According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in June this year the seasonally adjusted index of iron ore mining production in South Africa increased by 4.1 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index rose by 11.5 percent, both month on month. In the given month, South Africa's nickel production was up by nine percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in June this year South African iron ore production increased by 4.2 percent, while manganese ore production was down by 12.3 percent. In June this year, the country's nickel output fell by 5.2 percent compared to the same month of 2017.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in June this year decreased by 11.4 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 3.32 billion ($234.18 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices was down by 7.3 percent in June compared to May, amounting to ZAR 621.6 million ($43.86 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in June at current prices totaled ZAR 4.38 billion ($309.59 million), up 7.2 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in June was up by 3.3 percent in iron ore sales, increased by 12.3 percent in nickel sales and rose by 11.5 percent in manganese ore sales.