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 4.1 percent, while the country's manganese ore production index fell by 10.3 percent, both month on month. In the given month, South Africa's nickel production was up by 6.7 percent month on month.
On year-on-year basis, in November last year South African iron ore production decreased by 19.7 percent, while manganese ore production was up by 15.8 percent. In November last year, the country's nickel output declined by 5.9 percent compared to the same month of 2017.
Furthermore, the country's seasonally adjusted iron ore sales at current prices in November year increased by 45.1 percent compared to the previous month, to ZAR 5.86 billion ($422 million), while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices was up by 33.8 percent in November compared to October, amounting to ZAR 543.8 million ($39.15 million). South Africa's seasonally adjusted manganese ore sales in November at current prices totaled ZAR 3.83 billion ($276 million), down by 23.6 percent month on month.
The year-on-year percentage change at current prices in October was up by 47.7 percent in iron ore sales, up by 7.6 percent in nickel sales and rose by 21.2 percent in manganese ore sales.