SA mining production falls

South Africa’s mining production plunged by 5%, last year, the country’s data authority said.

Statistics South Africa said the slide was recorded amid signs of recovery reported by South Africa Chamber of Mines in December.

The data authority said December mining production improved in December 2016, with iron ore recording the most significant improvement

The production sharp hikes compared to the month of November indicates that iron ore rose by 13%, coal by 4.8%, building materials by 4.1%, chrome by 4.1%, nickel by 4%, gold by 2.7% and other metals by 8%.

Henk Langenhoven, chief economist of the Chamber of Mines commenting on the development said it was almost impossible to determine the link between commodity prices and the production of the same commodities in South Africa.

“There seems to be some ‘green shoots’ evident in the performance of the sector, although the latest production data shows just how difficult the process of recovery will be,” said Langenhoven.

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