South Africa Mining Output Falls 7.5% in July 2026 as PGM and Coal Volumes Weigh

Wed Sep 16 2026

South Africa Mining Output Falls 7.5% in July 2026 as PGM and Coal Volumes Weigh

Statistics South Africa reported that the volume of mining production declined by 7,5% year on year in July 2026, according to the statistical release P2041 on mining production and sales. The agency said the largest negative contributors to the annual decrease were platinum group metals, coal and iron ore.

PGMs fell 13,5% year on year and subtracted 3,2 percentage points from the headline change, while coal dropped 7,5% and contributed a negative 2,0 percentage points. Iron ore declined 8,1% and accounted for a negative 1,3 percentage points.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, mining production slipped 1,9% in July 2026 from June 2026. That followed a month-on-month rise of 0,1% in June 2026 and a fall of 5,6% in May 2026.

Over the three months ended July 2026, seasonally adjusted mining production was 5,5% lower than in the preceding three months. PGMs were the biggest drag, declining 14,3% and contributing a negative 4,2 percentage points. Manganese ore fell 6,7% and subtracted 0,5 of a percentage point, while gold decreased 4,6% and iron ore 2,7%, each contributing a negative 0,4 of a percentage point.

Mineral Sales Decline on Gold and Nickel Weakness

Mineral sales at current prices decreased 5,6% year on year in July 2026. Gold was the largest negative contributor, falling 33,4% and subtracting 8,5 percentage points. Other non-metallic minerals declined 26,0% and contributed a negative 0,7 of a percentage point, while nickel dropped 51,7% and subtracted 0,4 of a percentage point.

Chromium ore provided the largest positive contribution, rising 20,0% and adding 1,6 percentage points, followed by coal, which increased 5,0% and contributed 1,0 percentage point.

Seasonally adjusted mineral sales at current prices fell 15,1% in July 2026 compared with June 2026, after month-on-month changes of 2,0% in June 2026 and negative 5,2% in May 2026. For the three months ended July 2026, seasonally adjusted mineral sales were 10,0% lower than in the previous three months.

The release is based on a monthly survey conducted by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, covering formal mining establishments in South Africa. The production index uses a base year of 2019 equal to 100, and the figures are preliminary and subject to revision. The next issue, covering August 2026, is expected on 13 October 2026.

Source: https://www.indexbox.io/