IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

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 29,8% year-on-year in May 2020. The largest contributors were:

·         iron ore (-66,3% and contributing -7,4 percentage points);

·         PGMs (-27,3% and contributing -6,6 percentage points);

·         manganese ore (-45,4% and contributing -3,0 percentage points);

·         ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (-46,7% and contributing -2,8 percentage points); and

·         coal (-9,6% and contributing -2,6 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 44,0% in May 2020 compared with April 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of -36,8% in April 2020 and -19,3% in March 2020.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 31,3% in the three months ended May 2020 compared with the previous three months. The largest contributors were PGMs (-45,3% and contributing -11,7 percentage points), iron ore (-61,7% and contributing -6,9 percentage points), gold (-29,4% and contributing -3,8 percentage points) and ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (-41,0% and contributing -2,5 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales decreased by 13,4% year-on-year in May 2020. The largest negative contributors were:

·         coal (-21,2% and contributing -5,8 percentage points);

·         manganese ore (-41,1% and contributing -3,5 percentage points);

·         PGMs (-9,8% and contributing -2,5 percentage points); and

·         chromium ore (-50,4% and contributing -2,1 percentage points).

Gold (58,6% and contributing 5,7 percentage points) was a significant positive contributor.

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 25,7% in May 2020 compared with April 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of -36,9% in April 2020 and 1,6% in March 2020.