According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in 2012 total mining production in South Africa was 3.1 percent lower compared with 2011. The fall in annual mining production followed a decrease of 0.9 percent in 2011 and a 4.8 percent increase in 2010, year on year.
In December 2012, the country's mining production decreased by 7.5 percent year on year, while the seasonally adjusted mining production index in December increased by 1.2 percent compared to November 2012, following a month-on-month increase of 12 percent and a decrease of 8.7 percent respectively in November and October last year.
The seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa in December last year decreased by 0.9 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index decreased by 4.5 percent, both compared to November. On the other hand, South Africa's nickel production index in December increased by 1.1 percent, while the country's chrome ore production fell by 10.7 percent, both compared to November. On year-on-year basis, in December last year South African iron ore production rose by 17.3 percent, manganese ore production fell by eight percent, while the country's nickel output fell by 8.9 percent and its chrome ore output fell by 13.1 percent.
Furthermore, in South Africa the seasonally adjusted iron ore sales value at current prices in November 2012 decreased by 16.2 percent compared to October, to ZAR 4 billion ($452.6 million), while the seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales value at current prices increased by 57.7 percent compared to October to ZAR 1.1 billion ($124.5 million). The seasonally adjusted nickel sales value in November at current prices was ZAR 635 million ($72 million), rising 3.9 percent, and the seasonally adjusted chrome ore sales value in November at current prices was ZAR 788.4 million ($89 million), rising 64.3 percent, both month on month. The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in November last year was down 30.4 percent in iron ore sales, up 68.4 percent in manganese ore sales, up 5.6 percent in nickel sales and up 6.8 percent in chrome ore sales.