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Q4 2015 Production Report

28 January, 2016

Anglo American plc Production Report for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2015

Overview

  Q4 2015 Q4 2014 % vs. Q4 2014 2015 2014 2015 vs. 2014
Iron ore – Kumba (Mt) 10.9 12.4 (12)% 44.9 48.2 (7)%
Iron ore – Minas-Rio (Mt)(1) 3.3 0.7 nm 9.2 0.7 nm
Export metallurgical coal (Mt) 5.5 4.9 11% 21.2 20.9 1%
Export thermal coal (Mt) 7.7 9.7 (21)% 33.8 34.6 (2)%
Copper (t)(2) (3) 181,400 174,800 4% 708,800 748,100 (5)%
Nickel (t)(4) 10,500 6,700 57% 30,300 37,200 (19)%
Platinum (produced ounces) (koz)(5) 598 603 (1)% 2,337 1,870 25%
Diamonds (Mct)(6) 7.1 8.4 (16)% 28.7 32.6 (12)%

 

  • Q4 2015 production increased by 3% (on a copper equivalent basis) compared to both Q4 2014 and Q3 2015. The 2015 full year production increased by 5% (on a copper equivalent basis)(7).
  • Iron ore production from Kumba decreased by 12% to 10.9 million tonnes as Sishen is being transitioned to a lower cost pit configuration.
  • Minas-Rio produced 3.3 million tonnes (wet basis) of iron ore, a more than fourfold increase compared to 0.7 million tonnes in Q4 2014, reflecting the ongoing ramp up of the operation.
  • Export metallurgical coal production increased by 11% to 5.5 million tonnes due to strong operational performances at both Grasstree and Moranbah.
  • Export thermal coal production decreased by 21% to 7.7 million tonnes due to the impact of strikes in South Africa and weather related production issues at Cerrejón.
  • Copper production from the retained operations (excluding the AA Norte assets that were sold effective 1 September 2015) increased by 23% to 181,400 tonnes due to higher grades, throughput and metal recoveries. Overall copper production increased by 4%.
  • Nickel production increased by 57% to 10,500 tonnes following the successful completion of the planned Barro Alto furnace rebuilds.
  • Niobium production increased by 23% to 1,600 tonnes with the continuing ramp up of the Boa Vista Fresh Rock (BVFR) plant. Fertiliser production increased by 6%.
  • Platinum production (expressed as metal in concentrate)(5) was broadly flat at 598,000 ounces with operational improvements at own operations, offset by a reduction in purchase of concentrate ounces from third parties.
  • Diamond production decreased by 16% to 7.1 million carats, reflecting the decision to reduce production in response to trading conditions.

This Production Report for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2015 is unaudited.

(1) Wet basis;
(2) Copper production from the Copper business unit;
(3) Copper production shown on a contained metal basis;
(4) Nickel production from the Nickel business unit;
(5) In keeping with industry benchmarks, production disclosure has been amended to reflect own mine production and purchases of metal in concentrate. Previous disclosure of own mine production and purchases of metal in concentrate was converted to equivalent refined production using standard smelting and refining recoveries;
(6) De Beers production on 100% basis;
(7) Copper equivalent production using long-term prices and normalised for the sale of Anglo Norte.

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For further information, please contact:

Media Investors
UK South Africa UK
James Wyatt-Tilby Pranill Ramchander Paul Galloway
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759 Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2592 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8718
Marcelo Esquivel Shamiela Letsoalo Edward Kite
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8891 Tel: +27 (0)11 638 3112 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 2178

Notes to editors:

Anglo American is a global and diversified mining business that provides the raw materials essential for economic development and modern life. 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 – from bulk commodities and base metals to precious metals and diamonds (through De Beers) – to our customers around the world. Our diversified portfolio of products spans the economic development cycle and, as a responsible miner, we are the custodians of precious resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders, but also for the communities and countries in which we operate – creating sustainable value and making a real difference. Our mining operations, growth projects and exploration and marketing activities extend across southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.

www.angloamerican.com