JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s mining output fell the most on record in March, a result of last year’s ramp up in mining activity after a five-month strike two years ago, a statistics body said on Thursday.

Total mining output plunged 18 percent in March year-on-year compared to an 8.3 percent drop the previous month.

“It’s the biggest year-on-year drop ever,” Statistic South Africa statistician Juan-Pierre Terblanche said. “It’s a base effect of last year when there was a big spike after the mines recovered fast after the strike.”

Platinum mining companies Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin are still reeling from effects of the record 2014 pay strike and sustained low commodity prices.

(Reporting by Zandi Shabalala, editing by David Evans)