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 increased by 6.8 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index fell four percent, both compared to October. On the other hand, South Africa's nickel production index decreased by 1.3 percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in November last year South African iron ore production rose eight percent, manganese ore production increased by 33.6 percent, while the country's nickel output increased by 16.5 percent.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in October last year increased by 5.3 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 5.42 billion ($589.05 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices decreased by 8.3 percent in October compared to September, amounting to ZAR 496.4 million ($53.95 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in October at current prices totaled ZAR 925.30 million ($100.56 million), down 17.3 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in October last year was up 34.5 percent in iron ore sales, down 12.4 percent in nickel sales and up 18.7 percent in manganese ore sales.