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Kumba Iron Ore Limited production and sales report for the quarter ended 31 March 2017

24 April, 2017

Kumba Iron Ore Limited (“Kumba”) today released its production and sales report for the quarter ended 31 March 2017. Throughout this report, production and sales volumes referred to are 100% of Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (“SIOC”), and attributable to shareholders of Kumba as well as the non-controlling interests in SIOC.

Overview:

  • Sishen production up 31% to 7.7Mt due to increased plant throughput
  • Export sales up 7% to 10.1Mt as a result of a 17% increase in total production
Production summary
’000 tonnes %
change

vs
Q1 2016
Quarter
ended
Q4 2016
%
change
vs
Q4 2016
Quarter ended
Q1 2017 Q1 2016
Total 10,473 8,925 17 11,928 (12)
- Sishen mine 7,679 5,842 31 8,490 (10)
DMS plant 4,795 3,550 35 5,379 (11)
Jig plant 2,884 2,292 26 3,111 (7)
- Kolomela mine 2,794 2,713 3 3,438 (19)
- Thabazimbi mine - 370 (100) - -
Sales summary
’000 tonnes Quarter ended %
change
vs
Q1 2016
Quarter
ended
Q4 2016
%
change
vs
Q4 2016
Q1 2017 Q1 2016
Total 10,886 10,544 3 11,224 (3)
- Export sales 10,053 9,376 7 10,611 (5)
- Domestic sales 833 1,168 (29) 613 36
Sishen mine 833 717 16 613 36
Thabazimbi mine - 451 (100) - -

Sishen production increased by 31% to 7.7Mt due to improved mining productivity, resulting in higher plant throughput. As expected, production decreased 10% on the previous quarter as Q4 2016 benefitted from greater access to low strip ratio ore. Waste removal of 34Mt, in line with Q1 2016, was hampered by higher than expected rainfall during the quarter however, mining rates improved in the latter part of the quarter to levels required to meet full year guidance of 150-160Mt.

Kolomela production increased by 3% to 2.8Mt compared to Q1 2016, driven by higher plant throughput. Q1 2017 production versus that in Q4 2016, was down 10% due to rain stoppages. Waste mined increased by 32% to 10.1Mt in support of production growth and ongoing improvements in operational and mining efficiency. Going forward, waste removal is expected to improve to meet full year guidance for 2017 of 50-55Mt.

Export sales rose by 7% to 10.1Mt compared to Q1 2016. Total finished product stocks were 3.2Mt, compared with 3.5Mt at 31 December 2016, in line with optimum level of approximately 3Mt.

For further information, please contact:

Media Investors
Yvonne Mfolo Nerina Bodasing
[email protected] [email protected]
Tel: +27 12 683 7067 Tel: +27 12 622 8324
Mobile: +27 83 469 4566 Mobile: +27 82 940 7505

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

Anglo American is a globally diversified mining business. Our portfolio of world-class competitive mining operations and undeveloped resources provides the raw materials to meet the growing consumer-driven demands of the world’s developed and maturing economies. Our people are at the heart of our business. It is our people who use the latest technologies to find new resources, plan and build our mines and who mine, process and move and market our products to our customers around the world.

As a responsible miner - of diamonds (through De Beers), platinum and other precious metals, copper, nickel, iron ore and coal - we are the custodians of what are precious natural resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders and for the communities and countries in which we operate – creating sustainable value and making a real difference.

www.angloamerican.com