According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in November last year the seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa declined by 7.6 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index increased by 6.3 percent, both month on month. In the given month, South Africa's nickel production fell by nine percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in November last year South African iron ore production decreased by 7.5 percent, while manganese ore production was up by ten percent. In November last year, the country's nickel output decreased by 14.9 percent compared to the same month of 2018.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in November last year increased by 6.9 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 4.87 billion ($339 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices was up by 14.1 percent in November compared to October, amounting to ZAR 858.9 million ($59.74 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in November at current prices totaled ZAR 2.71 billion ($188.37 million), down by 35.1 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in November was down by 26.7 percent in iron ore sales, down by 37 percent in manganese ore sales and rose by 57.9 percent in nickel sales.