|
Worsley Alumina saleable alumina production decreased by 5% (or 54kt) to
963kt in the September 2020 quarter as a scheduled calciner shut was
completed. Hydrate production increased by 4% (or 43kt) to 1,010kt with
the hydrate circuit operating at a record annualised rate of 4.65mtpa
(100% basis). FY21 production guidance remains unchanged at 3,965kt with
the refinery on track to sustainably achieve nameplate capacity.
Brazil Alumina saleable production increased by 3% (or 11kt) to 352kt in
the September 2020 quarter as the refinery benefitted from increased
plant availability. FY21 production guidance remains unchanged at
1,370kt with planned maintenance scheduled in the December 2020 quarter.
Hillside Aluminium saleable production increased by 1% (or 2kt) to 180kt
in the September 2020 quarter as the smelter continued to test its
maximum technical capacity, despite the impact from load-shedding. FY21
production guidance remains unchanged at 720kt.
Mozal Aluminium saleable production increased by 1% (or 1kt) to 68kt in
the September 2020 quarter as the smelter continued to test its maximum
technical capacity, despite the impact from load-shedding. FY21
production guidance6 remains unchanged at 273kt.
Cerro Matoso payable nickel production increased by 3% (or 0.3kt) to
10.0kt in the September 2020 quarter as the operation continued to
achieve higher rates of plant utilisation and throughput. FY21
production guidance is unchanged at 33.5kt with the operation scheduled
to undertake a major refurbishment of one of its furnaces in the
December 2020 quarter.
Sales increased 4% during the September 2020 quarter. Our ferronickel
product sells with reference to the LME Nickel index price on a M or M+1
basis and often attracts product discounts.
Cannington payable zinc equivalent production decreased by 14% (or
12.6kt) to 76.6kt in the September 2020 quarter as planned surface
maintenance led to a 15% reduction in ore processed. Ore mined volumes
declined by a lesser 4% during the period as continued strong
underground performance supported the establishment of run of mine
inventory.
Processed silver, lead and zinc grades met our expectations during the
September 2020 quarter and FY21 production guidance remains unchanged
(silver 11,800koz, lead 113.9kt and zinc 60.7kt).
Production summary
|
South32 share |
YTD FY20 |
YTD FY21 |
YoY |
1Q20 |
4Q20 |
1Q21 |
QoQ |
|
Alumina production (kt) |
1,308 |
1,315 |
1% |
1,308 |
1,358 |
1,315 |
-3% |
|
Aluminium production (kt) |
248 |
248 |
0% |
248 |
245 |
248 |
1% |
|
Payable nickel production (kt) |
10.6 |
10 |
-6% |
10.6 |
9.7 |
10 |
3% |
|
Payable silver production (koz) |
2,972 |
2,863 |
-4% |
2,972 |
3,195 |
2,863 |
-10% |
|
Payable lead production (kt) |
26.5 |
26.4 |
0% |
26.5 |
30.1 |
26.4 |
-12% |
|
Payable zinc production (kt) |
18.4 |
12.4 |
-33% |
18.4 |
16.9 |
12.4 |
-27% |
Production guidance
|
Production guidance (South32 share) |
FY20 |
3M YTD FY21 |
FY21e |
|
Worsley Alumina |
|
|
|
|
Alumina production (kt) |
3,886 |
963 |
3,965 |
|
Brazil Alumina |
|
|
|
|
Alumina production (kt) |
1,383 |
352 |
1,370 |
|
Hillside Aluminium |
|
|
|
|
Aluminium production (kt) |
718 |
180 |
720 |
|
Mozal Aluminium |
|
|
|
|
Aluminium production (kt) |
268 |
68 |
273 |
|
Cerro Matoso |
|
|
|
|
Payable nickel production (kt) |
40.6 |
10 |
33.5 |
|
Cannington |
|
|
|
|
Payable zinc equivalent production8 (kt) |
332.6 |
76.6 |
330.8 |
|
Payable silver production (koz) |
11,792 |
2,863 |
11,800 |
|
Payable lead production (kt) |
110.4 |
26.4 |
113.9 |
|
Payable zinc production (kt) |
66.7 |
12.4 |
60.7 |
Operating Performance
|
South32 share |
YTD FY20 |
YTD FY21 |
1Q20 |
2Q20 |
3Q20 |
4Q20 |
1Q21 |
|
Worsley Alumina (86% share) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alumina hydrate production (kt) |
967 |
1,010 |
967 |
943 |
963 |
967 |
1,010 |
|
Alumina production (kt) |
952 |
963 |
952 |
981 |
936 |
1,017 |
963 |
|
Alumina sales (kt) |
918 |
1,001 |
918 |
973 |
860 |
1,031 |
1,001 |
|
Brazil Alumina (36% share) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alumina production (kt) |
356 |
352 |
356 |
346 |
340 |
341 |
352 |
|
Alumina sales (kt) |
304 |
340 |
304 |
374 |
336 |
378 |
340 |
|
Hillside Aluminium (100%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aluminium production (kt) |
181 |
180 |
181 |
181 |
178 |
178 |
180 |
|
Aluminium sales (kt) |
174 |
175 |
174 |
176 |
174 |
199 |
175 |
|
Mozal Aluminium (47.1% share) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aluminium production (kt) |
67 |
68 |
67 |
67 |
67 |
67 |
68 |
|
Aluminium sales (kt) |
64 |
64 |
64 |
72 |
65 |
78 |
64 |
|
Cerro Matoso (99.9% share) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore mined (kwmt) |
668 |
735 |
668 |
732 |
641 |
798 |
735 |
|
Ore processed (kdmt) |
712 |
698 |
712 |
677 |
693 |
679 |
698 |
|
Ore grade processed (%, Ni) |
1.65 |
1.58 |
1.65 |
1.67 |
1.67 |
1.59 |
1.58 |
|
Payable nickel production (kt) |
10.6 |
10 |
10.6 |
10 |
10.3 |
9.7 |
10 |
|
Payable nickel sales (kt) |
10 |
10.4 |
10 |
10.4 |
10.2 |
10 |
10.4 |
|
Cannington (100%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore mined (kwmt) |
694 |
700 |
694 |
666 |
706 |
726 |
700 |
|
Ore processed (kdmt) |
656 |
630 |
656 |
738 |
701 |
744 |
630 |
|
Silver ore grade processed (g/t, Ag) |
168 |
169 |
168 |
162 |
134 |
161 |
169 |
|
Lead ore grade processed (%, Pb) |
4.9 |
5 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
4.8 |
5 |
|
Zinc ore grade processed (%, Zn) |
3.8 |
2.9 |
3.8 |
2.8 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
|
Payable zinc equivalent production (kt) |
83.9 |
76.6 |
83.9 |
84.8 |
74.7 |
89.2 |
76.6 |
|
Payable silver production (koz) |
2,972 |
2,863 |
2,972 |
3,192 |
2,433 |
3,195 |
2,863 |
|
Payable silver sales (koz) |
2,363 |
2,967 |
2,363 |
3,549 |
2,626 |
3,571 |
2,967 |
|
Payable lead production (kt) |
26.5 |
26.4 |
26.5 |
28.8 |
25 |
30.1 |
26.4 |
|
Payable lead sales (kt) |
20.6 |
29.5 |
20.6 |
31.2 |
22.8 |
33.5 |
29.5 |
|
Payable zinc production (kt) |
18.4 |
12.4 |
18.4 |
14.1 |
17.3 |
16.9 |
12.4 |
|
Payable zinc sales (kt) |
18.9 |
11.8 |
18.9 |
16.4 |
14.4 |
19 |
11.8 |
Source:
South32 |
(To contact the reporter on this story: jemma.shang@steelhome.cn or 86-555-2238875 18155520624) |
