South Africa’s mining sector expands 11.2% in 2021 – StatsSA says
Mining production decreased by 1,1% year-on-year in December 2021. The largest negative contributors were:
- gold (-15,3% and contributing -2,4 percentage points);
- coal (-8,1% and contributing -1,9 percentage points);
- manganese ore (-10,8% and contributing -1,1 percentage points); and
- iron ore (-7,4% and contributing -1,0 percentage point).
PGMs (24,4% and contributing 5,3 percentage points) was a significant positive contributor.
Total mining production was 11,2% higher in 2021 compared with 2020. The 11,2% increase in annual mining production followed a decrease of 10,6% in 2020 and a decrease of 1,0% in 2019.
Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 5,3% in December 2021 compared with November 2021. This followed month-on-month changes of -3,3% in November 2021 and 2,8% in October 2021.
Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 3,5% in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with the third quarter of 2021. The largest negative contributors were:
- iron ore (-15,5% and contributing -1,8 percentage points);
- gold (-7,7% and contributing -1,1 percentage points); and
- coal (-4,2% and contributing -1,1 percentage points).
Mineral sales at current prices increased by 10,7% year-on-year in December 2021. The largest positive contributors were:
- PGMs (34,4% and contributing 10,5 percentage points);
- coal (28,8% and contributing 5,1 percentage points);
- ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (104,5% and contributing 2,9 percentage points); and
- manganese ore (28,0% and contributing 1,4 percentage points).
Iron ore (-30,3% and contributing -5,7 percentage points) and gold (-25,8% and contributing -3,8 percentage points) were significant negative contributors.
Total mineral sales were 39,1% higher in 2021 compared with 2020. The 39,1% increase in annual mineral sales followed increases of 10,1% in 2020 and 10,8% in 2019.
Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 9,3% in December 2021 compared with November 2021. This followed month-on-month changes of 5,4% in November 2021 and 11,5% in October 2021.
