By Dumisani Ndlovu
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has reported a significant 20.1% year-on-year increase in mineral production in the third quarter of 2024.
According to ZIMSTAT’s report on mineral output for July, August, and September 2024, the Index of Mineral Production stood at 169.2, up from 139.9 in the previous period.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development compiled the data, which shows a 5.9% quarter-on-quarter increase in the index from 159.8 recorded in the second quarter. Gold output was a significant contributor to this growth, with a quarter-on-quarter increase of 32.3% from 118.2 recorded during the second quarter.
“The quarter-on-quarter comparison shows a 5.9 percent increase in the index from 159.8 recorded in the 2nd quarter,” the report stated.
The year-on-year comparison for gold shows an increase in the index of 22.7% from 127.4 recorded in the third quarter of 2023. Platinum output also increased, with a year-on-year growth of 3.2% from 141.3 recorded in the third quarter of 2023.
Other minerals, such as diamonds, coal, and lithium, also recorded significant growth. Diamond output increased by 20.3% year-on-year, while coal output grew by 26.3%. Lithium production also increased by 5.9% year-on-year.
However, copper production bucked the trend, registering a year-on-year output drop of 14.8% between the third quarters of last year and this year. In volume terms, the decline was from 4,162mt in the third quarter of 2023 to 3,547mt this year.
“The 3rd quarter 2024 output index for copper was 166.8. The year-on-year index analysis shows a decrease of 14.8 percent, as production went down from 4,162mt in 3rd quarter 2023 to 3,547mt during the quarter under review,” the report stated.
