IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production

Mining production decreased by 3,2% year-on-year in August 2019. The largest negative contributors were:

·         PGMs (-12,5% and contributing -3,0 percentage points);

·         diamonds (-29,8% and contributing -1,4 percentage points); and

·         coal (-3,4% and contributing -0,9 of a percentage point).

Manganese ore (34,3% and contributing 1,8 percentage points) was a significant positive contributor.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 0,3% in August 2019 compared with July 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of -4,9% in July 2019 and 2,4% in June 2019.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 1,3% in the three months ended August 2019 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributors were manganese ore (12,5% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point) and ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (14,2% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales increased by 7,1% year-on-year in August 2019. The largest positive contributors were:

·         iron ore (31,2% and contributing 3,3 percentage points);

·         PGMs (15,2% and contributing 3,3 percentage points);

·         gold (19,0% and contributing 2,8 percentage points); and

·         ‘other’ metallic minerals (67,6% and contributing 1,6 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 2,5% in August 2019 compared with July 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of 3,2% in July 2019 and -2,1% in June 2019.

In the three months ended August 2019 the seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices was 0,9% lower compared with the previous three months.