Q1 2021 Production Report
22 April, 2021
Anglo American plc Production Report for the first quarter ended 31 March 2021
Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “Anglo American's portfolio is increasingly tilted towards future-enabling metals and minerals, with our recently proposed demerger of our thermal coal operations in South Africa moving us further in that direction. We are also making good progress in ensuring every operation plays its part towards a lower carbon world, with 100% renewable electricity supply now secured for all of our operations across Brazil, Chile and Peru.
"Q1 production was at 95%(1) of normal capacity, meeting strong customer demand despite some limited constraints at certain operations due to Covid-19. Production increased by 3%(1) driven by strong performances at the copper operations in Chile, and PGMs and iron ore in South Africa, more than offsetting plant maintenance downtime at Minas-Rio iron ore in Brazil and the temporary suspension at the Moranbah metallurgical coal operation in Australia."
Q1 highlights
- Demerger of South Africa thermal coal operations, subject to shareholder approval on 5 May.
- Renewable electricity supply agreement signed for mains power at the Quellaveco copper project in Peru. All South American operations will have 100% renewable electricity supply from 2022.
- Copper production increased by 9% due to strong performances at both Los Bronces and Collahuasi.
- Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) production increased by 7%, with Mogalakwena production increasing by 17% due to higher throughput and grade.
- Iron ore production at Kumba increased by 10% driven by higher plant availability.
- Rough diamond sales continued to improve amid midstream restocking following an encouraging holiday selling season for diamond jewellery in major global markets.
Production | Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 | % vs. Q1 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
Diamonds (Mct)(2) | 7.2 | 7.8 | (7)% |
Copper (kt)(3) | 160 | 147 | 9% |
Platinum group metals (koz)(4) | 1,021 | 955 | 7% |
Iron ore (Mt)(5) | 16.2 | 16.0 | 1% |
Metallurgical coal (Mt) | 3.3 | 3.8 | (14)% |
Thermal coal (Mt)(6) | 4.9 | 6.2 | (20)% |
Nickel (kt)(7) | 10.1 | 10.9 | (7)% |
Manganese ore (kt) | 905 | 843 | 7% |
(1) Production capacity excludes Moranbah and Grosvenor. Copper equivalent production is normalised to reflect the closure of the manganese alloy operations and excludes the impact of Grosvenor. Including the impact of Grosvenor, copper equivalent production increased 2% compared to Q1 2020.
(2) De Beers Group production is on a 100% basis, except for the Gahcho Kué joint venture which is on an attributable 51% basis.
(3) Contained metal basis. Reflects copper production from the Copper business unit only (excludes copper production from the Platinum Group Metals business unit).
(4) Produced ounces of metal in concentrate. 5E+Au (platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium plus gold). Reflects own mine production and purchase of concentrate.
(5) Wet basis. The comparative has been restated as Kumba previously reported on a dry basis.
(6) Reflects export primary production, secondary production sold into export markets and production sold domestically at export parity pricing from South Africa, and attributable export production (33.3%) from Colombia (Cerrejón).
(7) Reflects nickel production from the Nickel business unit only (excludes nickel production from the Platinum Group Metals business unit).
PRODUCTION OUTLOOK SUMMARY
2021 production guidance is summarised as follows:
2021 production guidance(1) | |
---|---|
Diamonds(2) | 32-34 Mct |
Copper(3) | 640-680 kt |
Platinum Group Metals(4) | 4.2-4.6 Moz |
Iron ore(5) | 64.5-67.5 Mt |
Metallurgical coal(6) | 14-16 Mt (previously 18-20 Mt) |
Thermal coal (reflecting proposed demerger)(7) | c.14 Mt (previously c.24 Mt) |
Nickel(8) | 42-44 kt |
(1) Subject to the extent of further Covid-19 related disruption.
(2) Subject to trading conditions and on a 100% basis except for the Gahcho Kué joint venture, which is on an attributable 51% basis.
(3) Copper business unit only. On a contained-metal basis.
(4) 5E + gold produced metal in concentrate ounces. Includes own mined production (~65%) and purchased concentrate volumes (~35%). The split of metals differs for own mined and purchased concentrate, refer to FY2019 results presentation slide 30 for indicative split of own mined volumes.
(5) Wet basis. Kumba guidance was previously shown on a dry basis.
(6) Excludes thermal coal production in Australia. The revision to guidance reflects the suspension at Moranbah North as well as geotechnical conditions and delayed access to Grosvenor.
(7) Export South Africa including volumes sold domestically at export parity pricing and Colombia (33.3%) production. The revision to guidance reflects the proposed demerger of the South Africa thermal coal operations that, subject to shareholder approval, is expected on 4 June 2021 with the subsequent listing of the demerged business on 7 June 2021 (Export South Africa c.6 million tonnes for the period January to May (previously c.16 million tonnes for 2021); Colombia c.8 million tonnes (attributable share)).
(8) Nickel business unit only.
REALISED PRICES
Q1 2021 | FY 2020 | |
---|---|---|
Copper (USc/lb)(1) | 421 | 299 |
Platinum Group Metals | ||
Platinum (US$/oz) | 1,142 | 880 |
Palladium (US$/oz) | 2,424 | 2,214 |
Rhodium (US$/oz) | 20,224 | 10,628 |
Basket price (US$/PGM oz)(2) | 2,219 | 2,035 |
Iron Ore – FOB prices(3) | 177 | 111 |
Kumba Export (US$/wmt)(4) | 180 | 113 |
Minas-Rio (US$/wmt)(5) | 170 | 107 |
Metallurgical Coal | ||
HCC (US$/t)(6) | 113 | 112 |
PCI (US$/t)(6) | 94 | 84 |
Thermal Coal | ||
Australia (US$/t)(6) | 76 | 58 |
South Africa - Export (US$/t)(7) | 74 | 57 |
Colombia (US$/t) | 58 | 46 |
Nickel (USc/lb) | 747 | 563 |
(1) The realised price for Copper excludes third party sales volumes.
(2) Price for a basket of goods per PGM oz. The dollar basket price is the net sales revenue from all metals (PGMs, base metals and other metals), excluding trading, per 5E + gold sold ounces (own mined and purchased concentrate).
(3) Average realised total iron ore price is a weighted average of the Kumba and Minas-Rio realised prices. The comparative has been restated as Kumba is now reported on a wet basis (previously dry basis).
(4) Average realised export basket price (FOB Saldanha) (wet basis as product is shipped with ~1.6% moisture). The comparative has been restated as Kumba previously reported on a dry basis. The realised prices differ to Kumba's standalone results due to sales to other Group companies. Average realised export basket price (FOB Saldanha) on a dry basis is $183/t (FY 2020: $115/t).
(5) Average realised export basket price (FOB Açu) (wet basis as product is shipped with ~9% moisture).
(6) Weighted average coal sales price achieved at managed operations.
(7) Weighted average export thermal coal price achieved.
NOTES
- This Production Report for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 is unaudited.
- Production figures are sometimes more precise than the rounded numbers shown in this Production Report.
- Copper equivalent production shows changes in underlying production volume. It is calculated by expressing each product’s volume as revenue, subsequently converting the revenue into copper equivalent units by dividing by the copper price (per tonne). Long-term forecast prices are used, in order that period-on-period comparisons exclude any impact for movements in price.
- Please refer to page 18 for information on forward-looking statements.
In this document, references to “Anglo American”, the “Anglo American Group”, the “Group”, “we”, “us”, and “our” are to refer to either Anglo American plc and its subsidiaries and/or those who work for them generally, or where it is not necessary to refer to a particular entity, entities or persons. The use of those generic terms herein is for convenience only, and is in no way indicative of how the Anglo American Group or any entity within it is structured, managed or controlled. Anglo American subsidiaries, and their management, are responsible for their own day-to-day operations, including but not limited to securing and maintaining all relevant licences and permits, operational adaptation and implementation of Group policies, management, training and any applicable local grievance mechanisms. Anglo American produces group-wide policies and procedures to ensure best uniform practices and standardisation across the Anglo American Group but is not responsible for the day to day implementation of such policies. Such policies and procedures constitute prescribed minimum standards only. Group operating subsidiaries are responsible for adapting those policies and procedures to reflect local conditions where appropriate, and for implementation, oversight and monitoring within their specific businesses.
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