Press releases - 2022

Production Report for the third quarter ended 30 September 2022

Duncan Wanblad, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “Our performance stepped up 16%⁽¹⁾ quarter-on-quarter amid a challenging operating environment, driven by the ongoing ramp-up of our Steelmaking Coal longwall operations and continued strong performance at De Beers. Our new world-class copper mine in Peru, Quellaveco, continues to ramp-up production with shipments to customers now under way. Production in the third quarter was broadly flat⁽¹⁾ compared to the same period in 2021, as higher production from Quellaveco, Steelmaking Coal and De Beers was offset primarily by expected lower copper ore grades in Chile and some operational challenges at our Kumba iron ore business.

"As we move through the final quarter, we are focused on maintaining this operational momentum to deliver our full year guidance. The continued safe ramp-up of our steelmaking coal operations, as well as further performance improvements at our iron ore businesses, are priorities to set the platform for delivery into next year. We do continue to feel the effects of dislocations in the global economy on our business - in energy and across supply chains and labour markets - and are planning accordingly for 2023, confident in the strategic position of our business.

“We continue to make important progress towards our holistic sustainability commitments. With renewable electricity supply secured for all our South America operations, we have now formed our renewable energy partnership with EDF Renewables in South Africa. Our new jointly owned company, Envusa Energy, is developing its first phase of more than 600 MW of wind and solar projects, a major step towards our vision of a 3-5 GW renewable energy ecosystem in the region by 2030. The issuance of our first sustainability-linked bond, a first of its kind from a major diversified mining company, re-affirms our commitment to our targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fresh water abstraction and to support job creation in the communities where we operate.”

Q3 2022 highlights

• Rough diamond production increased by 4%, principally reflecting the treatment of higher grade ore at Orapa (Botswana) as well as continued strong performance in Namibia.
• Steelmaking coal production increased by 28%, reflecting the ongoing ramp-up of the longwall operations. Continuing to do so in a safe and stable way is our first priority.
• Copper production decreased by 6%, due to planned lower grades at all our operations in Chile, as well as unfavourable ore characteristics at Los Bronces, partly offset by the first production of copper from Quellaveco in Peru.
• Metal in concentrate production from our Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) operations decreased by 6%, due to the impact of Eskom load-shedding (power outages) primarily in September, infrastructure closures at Amandelbult and lower grade at Mogalakwena.
• Iron ore production decreased by 5% primarily due to Kumba, which was impacted by the slow ramp-up after the safety intervention in the second quarter and Eskom load-shedding, primarily in September, while production at Minas-Rio was flat.
• Nickel production decreased by 4%, primarily due to lower grades.

^{(1) Copper equivalent production basis. Copper equivalent production decreased by 1% compared to Q3 2021.
(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 operations in Chile and Peru only (excludes copper production from the Platinum Group Metals business unit).
(4) Reflects nickel production from the Nickel operations in Brazil only (excludes nickel production from the Platinum Group Metals business unit).
(5) Produced ounces of metal in concentrate. 5E+Au (platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium plus gold). Reflects own mine production and purchase of concentrate.
(6) Wet basis.}

Production and unit cost guidance summary

^{(1) Subject to the extent of further Covid-19 related disruption. Unit costs exclude royalties, depreciation and include direct support costs only. (FX rates for H2 2022 costs: ~17 ZAR:USD, ~1.5 AUD:USD, ~5.5 BRL:USD, ~950 CLP:USD, ~4 PEN:USD).
(2) Production on a 100% basis, except for the Gahcho Kué joint venture, which is on an attributable 51% basis, subject to trading conditions. Venetia continues to transition to underground operations during 2022, with ramp-up expected from 2023. Unit cost is based on De Beers' share of production.
(3) Copper business unit only. On a contained-metal basis. Total copper production is the sum of Chile and Peru: Chile: 560–580 kt and Peru: 80-100 kt. Peru subject to progress on ramp-up of operations. Unit cost total is a weighted average based on the mid-point of production guidance. Chile: c.160c/lb. Peru: c.150c/lb, based on progressing the ramp-up of production volumes.
(4) Nickel operations in Brazil only. The Group also produces approximately 20 kt of nickel on an annual basis as a co-product from the PGM operations. Production is subject to weather related disruptions.
(5) 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 FY2021 results presentation slide 38 for indicative split of own mined volumes. 2022 metal in concentrate production is expected to be 1.8–2.0 Moz of platinum, 1.2–1.3 Moz of palladium and 0.9–1.0 Moz of other PGMs and gold. 5E + gold refined production is expected to be 3.7-3.9 Moz, subject to the impact of Eskom load-shedding. Unit cost is per own mined 5E + gold PGMs metal in concentrate ounce.
(6) Wet basis. Total iron ore is the sum of operations at Minas-Rio in Brazil and Kumba in South Africa. Minas-Rio: 22-24 Mt and Kumba: 38-40 Mt. Minas-Rio is subject to weather related disruptions. Kumba is subject to the third party rail and port performance, weather related disruptions as well as the impact of Eskom load-shedding.  Unit cost total is a weighted average based on the mid-point of production guidance. Minas-Rio: c.$32/t and Kumba: c.$44/t.
(7) Production excludes thermal coal by-product from Australia and is subject to the extent of further unseasonal wet weather and continued tight labour markets. FOB unit cost comprises managed operations and excludes royalties and study costs.}

Realised prices

^{(1) Average realised total copper price is a weighted average of the Copper Chile and Copper Peru realised prices.
(2) The realised price for Copper excludes third party sales volumes.
(3) The realised price excludes trading.
(4) 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).
5) Average realised total iron ore price is a weighted average of the Kumba and Minas-Rio realised prices.
(6) Average realised export basket price (FOB Saldanha) (wet basis as product is shipped with ~1.6% moisture). 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 $117/t (Q3 YTD 2021: $184/t) and this was higher than the dry 62% Fe benchmark price of $108/t (FOB South Africa, adjusted for freight).
(7) Average realised export basket price (FOB Açu) (wet basis as product is shipped with ~9% moisture).
(8) Weighted average coal sales price achieved at managed operations. Australian thermal coal by-product is US$309/t and Q3 YTD 2021 was US$105/t, resulting in a 194% increase.}

NOTES

• This Production Report for the quarter ended 30 September 2022 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 16 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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This Production Report for the third quarter ended 30 September 2022 is unaudited.