SA's mining production dwindles for fourth consecutive month - Stats SA

JOHANNESBURG - The mining industry has suffered yet another blow with output falling for a fourth consecutive month.

Mining production dropped by close to 10% year-on-year in February, following a 1.5% contraction the month before.

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released the latest mining data on Tuesday.

Principal survey statistician at Stats SA Juan-Pierre Terblanche says platinum group metals and iron ore were the largest negative contributors.

“Platinum group metals declined by 23,9% and iron ore dropped by 10,5% year-on-year. Together, both dragged overall growth lower by 7,7 percentage points.”

Terblanche says most minerals performed badly except for copper and manganese ore.

“Copper production grew 9,3% and manganese ore grew by 8,6%.”