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South Africa

Open in the explorerOrganisations (30)Events

Production, refining and reserves

CommodityMetricValueWorld rank · shareSource
Rare earthsReserves 2025860,000 t REO#9 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
CobaltMine production 2023378 t Co content#16 · 0.2%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (cobalt), table 7
CobaltRefinery production 2023500 t Co content (refined)#11 · 0.3%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (cobalt), table 8
CobaltReserves 202040,000 t Co content#11 · 0.6%USGS MCS 2021
LithiumMine production 20241,000 t Li2O content—World Mining Data 2026
CopperMine production 202249,194 t Cu content#29 · 0.2%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (copper), table 20
NickelMine production 202329,750 t Ni content#15 · 0.8%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (nickel, tables-only release), table 10
NickelRefinery production 202341,820 t Ni content (primary nickel products)#12 · 1%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (nickel, tables-only release), table 12
NickelReserves 20183.7 million t Ni content#7 · 4%USGS MCS 2019
ChromiumMine production 202523 million t gross weight (chromite ore)#1 · 45%USGS MCS 2026
ChromiumReserves 2025350 million t gross weight (chromite ore)#1 · 29%USGS MCS 2026
AntimonyMine production 20171,200 t Sb content—USGS MCS 2018
AntimonyReserves 201727,000 t Sb content#8 · 2%USGS MCS 2018
FluorsparMine production 2025410,000 t fluorspar#4 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
FluorsparReserves 202541 million t fluorspar#3 · 12%USGS MCS 2026
ManganeseMine production 20257.6 million t Mn content#1 · 38%USGS MCS 2026
ManganeseReserves 2025550 million t (basis not stated)#2 · 31%USGS MCS 2026
PlatinumMine production 2025120,000 kg Pt content#1 · 71%USGS MCS 2026
PlatinumRefinery production 2023132,000 kg Pt content#1 · 48%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (platinum-group metals, tables-only release), table 6
PalladiumMine production 202570,000 kg Pd content#2 · 37%USGS MCS 2026
PalladiumRefinery production 202388,700 kg Pd content#1 · 28%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (platinum-group metals, tables-only release), table 6
ZincMine production 2024120,000 t Zn content—USGS MCS 2025
ZincReserves 20245.9 million t Zn content#9 · 3%USGS MCS 2025
AluminiumRefinery production 2016690,000 t primary aluminium (smelter production)—USGS MCS 2017
VanadiumMine production 20255,000 t V content#4 · 5%USGS MCS 2026
VanadiumReserves 2025520,000 t V content#4 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
Titanium (ilmenite)Mine production 20251.3 million t TiO2 content#3 · 14%USGS MCS 2026
Titanium (ilmenite)Reserves 202528 million t TiO2 content#6 · 6%USGS MCS 2026
Titanium (rutile)Mine production 2025100,000 t TiO2 content#3 · 22%USGS MCS 2026
Titanium (rutile)Reserves 20256.2 million t TiO2 content#2 · 13%USGS MCS 2026
Phosphate rockMine production 20252.2 million t marketable phosphate rock (gross weight)#15 · 0.9%USGS MCS 2026
Phosphate rockReserves 20251,500 million t marketable phosphate rock (gross weight)#8 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
SiliconRefinery production 202535,000 t Si content (ferrosilicon)#11 · 0.7%USGS MCS 2026
LeadMine production 201640,000 t Pb content—USGS MCS 2017
LeadReserves 2016300,000 t Pb content#16 · 0.3%USGS MCS 2017
ThoriumReserves 201335,000 t ThO2#5 · 3%USGS MCS 2014
UraniumMine production 2023200 t U content#11 · 0.4%NEA/IAEA Red Book 2024 (Uranium 2024), Table 1.18
UraniumResources 2023436,400 t U content#7 · 6%NEA/IAEA Red Book 2024 (Uranium 2024), Table 1.2a, <USD 260/kgU
TelluriumRefinery production 20255 t Te content (refined)#6 · 0.5%USGS MCS 2026
TelluriumReserves 2024800 t Te content#5 · 2%USGS MCS 2025
Zirconium (zircon)Mine production 2025270,000 t zircon mineral concentrates (gross weight)#2 · 23%USGS MCS 2026
Zirconium (zircon)Reserves 20255.9 million t ZrO2 content#2 · 8%USGS MCS 2026
HafniumReserves 2009280,000 t HfO2 content#1 · 42%USGS MCS 2010
SeleniumRefinery production 202510 t Se content (refined)#15 · 0.3%USGS MCS 2026
Platinum-group metalsReserves 202563 million kg PGM content#1 · 83%USGS MCS 2026
Iron oreMine production 202566 million t usable iron ore#8 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
Iron oreReserves 20251,200 million t crude ore#15 · 0.6%USGS MCS 2026
HeliumMine production 20221 million m3 helium—USGS MCS 2023
HeliumReserves 2025400 million m3 helium—USGS MCS 2026
SilverMine production 200870 t Ag content—USGS MCS 2009
SulfurRefinery production 2021900,000 t S content—USGS MCS 2022
LimeRefinery production 20251 million t lime#22 · 0.2%USGS MCS 2026
FeldsparMine production 2014200,000 t feldspar—USGS MCS 2015
GoldMine production 202590 t Au content#12 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
GoldReserves 20255,000 t Au content#3 · 8%USGS MCS 2026
Diamond (industrial)Mine production 20253 million carats#5 · 8%USGS MCS 2026
Diamond (industrial)Reserves 202587 million carats#5 · 5%USGS MCS 2026
DiatomiteMine production 2018270,000 t diatomite—USGS MCS 2019
Garnet (industrial)Mine production 202440,000 t garnet (industrial)#4 · 5%USGS MCS 2026
Garnet (industrial)Reserves 20251.3 million t garnet (industrial)—USGS MCS 2026
Kyanite and related mineralsMine production 2025120,000 t kyanite and related minerals—USGS MCS 2026
PerliteMine production 202510,000 t perlite#14 · 0.2%USGS MCS 2026
Sand and gravel (industrial)Mine production 20222.3 million t industrial sand and gravel—USGS MCS 2023
Talc and pyrophylliteMine production 2025300,000 t talc and pyrophyllite#8 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
VermiculiteMine production 2025160,000 t vermiculite#1 · 35%USGS MCS 2026
VermiculiteReserves 202514 million t vermiculite—USGS MCS 2026

Policies and export measures

Policy tracker →

  • 2025-11-20 · agreement

    EU–South Africa Clean Trade and Investment Partnership and minerals and metals value-chain cooperation

    Signed on 20 November 2025 (signature date) at a leaders' meeting in Johannesburg. The package includes the first EU Clean Trade and Investment Partnership and a new cooperation agreement on minerals and metals value chains.

    Source: European Commission

  • 2025-05-15 · strategy

    Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa (Cabinet approval)

    Cabinet approved a national critical minerals strategy aimed at capturing more value from minerals in which South Africa has an advantage, naming PGMs, lithium, cobalt and rare earths. Its pillars cover exploration and beneficiation, investment and localisation, regulatory streamlining, mining innovation, skills, transport and logistics infrastructure, and international cooperation.

    Source: SAnews.gov.za (South African Government News Agency, GCIS)

Trade in critical minerals

Exports 2024$34 bn

  1. Chromium$12 bnto China 53%, Mozambique 26%, Indonesia 7% · 78 more
  2. Platinum$5.3 bnto China 40%, Japan 23%, United States of America 12% · 22 more
  3. Platinum-group metals$3.8 bnto Japan 31%, United States of America 19%, Hong Kong 13% · 18 more
  4. Manganese*$3.5 bnto China 52%, India 17%, Japan 5% · 71 more
  5. Palladium$2.8 bnto United States of America 26%, Japan 20%, United Kingdom 14% · 14 more
  6. Aluminium$2.3 bnto Mexico 21%, United States of America 18%, Netherlands 12% · 63 more
  7. Copper$1.0 bnto China 64%, Mozambique 12%, Taiwan 9% · 44 more
  8. Nickel$769 mto Malaysia 28%, Netherlands 15%, Italy 9% · 53 more

and 36 more commodities

Imports 2024$2.6 bn

  1. Nickel$1.0 bnfrom Zimbabwe 97%, Brazil 2%, New Caledonia 1% · 27 more
  2. Alumina$666 mfrom Australia 98%, China 1%, Germany 0% · 22 more
  3. Copper$227 mfrom Zambia 51%, Dem. Rep. Congo 35%, Botswana 2% · 42 more
  4. Zinc$142 mfrom Brazil 65%, Japan 8%, Spain 7% · 25 more
  5. Potash$124 mfrom Russia 39%, Germany 33%, Chile 19% · 17 more
  6. Cobalt*$81 mfrom Zambia 99%, Canada 0%, Dem. Rep. Congo 0% · 20 more
  7. Aluminium$70 mfrom Bahrain 37%, India 15%, United Arab Emirates 12% · 40 more
  8. Chromium$67 mfrom Zimbabwe 84%, China 7%, India 4% · 14 more

and 37 more commodities

Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.

Fiscal regime for mining

InstrumentApplies toRateLegal basis
RoyaltyGold, Platinum, Palladium, Platinum-group metals, Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Zinc, Lead, SilverRefined mineral resources (Schedule 1 refined condition): rate % = 0.5 + [EBIT / (gross sales x 12.5)] x 100, capped at 5%0.5-5 sliding scalegross sales of the extractor in respect of the mineral resource for the year of assessmentMineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act, 2008 (Act No. 28 of 2008) · s. 3(1), 4(1), 4(3)(a); Schedule 1in force 2024-01-01
RoyaltyIron ore, Manganese, Chromium, Titanium (ilmenite), Titanium (rutile), Zirconium (zircon), Diamond (industrial), Fluorspar, Phosphate rock, Antimony, Barite, Graphite (natural), VermiculiteUnrefined mineral resources (Schedule 2 condition): rate % = 0.5 + [EBIT / (gross sales x 9)] x 100, capped at 7%0.5-7 sliding scalegross sales of the extractor in respect of the mineral resource for the year of assessmentMineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act, 2008 (Act No. 28 of 2008) · s. 3(2), 4(2), 4(3)(b); Schedule 2in force 2024-01-01
Corporate income tax (mining)All mineralsCompany rate for years of assessment ending on or after 31 Mar 2023; SARS states no change for 2026/2727%taxable incomeIncome Tax Act 58 of 1962 (rates as published by SARS) · Rates schedule (company tax)in force 2023-03-31

Rates and terms as set in the cited law or regulation; agreements with individual projects can differ. Not legal or tax advice.

Deals and financing (4)

  1. 2026-03-23 · Equity investment · completed · US$89.4 m

    JOGMEC → ITC Platinum Development Ltd. (ITOCHU-led; 8% of Platreef) · Platreef PGM-nickel project Phase 2 (Ivanhoe Mines)

    JOGMEC made an additional USD 89.4 million equity investment in ITC Platinum Development, which holds 8% of Ivanhoe Mines' Platreef PGM project in South Africa, to fund Phase 2 development.

    official release

  2. 2024-09-30 · Strategic partnership · announced

    International Resources Holding (IRH) → Public Investment Corporation SOC Limited (PIC) · Natural resources investment collaboration (South Africa)

    IRH signed a strategic collaboration MoU with South Africa's state-owned Public Investment Corporation to cooperate on natural-resources investments.

    official release

  3. 2023-12-01 · Equity investment · signed · US$50 m

    U.S. International Development Finance Corporation → TechMet (Phalaborwa Rare Earths / Rainbow Rare Earths) · Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project

    DFC committed up to USD 50 million of equity through TechMet to fund the Phalaborwa project, which plans to recover rare earth oxides from phosphogypsum waste in South Africa.

    official release

  4. 2023-06-09 · Equity investment · signed

    JOGMEC; HANWA Co. (HJ Platinum Metals) → Platinum Group Metals Ltd (Waterberg JV) · Waterberg PGM Project

    JOGMEC agreed to fund Waterberg PGM project expenses as equity through its joint vehicle with HANWA, supporting development of the large Limpopo PGM deposit.

    official release

Mines and facilities (62)

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