APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South Africa’s mining output rose by 3.9 percent in October this year as compared to the same month in 2022, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) records have revealed.
According to the agency, October 2023 marked the first increase in industrial activity after three consecutive months of decline in the year.
The largest positive contributors to the jump in mining production in October came from platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese ore and chromium ore, Stats SA said.
PGMs production jumped 16.9 percent year-on-year (contributing four percentage points to the overall figure), while manganese ore output was up 8.9 percent year-on-year (contributing 0.7 of a percentage point) and chromium ore rose by 13.8 percent (contributing 0.6 of a percentage point).
Mining production increased by 2.1 percent in October on a month-to-month basis compared with September 2023, the agency said, adding that the data showed that mineral sales at current prices decreased by 0.7 percent in October 2023.
NM/jn/APA