Key findings regarding mining production

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown regulations since 27 March have had an extensive impact on economic activity. Mining production decreased by 47,3% year-on-year in April 2020. The largest contributors were:

·         PGMs (-62,0% and contributing -14,6 percentage points);

·         iron ore (-68,7% and contributing -7,5 percentage points);

·         gold (-59,6% and contributing -6,9 percentage points); and

·         manganese ore (-57,6% and contributing -3,8 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 34,1% in April 2020 compared with March 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of -17,9% in March 2020 and -3,3% in February 2020.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 21,9% in the three months ended April 2020 compared with the previous three months. The largest negative contributors were PGMs (-27,5% and contributing -6,5 percentage points), iron ore (-48,8% and contributing -5,8 percentage points), gold (-18,1% and contributing -2,3 percentage points) and ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (-35,4% and contributing -2,3 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales decreased by 28,3% year-on-year in April 2020. The largest contributors were:

·         PGMs (-34,6% and contributing -8,1 percentage points);

·         manganese ore (-71,6% and contributing -6,6 percentage points);

·         iron ore (-25,9% and contributing -4,1 percentage points); and

·         coal (-15,4% and contributing -4,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 36,4% in April 2020 compared with March 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,4% in March 2020 and -10,7% in February 2020.