According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in September this year the seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa decreased by two percent, while the country's manganese ore production index rose by 19.1 percent, both month on month. In the given month, South Africa's nickel production was down by 3.5 percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in September this year South African iron ore production increased by two percent, while manganese ore production was up by 16.8 percent. In September this year, the country's nickel output fell by 19.9 percent compared to the same month of 2017.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in September this year decreased by 13.6 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 3.93 billion ($273 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices was down by 10.2 percent in September compared to August, amounting to ZAR 561.3 million ($39.06 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in September at current prices totaled ZAR 3.92 billion ($273 million), up by 12.1 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in September was down by 9.8 percent in iron ore sales, increased by 22.6 percent in nickel sales and rose by 25.1 percent in manganese ore sales.