Kumba Iron Ore Limited ("Kumba") today released its production and sales report for the quarter ended 31 March 2013. 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:
  • Total production of 10.3 Mt represented increases of 2% year on year and 15% quarter on quarter mainly due to continued improvement in production rates at Sishen mine (quarter on quarter), together with the exceptional performance of Kolomela mine.
  • Total export sales volumes were 9.9 Mt for the quarter, a decrease of 2% year on year and an increase of 11% quarter on quarter.
Production summary
'000 tonnes

Quarter
ended

%
change		 Quarter
ended		 % change
Mar
2013		 Mar
2012		 Mar Q13
vs
Mar Q12		 Dec
2012		 Mar Q13
vs
Dec Q12
Total 10,335 10,106 2 9,013 15
- Sishen Mine 7,552 8,455 (11) 6,038 25
     DMS plant 4,888 5,777 (15) 3,976 23
     Jig plant 2,6642,678 (1) 2,062 29
- Kolomela mine 2,680 1,513 77 2,793 (4)
- Thabazimbi Mine 103 138 (25) 182 (43)

Sales summary
'000 tonnes

Quarter
ended

%
change		 Quarter
ended		 % change
Mar
2013		 Mar
2012		 Mar Q13
vs
Mar Q12		 Dec
2012		 Mar Q13
vs
Dec Q12
Total 10,827 11,441 (5) 9,813 10
- Export sales 9,945 10,121 (2) 8,980 11
-  Domestic sales 882 1,320 (33) 833 6
     Sishen mine 751 1,021 (26) 581 29
     Thabazimbi mine 131 299 (56) 252 (48)

Sishen mine's production decreased by 11% year on year, but increased by 25% quarter on quarter to 7.6 Mt, as production rates at Sishen mine continued to improve, following the unprotected strike in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Kolomela mine, which is on track to produce at annual design capacity of 9Mt per annum in 2013, produced 2.7 Mt for the quarter, an increase of 77% year on year and a decrease of 4% quarter on quarter.

Production at Thabazimbi mine decreased by 25% year on year and by 43% quarter on quarter to 0.1 Mt, in line with ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited's ("AMSA") requirements, while pit complexities and geotechnical challenges continue as the mine nears the end of its life.

Total export sales volumes of 9.9 Mt were mostly in line with 2012 levels with a decrease of 2% year on year, but increased by 11% quarter on quarter mainly due to the impact of the unprotected strike at Sishen mine in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Domestic sales volumes decreased by 33% year on year due to reduced off-take by AMSA, but increased by 6% quarter on quarter to 0.9 Mt.

Total finished product stockpile levels amounted to 3.3 Mt as at 31 March 2013.



distributed by