Mining production in South Africa plunged by 7.5% year-on-year in July 2026, after an upwardly revised 4.3% drop in June and worse than analysts' forecasts of a 2.8% slump. The latest decline extended South Africa’s mining downturn to three consecutive months and was the sharpest since February 2025. Output declined across almost all categories, led by platinum group metals (PGMs), coal and iron ore. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, mining production shrank by 1.9%, after a downwardly revsied 0.1% increase in the month before. Mining production decreased by 5.5% in the three months ended July 2026 compared with the previous three months.