According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in April this year the country's actual mining production index decreased by 10.6 percent compared to April 2011, while the seasonally adjusted mining production index in April increased by 0.9 percent compared to March this year.
In South Africa, the iron ore mining production index in April increased by nine percent year on year, up 2.8 percent over March, while the country's manganese ore production index in April decreased by 22 percent compared to April 2011 and was down 6.8 percent month on month. On the other hand, South Africa's nickel production index in the month in question increased slightly by 0.2 percent compared to the same month last year, rising 10.9 percent compared to the previous month.
Furthermore, the seasonally adjusted iron ore sales value at current prices in March this year decreased by three percent compared to February, falling to ZAR 5.13 billion ($608 million), up 3.5 percent compared to March 2011. In March this year, the seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales value at current prices was ZAR 816 million ($96.8 million), falling 1.5 percent month on month, up 4.5 percent compared to March last year, while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices decreased by 13.4 percent compared to February, to ZAR 458 million ($54.3 million), down 46.4 percent compared to March 2011.