Increases in the mining production of pgms helped increase South Africa's non-gold mineral mining output slightly during the first quarter of 2006, according to government figures.

Mining production of pgms increased by 3.9 per cent from the previous quarter and was the greatest contributor to the marginal increase in South African mining production as a whole, increasing the country's mining output by 1.1 per cent.

The seasonally adjusted index measuring the physical level of mine production suggested that production of pgms in March had increased significantly from the previous month, up to 153.5 from 124.9 in February.

However, mining production of precious metals was down from the figure produced in March 2005, falling 9.4 points from 164.9.

The actual value of mineral sales from the country for the three months up to February was up by 30 per cent at current prices, compared with the preceding three months.

Pgms provided 14.4 per cent of this boost, or an extra R265 million.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd