IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding mining production

Mining production decreased by 3,3% year-on-year in August 2020. The largest negative contributors were:

·         gold (-14,8% and contributing -1,9 percentage points);

·         iron ore (-18,1% and contributing -1,8 percentage points); and

·         coal (-4,0% and contributing -1,1 percentage points).

The largest positive contributor was PGMs (12,7% and contributing 2,6 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 6,8% in August 2020 compared with July 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of 20,3% in July 2020 and -0,7% in June 2020.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 27,5% in the three months ended August 2020 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributors were PGMs (44,0% and contributing 8,3 percentage points), iron ore (75,3% and contributing 4,7 percentage points) and manganese ore (52,6% and contributing 4,2 percentage points).

Key findings regarding mineral sales

Mineral sales increased by 20,9% year-on-year in August 2020. The largest positive contributors were:

·         PGMs (63,0% and contributing 15,8 percentage points);

·         iron ore (39,3% and contributing 5,1 percentage points);

·         gold (7,6% and contributing 1,2 percentage points); and

·         ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (35,6% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 13,1% in August 2020 compared with July 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of 27,0% in July 2020 and -4,6% in June 2020.

In the three months ended August 2020 the seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales at current prices was 16,2% higher compared with the previous three months.