IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production for March 2014

Mining production decreased by 4,7% year-on-year in March 2014. PGMs decreased by 44,3% and was a significant negative contributor (contributing -10,1 percentage points) to the 4,7% decrease.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 5,5% in March 2014 compared with February 2014. This followed month-on-month changes of -5,7% in February 2014 and -3,7% in January 2014.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 6,8% in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the previous quarter. The main contributors to the 6,8% decrease were PGMs (contributing -4,5 percentage points) and diamonds (contributing -1,2 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales for February 2014

Mineral sales increased by 11,1% year-on-year in February 2014. The highest positive growth rates were recorded for 'other' non-metallic minerals (85,9%), manganese ore (72,5%), 'other' metallic minerals (62,6%), nickel (52,9%) and iron ore (52,4%). The major contributors to the 11,1% increase were iron ore (contributing 7,0 percentage points), 'other' non-metallic minerals (contributing 5,0 percentage points) and PGMs (contributing 2,2 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 2,4% in February 2014 compared with January 2014. This followed month-on-month changes of 6,3% in January 2014 and -0,3% in December 2013.