Australian base metals miner South32’s aluminum production remained unchanged at 982,000mt in FY2021 (ended June 30, 2021), but was below the company’s estimate of 993,000mt for the year.
South32 attributed the reduction in aluminum output to the COVID-19 restrictions that had drastically reduced output in March 2021, at its Mozal and Hillside aluminum plants.
Alumina production increased by 2pc to 5.3mn mt in FY2021 against 5.2mn mt in the previous fiscal and met the company’s projections for this material.
Lead production grew by 19pc to 131,800mt from 110,400mt in the same period while zinc output ticked up in FY2021 by 1pc to 67,700mt from 66,700mt in FY2020. Still, zinc production was short by around 2,000mt from South32’s FY2021 estimates while lead production exceeded its estimate of 130,700mt.
Nickel production during the year decreased by 16pc to 34,100mt from 40,600mt in the previous fiscal. The company’s met coal production increased by 11pc to 6.17mn mt from 5.54mn mt in the same period. Both the materials met their guidance for the year.
Q4 FY2021
In Q4 FY2021, the miner’s aluminum production was 246,000mt while alumina output was 1.42mn mt. Quarterly lead and zinc outputs were 41,200mt and 19,500mt, respectively.
Nickel production in Q4FY2021 was 10,900mt after the furnace at South32’s Cerro Matoso mine was refurbished. The company’s met coal output was 1.34mn mt.