Mining Journal reported that South African mining production fell 10.6% in April YoY as the global recession cut demand for metals and minerals from diamonds to ferrochrome.

Statistics South Africa said that platinum, ferrochrome and diamond producers including Anglo Platinum Limited, Xstrata plc and De Beers Limited have shut or suspended operations as demand from industries including automotives and jewellery declined. South Africa, in its first recession in 17 years, is the biggest producer of platinum.

The agency said that the value of mineral sales in March dropped 16% to ZAR 21.7 billion. The decrease in non-gold mineral sales was 23%.

(Sourced from Mining Journal.com)