IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Mining production decreased by 1,1% year-on-year in March 2019. The largest negative contributors were:

• gold (-17,7% and contributing -2,3 percentage points);
• ''other'' non-metallic minerals (-8,1% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point);
• chromium ore (-6,4% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and
• iron ore (-1,6% and contributing -0,2 of a percentage point).

The largest positive contributor was coal (5,7% and contributing 1,4 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 3,8% in March 2019 compared with February 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of -2,3% in February 2019 and 0,0% in January 2019.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 3,4% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the fourth quarter of 2018. The largest negative contributors were:

• diamonds (-35,4% and contributing -1,8 percentage points);
• iron ore (-5,3% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point); and
• manganese ore (-9,4% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales increased by 11,6% year-on-year in March 2019. The largest positive contributors were:

• PGMs (21,3% and contributing 4,2 percentage points);
• iron ore (44,1% and contributing 4,2 percentage points);
• manganese ore (17,6% and contributing 1,6 percentage points); and
• chromium ore (21,8% and contributing 1,0 percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 5,1% in March 2019 compared with February 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of -7,0% in February 2019 and -3,1% in January 2019.

In the first quarter of 2019 the seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices was 2,9% lower compared with the fourth quarter of 2018.