According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in August this year the seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa increased by 24.2 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index rose by 19.2 percent, both month on month. In the given month, South Africa's nickel production was up by 14.1 percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in August this year South African iron ore production increased by nine percent, manganese ore production rose by 27.7 percent, while the country's nickel output was up by 4.6 percent.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in July this year increased by 14.6 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 3.69 billion ($277.9 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices was down by 35 percent in July compared to June, amounting to ZAR 359.3 million ($27 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in July at current prices totaled ZAR 2.76 billion ($207.8 million), down 28.8 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in July was up 0.4 percent in iron ore sales, was down by 21 percent in nickel sales and rose by 116.9 percent in manganese ore sales.