According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in October this year the seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa increased by 6.5 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index remained unchanged, both compared to September. On the other hand, South Africa's nickel production index rose seven percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in October this year South African iron ore production rose 38.2 percent, manganese ore production increased by 36.7 percent, while the country's nickel output increased by 16 percent.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in September this year decreased by 31.8 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 5.13 billion ($493.19 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices decreased by 7.4 percent in September compared to August, amounting to ZAR 557.1 million ($53.59 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in September at current prices totaled ZAR 1.19 billion ($114.57 million), down 8.4 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in September this year was up 28.1 percent in iron ore sales, down 12.3 percent in nickel sales and up 12.1 percent in manganese ore sales.