGMs (-23,2%), followed by gold (-21,2%), copper (-19,5%) and chromium ore    (-13,1%). The main contributors to the 7,5% decrease were PGMs (contributing -7,1 percentage points) and gold (contributing -3,4 percentage points). Minerals that had significant positive contributions were iron ore (contributing 2,4 percentage points) and diamonds (contributing 2,2 percentage points).

Total mining production was 3,1% lower in 2012 compared with 2011. The 3,1% fall in annual mining production followed a decrease of 0,9% in 2011 and a 4,8% increase in 2010.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 1,2% in December 2012 compared with November 2012. This followed month-on-month changes of 12,0% in November 2012 and -8,7% in October 2012.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 6,1% in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the previous quarter. The main contributors to the 6,1% decrease were gold (contributing -4,1 percentage points), iron ore (contributing -3,2 percentage points) and PGMs (contributing -1,0 percentage point).

Key findings regarding mineral sales for November 2012

Mineral sales decreased by 15,6% year-on-year in November 2012. The largest negative growth rate was recorded for