Mining output for 2000 down 1,1% y/y — Stats SA
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Total mining production for the year 2000 decreased by 1,1% year-on-year, due mainly to a 4,7% drop in the output of gold for the year, Statistics SA (Stats SA) reported on Tuesday.
However, Stats SA said that the decline was partially offset by a year-on-year increase of 1% in the production of non-gold minerals.
Turning to quarterly mining production, Stats SA said total output for the fourth quarter of 2000, after seasonal adjustment, rose by 1,2% compared with the third quarter of 2000.
This increase was mainly due to an increase of 3,5% in the production of non-gold minerals, but Stats SA said that this increase was partially offset by a decline of 3% in gold production.
The major contributors to the increase in non-gold minerals output were building materials, nickel and iron mines.
In its latest report on mineral sales, Stats SA said the seasonally adjusted value of mineral sales for the three months ended November 2000 rose 13,5% compared with the previous three months.
Furthermore, the actual value of mineral sales for the review period reflected an increase of 31,4% compared with the three months ended November 1999, it said.
The 13,5% quarter-on-quarter rise in the value of mineral sales was due to an increase of 18,1% (+ R3 117,3m) in non-gold mineral sales and an increase of 1% (+ R63,5m) in gold sales.
The increase of 18,1% in non-gold mineral sales can mainly be attributed to increases of 31,9% (+ R111,3m) in sales of copper, 29,0% (+ R1 880,3m) in sales of platinum, 16,5% (+ R404,1m) in sales of other non-metallic minerals and 12,2% (+ R580m) in sales of coal.
The 31,4% year-on-year increase in the actual value of mineral sales for the three months ended November 2000 was due to an increase of 46,9% (+ R6 334,8m) in non-gold mineral sales, Stats SA said.
This 46,9% increase can mainly be attributed to an increase of 107,2% (+ R4 141,1m) in sales of platinum, 38,2% (+ R216,3m) in the sales of iron ore, 33,2% (+ R76,6m) in the sales of manganese ore and an increase of 30,1% (+ R122,3m) in sales of copper, it said. — I-Net Bridge
Tuesday
06 February 2001
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