JOHANNESBURG (Commodity Online) : South Africa’s combined mining production increased year-on-year in January, according to Stats South Africa.

In a report, Stat SA said country’s index of total mining production was 7,7% higher in January 2010 compared with January 2009.



The 7,7% increase in mining production year-on-year followed decreases of 2,3% in December 2009 and 2,2% in November 2009. This is the first positive annual growth since July 2008.

The total mining production for the three months ended January 2010, after seasonal adjustment, increased by 3,3% compared with the previous three months.

The production of platinum group metals was the main contributor (contributing 3,6 percentage points), while iron ore contributed 1,0 percentage point to the 3,3% increase.

The total value of mineral sales was 22,7% lower in 2009 compared with 2008, following increases of 34,0% in 2008 and 15,9% in 2007.

The major contributors to the annual decrease of 22,7% in 2009 were Platinum Group Metals which dropped 11,2% or or -R33 565,4 million, coal dropped 5,4% or R16 319,2 million and manganese ore down 3,9% or R11 762,8 million.

But the value of iron ore and gold sales increased in 2009 and contributed 1,6 percentage points and 0,9 of a percentage point respectively to the annual 22,7% decrease.

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