Production: results for March 2024

Mining production decreased by 5,8% year-on-year in March 2024. The largest negative contributors were:

·        coal (-9,1% and contributing -2,3 percentage points);

·        manganese ore (-12,2% and contributing -1,0 percentage point);

·        iron ore (-6,8% and contributing -0,9 of a percentage point); and

·        PGMs (-3,6% and contributing -0,9 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 5,0% in March 2024 compared with February 2024. This followed month-on-month changes of 5,3% in February 2024 and -1,0% in January 2024.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 1,7% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the fourth quarter of 2023. The largest negative contributors were:

·        PGMs (-5,5% and contributing -1,5 percentage points);

·        coal (-3,3% and contributing -0,8 of a percentage point); and

·        gold (-2,9% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point).

The largest positive contributor was iron ore (16,7% and contributing 1,9 percentage points)

Mineral sales: results for March 2024

Mineral sales at current prices decreased by 14,9% year-on-year in March 2024. The largest negative contributors were:

·        PGMs (-29,4% and contributing -7,9 percentage points);

·        iron ore (-25,9% and contributing -3,6 percentage points);

·        ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (-42,6% and contributing -2,4 percentage points); and

·        manganese ore (-21,5% and contributing -1,5 percentage points).

Gold was the largest positive contributor (29,6% and contributing 2,8 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 13,5% in March 2024 compared with February 2024. This followed month-on-month changes of -7,2% in February 2024 and -3,0% in January 2024.