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 20.8 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index rose by 0.8 percent, both month on month. In the given month, South Africa's nickel production was down by 21.8 percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in October this year South African iron ore production increased by 17.9 percent, manganese ore production rose by 20.4 percent, while the country's nickel output was down by 15.1 percent.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in September this year decreased by 4.4 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 4.37 billion ($324.6 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices was down by 14.3 percent in September compared to August, amounting to ZAR 463.5 million ($34.43 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in September at current prices totaled ZAR 3.14 billion ($233.3 million), up 32.8 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in September was up 40.7 percent in iron ore sales, was down by 19.1 percent in nickel sales and rose by 176.2 percent in manganese ore sales.