Mining production in South Africa rose by 2.5% year-on-year in March 2026, following a 9.7% jump in the prior month and below market forecasts of a 4.1% advance. This marked the slowest mining growth in the current four-month stretch, with activity easing across key segments including PGMs (10.5% vs 52.3% in February), manganese ore (14.4% vs 27.8%) and nickel (10.5% vs 29.6%). Moreover, production fell for copper (-35.8% vs -42.7%); other non-metallic minerals (-16.8% vs -13.2%); coal (-9.6% vs -6.7%); other metallic minerals (-9.5% vs -0.1%); diamonds (-8.5% vs 13.1%) and iron ore (-2.7% vs -12.3%). Conversely, gold output picked up (17.1% vs 12.8%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, mining production slipped by 5.1%, after an upwardly revised 3% rise in the prior month. Mining output increased by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the fourth quarter of 2025. source: Statistics South Africa

Mining production in South Africa increased 2.50 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Mining Production in South Africa averaged -0.01 percent from 1981 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 127.50 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -51.60 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - South Africa Mining Production- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Mining Production YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Mining production in South Africa increased 2.50 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Mining Production in South Africa is expected to be 2.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Mining Production YoY is projected to trend around -1.30 percent in 2027 and 1.80 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-14 09:30 AM
Mining Production YoY
Feb 9.7% 5% 10.0%
2026-05-14 09:30 AM
Mining Production YoY
Mar 2.5% 9.7% 4.1% 3.8%
2026-06-11 09:30 AM
Mining Production YoY
Apr 2.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 146.00 135.00 Companies Mar 2026
Changes in Inventories -6246.00 17267.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Electricity Production 18028.00 16790.00 Gigawatt-hour Mar 2026
Gold Production YoY 17.10 12.80 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 0.90 -2.30 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM 0.80 -1.80 percent Mar 2026
Mining Production YoY 2.50 9.70 percent Mar 2026


South Africa Mining Production YoY
In South Africa, the index of the volume of mining production is a statistical measure of the change in the volume of production. Coal is the most important sector and accounts for 24 percent of total mining production, followed by PGMs (23 percent); gold (16 percent); iron ore (12 percent); other non-metallic minerals (6 percent); diamonds (4 percent); manganese ore and chromium ore (3 percent each); other metallic minerals, building materials and nickel (2 percent each), and copper (1 percent).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.50 9.70 127.50 -51.60 1981 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
South Africa Mining Output Growth Misses Forecasts
Mining production in South Africa rose by 2.5% year-on-year in March 2026, following a 9.7% jump in the prior month and below market forecasts of a 4.1% advance. This marked the slowest mining growth in the current four-month stretch, with activity easing across key segments including PGMs (10.5% vs 52.3% in February), manganese ore (14.4% vs 27.8%) and nickel (10.5% vs 29.6%). Moreover, production fell for copper (-35.8% vs -42.7%); other non-metallic minerals (-16.8% vs -13.2%); coal (-9.6% vs -6.7%); other metallic minerals (-9.5% vs -0.1%); diamonds (-8.5% vs 13.1%) and iron ore (-2.7% vs -12.3%). Conversely, gold output picked up (17.1% vs 12.8%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, mining production slipped by 5.1%, after an upwardly revised 3% rise in the prior month. Mining output increased by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the fourth quarter of 2025.
2026-05-14
South Africa Mining Sector Growth Hits 2-Year High
Mining production in South Africa surged by 9.7% year-on-year in February 2026, following an upwardly revised 5% rise in the prior month. This marked the strongest pace of growth in mining activity since February 2024, mainly driven by favorable base effects from a weak comparison base. Notable increases were seen for PGMs (+52.3%); chromium ore (+26.9%) manganese ore (+17.8%) and gold (+12.8%). On the other hand, iron ore (-12.4%) and coal (-6.7%) were the largest negative contributors. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, mining production rose by 2.3%, after an upwardly revised 3.7% advance in the previous month. Seasonally adjusted mining production shrank by 1.7% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the previous three months.
2026-04-14
South Africa Mining Activity Picks Up Pace
Mining production in South Africa climbed by 4.6% year-on-year in January 2026, following an upwardly revised 2.8% rise in the prior month. Platinum group metals (+10.8%, adding 2.7 points), chromium ore (+37.3%, +1.8 points), and manganese ore (+12.5%, +1.0 point) were the main positive contributors. Gold (0.7%) and diamonds (4.2%) also registered increases. Conversely, output declined significantly for copper (-21.7%); other non-metallic minerals (-21.7%); nickel (-4.3%) and building materials (-4.1%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, mining production rose by 2.9%, the most since May 2025, after an upwardly revised 1.6% drop in the previous month.
2026-03-12