Mining production booming in South Africa, report finds

Mining production in South Africa continued its “exceptional” growth in August, as production figures increased year on year.

Iron Ore, Gold and Diamond mining proved key, as mining production across the South African continent increased by 6.9% year on year, a 9% increase year on year from July.

Iron ore was accountable for 1.3 percentage points, gold accountable for 1.1 percentage points and diamonds accountable for 1.2% percentage points.

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The figures come from Stats SA (Statistics South Africa), which has released its report looking at mining production and sales for August 2017.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 5,3% in August 2017 compared with July 2017. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,5% in July 2017 and -1,0% in June 2017.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 1,4% in the three months ended August 2017 compared with the previous three months.

Key findings regarding mineral sales for July 2017

Mineral sales increased by 17,7% year-on-year in July 2017. The main positive contributors were:

• coal (36,3% and contributing 9,5 percentage points);
• manganese ore (116,9% and contributing 4,9 percentage points);
• chromium ore (59,8% and contributing 2,1 percentage points); and
• 'other' metallic minerals (106,2% and contributing 1,8 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 2,8% in July 2017 compared with June 2017. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,1% in June 2017 and 2,0% in May 2017.