South Africa’s mining output plunges sharply again

In September 2026, South Africa's mining production plummeted by 10.7% year-on-year, with the revised data for August showing a decline of 11.7%, marking the largest annual drop since October 2022. This is the fifth consecutive month of declines, and the decrease is significant, with most mining categories weakening across the board. The main drags were iron ore (-23.7%), coal (-13.4%), platinum group metals (-9.9%), and diamonds (-63.1%). Seasonally adjusted, mining production in September increased by 2.8% month-on-month, reversing the previously revised 4.8% decline. In the third quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted mining output decreased by 6% compared to the second quarter.