Mining output climbs 4%

Johannesburg - South Africa's total mining production grew by four percent last year compared to 2012, Statistics SA said in a report on Thursday.

"The 4% increase in annual mining production followed a decrease of 3.2% in 2012 and a decrease of 0.9% in 2011," StatsSA said in its key findings for mining production and sales.

In the fourth quarter of last year, seasonally adjusted mining production increased 4.3% from the previous quarter.

The main contributor to this increase was iron ore, which contributed 3.3 percentage points.

"Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices decreased by 2.7% in November 2013 compared with October 2013.

"This followed month-on-month changes of 3.3% in October 2013 and -8.0% in September 2013."

Mining production increased by 12% in December 2013, compared to December the previous year.

The main contributors to this increase were iron ore at 5.8%, platinum group metals (PGMs), contributing 3.6%, and gold, contributing 1.8%.

Mineral sales increased 7.9% in November 2013, compared to November 2012.

"The major contributors to the 7.9% increase were iron ore (contributing 6.8 percentage points) and PGMs (contributing 4.8 percentage points)."

Gold was a significant negative contributor at -8.0%.