Mining production increased by 0.6% year-on-year in December, driven by platinum group metals (PGMs) and coal, Statistics South Africa principal survey statistician Juan-Pierre Terblanche outlines.

PGMs production increased by 9.4% and contributed 2.8 percentage points, while coal production increased by 5.8%, contributing 1.3 percentage points.

Chromium output also increased, by 19.9% and contributed 0.7 of a percentage point.

However, total mining production was 0.4% lower in 2023 compared with 2022.

The 0.4% decrease in yearly mining production followed a decrease of 7.2% in 2022 and an increase of 12.7% in 2021.

Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 4.2% in December compared with November.

This followed month-on-month changes of 2.7% in November and 2% in October.

Seasonally adjusted mining production increased by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with the third quarter of 2023.

The largest positive contributors were PGMs (8.2% and contributing 2.1 percentage points); and coal (5.3% and contributing 1.3 percentage points).

MINERAL SALES
Mineral sales at current prices, meanwhile, increased by 9.2% year-on-year in December.

The largest positive contributors were gold (127.7% and contributing 11.3 percentage points), iron-ore (60.6% and contributing 6.4 percentage points) and chromium ore (71.4% and contributing 3.2 percentage points).

Total mineral sales at current prices were 10.3% lower in 2023 compared with 2022.

The 10.3% decrease in yearly mineral sales followed increases of 3.1% in 2022 and 39.8% in 2021.

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices increased by 4.2% in December, compared with November.

This followed month-on-month changes of 2.9% in November and 13.3% in October.

Mineral sales at current prices increased by 16.8% in the fourth quarter of the year compared with the third quarter.