South32's share of Mn ore output drops 61% YoY over Jul-Sept

South32 holds 60% of the Australia Manganese joint venture, while its share of South Africa Manganese is 54.6%, the report said.

The sharp fall was attributed to the lower production at its Australia Manganese joint venture where operations had yet resume after the damage at Groote Eylandt caused by Tropical Cyclone Megan in mid-March, as reported.

Australia Manganese continued to implement its operational recovery plan during in the first quarter and production from the primary concentrator may resume during this quarter, South32 said.

The company's FY25 production guidance at the joint venture in Australia stays at 1 million wmt, according to the report. Sales of manganese ore at Australia Manganese are expected to progressively increase over April-June 2025 if it can maintain construction productivity during the upcoming wet season, it noted.

Meanwhile, manganese ore production at South Africa Manganese during July-September came in at 597,000 wmt, down 5% on year but higher by 63,000 wmt or 12% from the previous quarter, due to the strong mining performance and the continued sales of secondary products to maximise margins, the company said. During the quarter, manganese ore sales at this joint venture increased by 7% on quarter to reach 590,000 wmt, the report showed.

For the current fiscal year ending next June, production guidance at the South Africa joint venture is 2 million wmt, South32 said in the report.

Written by Nancy Zheng, zhengmm@mysteel.com

Edited by Russ McCulloch, russ.mcculloch@mysteel.com