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Kumba production and sales report, and trading statement, for the six months ended 30 June 2021
Kumba Iron Ore Limited
A member of the Anglo American plc group
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2005/015852/06)
Share code: KIO
ISIN: ZAE000085346
(“Kumba” or “the Company”)
Kumba production and sales report, and trading statement, for the six months ended 30 June 2021
Kumba’s Chief Executive, Themba Mkhwanazi, said: “Kumba's performance in the first half demonstrates our operational strength underpinned
by our strong commitment to safety and health. We have now operated for more than five years without a fatality and continued to protect our
workforce and support our communities through the Covid-19 pandemic. On behalf of the Kumba team, I thank each and every one of our people
and contractors for looking after each other. It is through these collaborative efforts that we can continue to keep each other safe and healthy.
"Our operations performed well and production increased by 12%, while sales increased by 3%, reflecting the impact of rail constraints and periods
of severe weather at Saldanha Port. We are therefore revising sales guidance down by 1 Mt to 39–40 Mt while maintaining production guidance
at 40-41 Mt as we continue to build up stock at the port.
"As the iron ore market strengthened, we have seen a strong and sustained demand for our high quality products. We achieved an average realised
price of US$220 per tonne in the first half of the year, well above the benchmark price of US$166 per tonne, driven by our focus on optimising the
value of our products for the long-term benefit of all our stakeholders."
Production and Sales Report for the six months ended 30 June 2021 (1) ("the period")
Overview:
- Over five-years of fatality-free production achieved, while supporting our workforce and communities through the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Total production increased by 12% to 20.4 Mt (1H 2020 18.2 Mt), driven by good ex-pit ore and plant performance. Q2 2021 increased by 14%
to 9.8 Mt (Q2 2020: 8.6 Mt).
- Total sales increased by 3% to 19.5 Mt (H1 2020: 18.9 Mt), on the back of a 5% increase in export sales to 19.4 Mt, partly offset by a 0.3 Mt
decrease in domestic off-take to 0.1 Mt. Sales in Q2 2021 increased by 12% to 9.2Mt.
- Finished stock levels increased to 6.1 Mt (31 December 2020: 4.8 Mt), with 1.7 Mt at Saldanha Port.
- Average realised FOB export iron ore price of US$216 per wet metric tonne (wmt), equivalent to US$220 per dry metric tonne (dmt), well
above the average benchmark price of US$163 per wmt or US$166 per dmt, reflecting the high quality of Kumba's iron ore.
Sales summary
Quarter Quarter Six months
ended % change ended % change ended % change
Q2 Q2 vs Q2 Q1 vs Q1 H1 H1 vs 1H
000 tonnes 2021 2020 2020 2021 2021 2021 2020 2020
Total 9.2 8.2 12 10.3 (10) 19.5 18.9 3
- Export sales 9.2 8.2 12 10.2 (9) 19.4 18.6 5
- Domestic sales — — — 0.1 (100) 0.1 0.4 (70)
Production summary
Quarter Quarter Six months
ended % change ended % change ended % change
Q2 Q2 vs Q2 Q1 vs Q1 H1 H1 vs 1H
000 tonnes 2021 2020 2020 2021 2021 2021 2020 2020
Total 9.8 8.6 14 10.6 (7) 20.4 18.2 12
- Sishen Mine 6.9 5.9 17 7.1 (3) 13.9 12.6 11
- Kolomela Mine 2.9 2.7 7 3.5 (16) 6.4 5.7 14
1. Volumes, excluding waste stripping, are reported as wet metric tonnes. Product is shipped with approximately 1.6% moisture. The comparative has been
restated as Kumba previously reported on a dry basis
Safety and health
In May this year, Kumba marked five-years of fatality free production, a landmark achievement for the Company and the South African mining
industry. This demonstrates our commitment to safety and the effectiveness of our Elimination of Fatalities programme implemented since 2016.
We are building on our track record through our Risk Identification programme, focusing on risk reduction in operational systems and processes.
Covid-19 health and safety protocols which are embedded in our operations and projects have been adapted and enhanced to safeguard our
workforce against the pandemic. In addition, we are working with the rest of Anglo American in South Africa to roll out our government licensed
vaccination programme to further protect our employees and contractors from Covid-19.
Mining and Production
Mining activities improved during the second quarter following weather-related stoppages and equipment reliability challenges in the first quarter.
The improvement relates to an extensive dewatering campaign and the implementation of alternative shovel deployment strategies to mitigate the
residual effects of excessive rainfall which had resulted in waterlogged clay material impacting mining in the pre-strip area. These changes led to
a turnaround in waste performance with positive results from the end of May.
During the period, total waste stripping increased by 4% to 98.5 Mt (H1 2020: 94.6 Mt), driven by an 18% increase at Kolomela to 30.8 Mt (H1
2020: 26.2 Mt), including a 7.4 Mt contribution from Kapstevel South. Waste stripping at Sishen decreased marginally to 67.7 Mt (H1 2020: 68.4
Mt). Performance in the second quarter reflects the benefit of the mine recovery plan at Sishen, resulting in waste stripping increasing by 22% to
54.3 Mt (Q2 2020: 44.5 Mt) and by 23% compared to 44.2 Mt achieved in the first quarter.
Production benefited from a solid start to the year, underpinned by improved plant availability. Total production increased by 12% to 20.4 Mt (1H
2020: 18.2 Mt), driven by Sishen's production increasing by 11% to 13.9 Mt (H1 2020: 12.6 Mt) and Kolomela by 14% to 6.4 Mt (H1 2020: 5.7 Mt).
Relative to the second quarter in 2020, which was impacted by Covid-19 related disruptions, production increased by 14% to 9.8 Mt (Q2 2020: 8.6
Mt). However, compared to the 10.6 Mt achieved in Q1 2021, production reduced by 7% as we managed down high stock levels that had built up
at the mines due to rail constraints. During this period, scheduled maintenance was brought forward in line with our focus on improving plant
reliability.
Logistics, sales and marketing
Rail performance recovered in May and June reflecting the benefit of interventions implemented to increase capacity and improve turnaround
times. The recovery has contributed to a more balanced value chain as finished stock at Saldanha Port increased to 1.7 Mt relative to total finished
stock of 6.1 Mt (31 December 2020: 4.8 Mt).
Export sales increased by 5% to 19.4 Mt (1H 2020: 18.6 Mt) and by 12% compared to the second quarter of 2020. Together with domestic sales
of 0.1Mt (H1 2020: 0.4 Mt), total sales increased by 3% to 19.5 Mt (H1 2020: 18.9 Mt). However, the impact of rail constraints in the first four
months and subsequent disruptions to shipments in June due to equipment breakdown and inclement weather at Saldanha Port, led to a 10%
decrease in the second quarter of this year, compared to first quarter sales of 10.3 Mt.
Kumba achieved an average lump:fine ratio of 69:31 and content of 64.1% Fe. Together with stronger iron ore prices, this combination of product
attributes (including the lump premium that our product attracts in the market), translated into an average realised FOB export iron ore price of
US$216/wmt (equivalent to the FOB price of US$220/dmt), considerably outperforming the average benchmark Platts 62 index FOB price of
US$163/wmt (equivalent to the FOB price of US$166/dmt).
Full year 2021 guidance
Kumba's full year 2021 guidance for sales has been revised lower by 1 Mt due to the rail constraints and adverse weather at the port in the first
half of the year. Subject to potential Covid-19, unrest, rail and weather disruptions, our guidance for 2021 is as follows:
Guidance FY2021 FY2021 FY2021 Revised
(dmt) Revised (dmt) (wmt)
Total sales (Mt) 40 - 41 39 - 40 39.5 – 40.5
Total production (Mt) 40 - 41 40 - 41 40.5 – 41.5
Sishen ~28 ~28 ~28.5
Kolomela ~13 ~13 ~13
Waste stripping (Mt)
Sishen 150 - 170 150 - 160
Kolomela 55 - 65 55 - 65
Trading statement for the six months ended 30 June 2021
Kumba is currently finalising its financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2021, which will be released on the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange News Service (“SENS”) on 27 July 2021.
In accordance with paragraph 3.4(b) of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements, and further to the trading statement released on 24 June 2021,
shareholders are advised that headline earnings for the period are likely to be between R22,755 million and R23,690 million, an increase of between
171% and 182% from the previous comparable six months ended 30 June 2020 ("comparative period"). Headline earnings per share (HEPS) are
likely to be between R70.96 and R73.87, an increase of between 171% and 182% from the comparative period. Reported headline earnings and
HEPS basic for the comparative period (released on SENS on 28 July 2020) were R8,401 million and R26.19, respectively.
Basic earnings for the period are expected to be between R22,770 million and R23,700 million, an increase of between 171% and 182% from the
comparative period. Basic earnings per share (EPS) are expected to be between R71.01 and R73.91, an increase of between 171% and 182%.
Reported basic earnings and EPS for the comparative period were R8,408 million and R26.21, respectively.
The increase in earnings for the period is largely attributable to higher average realised FOB export iron ore prices and higher total sales volumes,
partially offset by the stronger Rand/US Dollar exchange rate, relative to the comparative period. Further information will be provided in the
Company’s results for the period, which will be released on SENS on 27 July 2021.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements which are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations about future events.
The operational and financial forecasts provided in this announcement are estimates and the financial information on which the trading statement
is based, has not been reviewed and reported on by the Company's external auditors.
Production and sales volumes referred to for the period are 100% of Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (“SIOC”), and attributable to
shareholders of Kumba as well as to the non-controlling interests in SIOC.
Centurion
20 July 2021
Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
For further information, please contact:
Company Secretary
Fazila Patel
fazila.patel@angloamerican.com
Tel: +27 12 683 7060
Mobile: +27 83 297 2293
Investors Media
Penny Himlok Sinah Phochana
penny.himlok@angloamerican.com sinah.phochana@angloamerican.com
Tel: +27 12 622 8324 Tel: +27 12 683 7019
Mobile: +27 82 781 1888 Mobile: +27 76 066 0655
Notes to editors:
Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a member of the Anglo American plc group, is a leading value-adding supplier of high quality iron ore to the global steel
industry. Kumba produces iron ore in South Africa at Sishen and Kolomela mines in the Northern Cape province. Kumba exports iron ore to
customers in a range of geographical locations around the globe including China, Japan, Korea and a number of countries in Europe and the
Middle East.
www.angloamericankumba.com
Notes to editors:
Anglo American is a leading global mining company and our products are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. Our
portfolio of world-class competitive operations, with a broad range of future development options, provides many of the future-enabling metals
and minerals for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast growing every day demands of billions of consumers. With our
people at the heart of our business, we use innovative practices and the latest technologies to discover new resources and to mine, process,
move and market our products to our customers – safely and sustainably.
As a responsible producer of diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum group metals, premium quality iron ore and metallurgical coal for
steelmaking, and nickel – with crop nutrients in development – we are committed to being carbon neutral across our operations by 2040. More
broadly, our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals to ensure we work towards a healthy environment, creating
thriving communities and building trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock
enduring value from precious natural resources for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, for society as a whole, and
for our shareholders. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.
www.angloamerican.com
Date: 20-07-2021 08:00:00
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