Anglo American Interim Results 2024
25 July, 2024
Strong operational performance delivers $5.0 billion of underlying EBITDA
- Underlying EBITDA* of $5.0 billion: improved cost performance largely offset a 10% lower product basket price
- Copper and Iron Ore performance and margins particularly strong, contributing $3.5 billion of EBITDA
- Unit costs improved by 4%, reflecting weaker currencies, operational improvements and effective cost control
- $0.7 billion loss attributable to equity shareholders, impacted by a $1.6 billion impairment of Woodsmith due to the decision to slowdown the project’s development
- Net debt* of $11.1 billion, with leverage steady at 1.1x annualised EBITDA
- On track to reduce annual costs by c.$1.7 billion and reduce capex by c.$1.6 billion over 2024-26
- $0.5 billion interim dividend, equal to $0.42 per share, consistent with 40% payout policy
Duncan Wanblad, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “I am very encouraged by a strong operational performance that delivered steady volumes and a 4% improvement in unit costs, while still facing weak cyclical markets for PGMs and diamonds. We are on track to reduce our annual run rate costs by $1.7 billion and reduce capital spend by $1.6 billion over the 2024-2026 period. We are moving at pace to create a much more agile and structurally profitable mining company focused on our exceptional quality Copper and Premium Iron Ore businesses, which both continue to perform very strongly, while maintaining our growth optionality in crop nutrients. We are committed to completing the key elements of this transformation by the end of 2025, creating a simpler, highly valued mining company with extensive growth options and considerable strategic flexibility.
“In the first six months of this year, I am very sad to report that we lost two colleagues who died in an accident at our Amandelbult PGMs mine in South Africa. We offer our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. We are absolutely committed to workforce safety and we are working to ensure that every colleague returns home safe and well each day. More broadly, we continue to make progress on safety, achieving our lowest ever injury rate and a 23% improvement compared to just two years ago.
“Our focus on operational performance is delivering results, most notably in our Copper and Premium Iron Ore businesses, with EBITDA margins* of 53% and 43% respectively. Copper is tracking well, Minas-Rio achieved its strongest first half production for several years, and Kumba continues to perform strongly while we work with Transnet on rail reliability. The Steelmaking Coal business has also improved its production and cost performance, though the incident at Grosvenor will set production back. Most importantly, everyone there is safe. Our process to divest that business is well under way with continued strong interest from a large number of potential new owners.
“Underlying EBITDA for the half year of $5.0 billion at a 33% EBITDA margin* reflects a 10% lower product basket price, partly offset by a 4% improvement in unit costs, with broadly flat production volumes. Net debt increasing marginally to $11.1 billion reflects tight discipline to optimise capital allocation and free cash flow. Our decision to temporarily slowdown the Woodsmith crop nutrients project and thereby push out its production timing has resulted in a $1.6 billion impairment of the project. As we progress our portfolio transformation, we expect to substantially reduce our overhead and other non-operational costs in phases, but weighted towards the end of the process to minimise business risk.
“We are transforming Anglo American by focusing on our world-class asset base in copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients, thereby accelerating the recognition of value inherent in our business. From that compelling platform, I believe our proven project delivery capabilities, global relationship networks and longstanding reputation as a responsible mining company will together help us unlock the outstanding mineral endowment options within our portfolio and other growth opportunities that we will aim to secure over time. We have taken clear and decisive action to deliver value in the long term interests of our shareholders and other stakeholders, from a portfolio that will deliver the products that underpin the energy transition, improving global living standards and food security.”
Six months ended US$ million, unless otherwise stated |
30 June 2024 | 30 June 2023 | Change |
---|---|---|---|
Revenue | 14,464 | 15,674 | (8)% |
Underlying EBITDA* | 4,980 | 5,114 | (3)% |
EBITDA margin* | 33% | 31% | |
Attributable free cash flow* | 506 | (466) | n/a |
(Loss)/Profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company | (672) | 1,262 | n/a |
Basic underlying earnings per share* ($) | 1.06 | 1.38 | (23)% |
Basic earnings per share ($) | (0.55) | 1.04 | n/a |
Interim dividend per share ($) | 0.42 | 0.55 | (24)% |
Group attributable ROCE* | 14% | 18% |
Terms with this symbol * are defined as Alternative Performance Measures (APMs). For more information, refer to page 83.
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