[ferro-alloys.com] According to the preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa, in May this year the country's mining production decreased by 0.7% YoY while the seasonally adjusted mining production index in May increased by 4.5% compared to April, following MoM increase of 2.8% in April and MoM fall of 4.6% in March.

The seasonally adjusted index ofiron ore mining production in May this year increased by 2.3% while the country's manganese ore production index increased by 3.3% both compared to April. On the other hand, South Africa's nickel production index in May rose by 7.1% compared to April. On YoY basis, in May this year South African iron ore production rose by 4% manganese ore production surged by 31.9% while the country's nickel output increased by 6.5%.

Furthermore, the seasonally adjusted iron ore sales value at current prices in April this year decreased by 3.1% compared to the previous month to ZAR 4.8 billion while the seasonally adjusted nickel sales value at current prices increased by 8.8% compared to March to ZAR 410 million. The seasonally adjustedmanganese ore sales value in April at current prices was ZAR 1 billion falling 6.3% MoM. The YoY percentage change at current prices in April this year was up 0.3% in iron ore sales up 12.8% in nickel sales and up 39.1% in manganese ore sales.