TOP NEWS: Anglo American production performance mixed in first half

(Alliance News) - Anglo American PLC on Thursday delivered a mixed performance for its diverse ...

Alliance News 20 July, 2023 | 7:58AM
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(Alliance News) - Anglo American PLC on Thursday delivered a mixed performance for its diverse portfolio of commodities and kept its annual guidance unchanged.

The London-based mining company said copper production rose surged 42% to 387,000 tonnes for the six months that ended June 30 from 273,000 tonnes a year earlier.

For the second quarter, copper output jumped 56% to 209,000 tonnes from 134,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year, due to the ramp-up of production from its new Quellaveco mine in Peru, which offset a 2% decrease in Chile production.

Anglo American said platinum group metals declined 7% in the first half to 1.84 million ounces from 1.98 million ounces. Output was 9% lower to 943,000 ounces in the second quarter from 1.0 million ounces in the corresponding period last year.

In another separate filing, Anglo American Platinum Ltd, a subsidiary of Anglo American, said its total platinum group metals production in second quarter decreased by 9% to 943,100 ounces from 1.0 million against the prior period.

"While we continued to manage heightened Eskom load-curtailment, it impacted 29 production days for the quarter contributing to a build-up in work-in-progress inventory of [around] 38,900 PGM ounces," Anglo American Platinum Chief Executive Natascha Viljoen said.

In iron ore, Anglo American said production, including contribution from Kumba Iron Ore Ltd, rose 12% to 30.7 million tonnes in the first half from 27.5 million. Iron ore output was up 9% in the second quarter to 15.6 million tonnes from 14.4 million.

Separately, Kumba said its production for the first six months increased by 6% to 18.8 million tonnes from 17.8 million tonnes. For the second quarter, Kumba production was down slightly 1% to 9.4 million tonnes from 9.5 million tonnes.

"Kumba delivered a solid operational performance in the first half and we are on track to meet our full-year production guidance," Kumba Chief Executive Mpumi Zikalala said.

Anglo American said nickel production was flat at 19,600 tonnes, reflecting the impact of lower grades, despite operational improvements at Codemin in Brazil.

Nickel output, though, declined 4% in the second quarter to 9,900 tonnes from 10,300 tonnes.

Diamond production fell 2% to 16.5 million carats in the first half from 16.9 million carats, while output dropped 5% to 7.6 million carats from 7.9 million carats.

Turning to steelmaking coal, interim production grew 43% to 6.9 million tonnes from 4.8 million tonnes. For the second quarter, output rose 28% to 3.4 million tonnes from 2.6 million tonnes.

Production in manganese ore eased slightly to 970,000 tonnes, down 1% from 980,000, but the second-quarter output was up 2% to 1.81 million tonnes from 1.78 million tonnes.

"Production increased by 11% compared to the second quarter in 2022, reflecting the ramp-up of our new Quellaveco copper mine in Peru, which has now reached commercial production levels," Anglo American Chief Executive Duncan Wanblad said.

"We also delivered a strong performance at our Minas-Rio iron ore operation in Brazil, as well as higher production from our open cut operations in Steelmaking Coal in Australia. These were offset by temporary lower production from De Beers' Venetia mine, as it transitions from open pit to underground, and expected lower PGMs production, as well as the impact of lower copper throughput and grades in Chile," Wanblad said.

Anglo American maintained its annual production guidance for 2023.

Its PGM estimate ranges between 3.6 million ounces and 4.0 million ounces, compared to 4.02 million ounces in 2022.

Iron ore output is projected to be between 57 million tonnes and 61 million tonnes from 59.3 million tonnes.

Copper is guided for growth to between 840,000 tonnes and 930,000 tonnes from 664,000 tonnes, while steelmaking coal is likely to rise to between 16 million and 19 million tonnes from 15.0 million tonnes.

Diamonds production is seen slowing to between 30 million and 33 million carats from 34.6 million carats, and nickel is expected at between 38,000 tonnes and 40,000 tonnes from 39,800 tonnes.

Anglo American shares rose 4.6% at 2,409.34 pence in London on Thursday morning. They were up 4.7% at ZAR555.85 in Johannesburg.

In Johannesburg, Anglo American Platinum shares rose 4.7% to ZAR942.66, while Kumba shares gained 1.8% to ZAR454.58.

By Artwell Dlamini, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Anglo American PLC 2,773.50 GBX 1.37
Anglo American Platinum Ltd 73,769.00 ZAC 7.50 -
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd 51,000.00 ZAC 3.50 -

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