/ 12 March 2003

SA mine production falls by 2,5 percent

South African mining production for the three months ended January 2003, after seasonal adjustment, fell 2,5% compared with the previous three months, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Tuesday.

The decrease of 2.5% after seasonal adjustment in the total mining production was due to a seasonally adjusted decrease of 3.7% in production of non-gold mining minerals during the three months ended January 2003 compared with the previous three months.

The increase of 19.3% in the total value of mineral sales at current prices was due to increases of 42,7% or R12,377-billion in sales of gold and 11,4% or R9,857-billion in sales of non-gold minerals for the year 2002 compared with the year 2001. – I-Net-Bridge