IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production for February 2016

Mining production decreased by 8,7% year-on-year in February 2016. The largest negative growth rates were recorded for iron ore (-32,5%), building materials (-19,7%), manganese ore (-18,9%) and PGMs (-18,1%). The main negative contributors to the 8,7% decrease were iron ore (contributing -6,8 percentage points), PGMs (contributing -2,2 percentage points) and manganese ore (contributing -1,4 percentage points). Gold was a significant positive contributor (contributing 1,8 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 1,3% in February 2016 compared with January 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of -5,1% in January 2016 and -0,8% in December 2015.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 2,2% in the three months ended February 2016 compared with the previous three months.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for January 2015

Mineral sales decreased by 1,5% year-on-year in January 2016. The largest negative contributors to the decrease of 1,5% were iron ore (-37,3% and contributing -5,9 percentage points), manganese ore (-60,0% and contributing -3,7 percentage points) and chromium ore (-30,8% and contributing -1,2 percentage points).

Three minerals with significant positive contributions were gold (31,3% and contributing 4,1 percentage points), PGMs (12,4% and contributing 2,3 percentage points) and 'other' non-metallic minerals (45,2% and contributing 2,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 3,9% in January 2016 compared with December 2015. This followed month-on-month changes of 2,7% in December 2015 and -2,1% in November 2015.