According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in August this year the seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa decreased by 8.5 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index increased by 1.4 percent, both compared to July. On the other hand, in the given month South Africa's nickel production increased by 16.2 percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in August this year South African iron ore production increased by 21.7 percent, manganese ore production increased by 19.2 percent, while the country's nickel output expanded by 9.5 percent.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in July this year decreased by 15 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 4.38 billion ($392.47 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices increased by 27.3 percent in July compared to June, amounting to ZAR 954.4 million ($85.52 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in July at current prices totaled ZAR 1.10 billion ($98.56 million), down 10.4 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in July this year was down 12.3 percent in iron ore sales, increased by 67.2 percent in nickel sales and was down 28.6 percent in manganese ore sales.