17th Apr 2025 11:13
(Alliance News) - South32 Ltd on Thursday described its production performance for the nine months of its financial year as "strong" and indicated it is on track to resume shipment from its Australian manganese business.
In a quarterly report, the Perth-based mining group said Worsley alumina production fell 2.4% to 2.79 million tonnes for the nine months that ended March 31 from 2.86 million tonnes a year earlier. But Worsley alumina output was up 1.5% to 941,000 tonnes in the third quarter from 927,000 in the same quarter a year before.
Brazil alumina production for nine months rose 5.6% to 1.0 million tonnes from 953,000 tonnes, and grew by 3.5% in the third quarter to 324,000 tonnes from 313,000 tonnes.
Brazil aluminium production surged 32% to 100,000 tonnes for nine months from 76,000 tonnes, while third-quarter output was up 38% to 36,000 tonnes from 26,000 tonnes.
Hillside aluminium production inched down 0.6% to 537,000 tonnes for nine months from 540,000 tonnes, and output for third quarter fell 3.3% to 175,000 tonnes from 181,000 tonnes.
Despite civil unrest in Mozambique, Mozal aluminium production for nine months rose 12% to 265,000 tonnes from 237,000 tonnes, and production was up 23% to 87,000 tonnes in the third quarter from 71,000 tonnes.
Australia manganese production crashed to 639,000 wet tonnes from 2.3 million wet tonnes over the nine-month period. There was no production in the third quarter, compared to 646,000 wet tonnes a year before.
Operations in Australia were temporarily suspended due to the Tropical Cyclone Megan.
South32 said Australia manganese has installed all major structures for the wharf and is on track to recommence export sales in the June 2025 quarter.
Manganese production in South Africa declined 5.1% to 1.55 million wet tonnes for nine months from 1.64 million wet tonnes, and third-quarter output fell 10% to 476,000 tonnes from 530,000 tonnes.
Payable copper equivalent production at Sierra Gorda in Chile rose 20% to 66,200 tonnes for nine months from 55,100 tonnes, and third-quarter output was up 19% to 19,800 tonnes from 16,700 tonnes.
"Another strong quarter of operating performance saw our net cash position increase by USD299 million to USD252 million," South32 Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr said.
South32 lowered annual production guidance at Cannington by 10% due to challenging geotechnical conditions and reduced operator availability in the third quarter as a result of weather-related disruptions in Queensland.
The company keeps other full-year projections unchanged.
Shares in South32 were down 0.6% to 129.80 pence in London on Thursday. In Johannesburg, they were up 0.5% to ZAR32.51.
By Artwell Dlamini, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
South32