IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production

Mining production decreased by 6,2% year-on-year in January 2021. The largest negative contributors were:

·        PGMs (-14,5% and contributing -3,5 percentage points);

·        coal (-13,5% and contributing -3,5 percentage points); and

·        gold (-14,1% and contributing -1,6 percentage points).

Manganese ore was a significant positive contributor (34,7% and contributing 2,3 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 4,5% in January 2021 compared with December 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,5% in December 2020 and -3,0% in November 2020.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 3,3% in the three months ended January 2021 compared with the previous three months. The largest negative contributors were PGMs (-14,0% and contributing -3,1 percentage points), coal (-4,5% and contributing -1,1 percentage points) and manganese ore (-9,9% and contributing -1,0 percentage point). Iron ore was a significant positive contributor (25,4% and contributing 2,1 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales increased by 24,9% year-on-year in January 2021. The largest positive contributors were:

·        PGMs (37,8% and contributing 12,0 percentage points);

·        gold (71,6% and contributing 10,7 percentage points); and

·        iron ore (43,3% and contributing 5,6 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 31,0% in January 2021 compared with December 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of -6,6% in December 2020 and -4,0% in November 2020.