IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production

Mining production decreased by 4,8% year-on-year in December 2018. The negative contributors were:

• gold (-31,0% and contributing -4,6 percentage points);
• iron ore (-14,3% and contributing -2,1 percentage points);
• 'other' metallic minerals (-18,4% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point);
• copper (-30,8% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and
• chromium ore (-9,3% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

Total mining production was 1,6% lower in 2018 compared with 2017. The 1,6% decrease in annual mining production followed an increase of 3,9% in 2017 and a decrease of 3,7% in 2016.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 1,2% in December 2018 compared with November 2018. This followed month-on-month changes of -6,5% in November 2018 and 3,0% in October 2018.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 1,0% in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter of 2018. The largest negative contributors were:

• gold (-12,2% and contributing -1,6 percentage points); and
• diamonds (-17,6% and contributing -1,1 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales increased by 17,4% year-on-year in December 2018. The largest contributors were:

• PGMs (26,9% and contributing 5,6 percentage points);
• coal (19,3% and contributing 5,4 percentage points);
• iron ore (41,3% and contributing 4,1 percentage points); and
• manganese ore (44,8% and contributing 3,3 percentage points).

Total mineral sales were 5,2% higher in 2018 compared with 2017. The 5,2% increase in annual mineral sales followed increases of 8,4% in 2017 and 12,9% in 2016.