Third Quarter 2020 Production Report

posted: 30/10/2020

Third Quarter 2020 Production Report

Baar, Switzerland 30 October 2020

 

Glencore Chief Executive Officer, Ivan Glasenberg:

“Glencore has delivered a solid third quarter operating performance, including the continued successful ramp-up of Katanga, which remains on track to achieve design capacity by year end. Our teams have adapted well to the numerous challenges presented by Covid-19.

“We maintain our 2020 full year production guidance, except coal, which was adjusted for the extended strike at Cerrejon. We will provide a detailed business update, including progress on climate change initiatives at our Investor Update on 4 December.”

 

Production from own sources – Total1

 

 

YTD 2020

YTD 2019

Change %

Copper

                       kt

                 934.7

                1,015.8

                       (8 )

Cobalt

                       kt

                    21.6

                   34.4

                      (37 )

Zinc

                       kt

                  860.1

                 809.2

                         6

Lead

                       kt

                  194.3

                  219.8

                      (12 )

Nickel

                       kt

                    81.8

                   89.4

                        (9 )

Gold

                    koz

                      611

                    622

                        (2 )

Silver

                    koz

               23,220

                23,733

                        (2 )

Ferrochrome

                       kt

                     651

                  1,030

                      (37 )

 

 

 

 

 

Coal - coking

                     mt

                      5.6

                       6.1

                       (8 )

Coal - semi-soft

                     mt

                      3.6

                       5.1

                      (29 )

Coal - thermal

                     mt

                   74.3

                   92.8

                     (20 )

Coal

                     mt

                    83.5

                 104.0

                     (20 )

Oil (entitlement interest basis)

                   kbbl

                 3,360

                 3,638

                       (8 )

1 Controlled industrial assets and joint ventures only. Production is on a 100% basis, except as stated.

 

Production guidance

  • Changes in guidance reflect the tightening of most ranges and coal down 5mt (4%), accounting for the current extended industrial strike at Cerrejón JV (Colombia).
 

 

 

Q1
2020

Q2
2020

Q3
2020

Actual
YTD
2020

           ROY
2020

Current guidance
2020

 

   Previous
guidance
2020

Copper

            kt

 

      293

             295

             347

             935

             320

  1,255 ± 25

 

  1,255 ± 35

Cobalt

            kt

 

           6

                 8

                 8

               22

                 6

          28 ± 1

 

         28 ± 2

Zinc

            kt

 

      296

              255

              310

            860

             300

   1,160 ± 25

1 

  1,160 ± 30

Nickel

            kt

 

        28

               27

               27

               82

               32

        114 ± 3

 

        114 ± 4

Ferrochrome

            kt

 

      388

               78

              185

              651

             349

  1,000 ± 25

 

  1,000 ± 25

Coal

          mt

 

         32

               26

               26

               84

               25

       109 ± 3

 

        114 ± 3

1 Excludes Volcan

 

Highlights

  • The generally strong sequential quarterly production performance noted in the table above, in large part, reflects reversal of the various short-term Covid-19 related shutdowns in Q2, as mandated by several national/local governments.
  • Own sourced copper production of 934,700 tonnes was 81,100 tonnes (8%) lower than the comparable prior period, reflecting Mutanda being on care and maintenance in the current period and the temporary suspension of operations at Antamina in Q2, partly offset by a continued strong milling performance at Collahuasi and Katanga’s ramp-up.
  • Own sourced cobalt production of 21,600 tonnes was 12,800 tonnes (37%) lower than the comparable prior period, mainly reflecting Mutanda on care and maintenance, partly offset by Katanga’s ramp-up.
  • Own source zinc production of 860,100 tonnes was 50,900 tonnes (6%) higher than the comparable prior period, mainly reflecting: (i) higher zinc grades from Antamina notwithstanding the temporary Covid-related suspension (21,800 tonnes); (ii) improved throughput at Mount Isa (14,900 tonnes); and (iii) the net positive effect of 13,800 tonnes from Other South America owing to re-opening the short-life Iscaycruz mine in Peru, offset by Covid-related slowdowns and suspensions.
  • Own sourced nickel production of 81,800 tonnes was 7,600 tonnes (9%) lower than the comparable prior period, mainly reflecting Koniambo running as a single-line operation for most of Q2/Q3, with Covid-related restrictions on mobility affecting timing of maintenance.
  • Attributable ferrochrome production of 651,000 tonnes was 379,000 tonnes  (37%) lower than the comparable prior period, primarily reflecting the Q2 South African lockdown measures. As of 1 September, four of the five smelters were running. The competitive environment across the South African ferrochrome industry continues to be challenging, in particular due to high input costs including electricity.
  • Coal production of 83.5 million tonnes was 20.5 million tonnes (20%) lower than the comparable prior period, reflecting Prodeco being on care and maintenance for most of 2020, disruptions at Cerrejón (initially Covid-related, and lately due to industrial action), and targeted H2 volume reductions across the Australian portfolio, during a time of weak market conditions.
  • Entitlement interest oil production of 3.4 million barrels was 0.3 million barrels (8%) lower than the comparable prior period, reflecting the temporary suspension of Chad operations since April 2020, partly offset by new wells drilled in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.

To view the full report please click: 

https://www.glencore.com/dam/jcr:3b5ec265-1700-4269-8f66-1a1fded7bc87/GLEN_2020-Q3_ProductionReport.pdf

For further information please contact:

Investors

Martin Fewings
t: +41 41 709 2880
m: +41 79 737 5642
martin.fewings@glencore.com

Maartje Collignon
t: +41 41 709 32 69
m: +41 79 197 42 02
maartje.collignon@glencore.com

Media

Charles Watenphul
t: +41 41 709 2462
m: +41 79 904 3320
charles.watenphul@glencore.com

Glencore LEI: 2138002658CPO9NBH955

Notes for Editors
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities. The Group's operations comprise around 150 mining and metallurgical sites and oil production assets.

With a strong footprint in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of offices located in over 35 countries.

Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore's companies employ around 158,000 people, including contractors.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

 

Important notice concerning this document including forward looking statements
This document contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward looking statements” which are prospective in nature. These forward looking statements may be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, or the negative thereof such as “outlook”, "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "continues", "assumes", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "aims", "forecasts", "risks", "intends", "positioned", "predicts", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words or comparable terminology and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", “shall”, "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current predictions, expectations, beliefs, opinions, plans, objectives, goals, intentions and projections about future events, results of operations, prospects, financial condition and discussions of strategy.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Glencore’s control. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may and often do differ materially from actual results. Important factors that could cause these uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in the last published annual report and half-year report, both of which are freely available on Glencore’s website.
For example, our future revenues from our assets, projects or mines will be based, in part, on the market price of the commodity products produced, which may vary significantly from current levels. These may materially affect the timing and feasibility of particular developments. Other factors include (without limitation) the ability to produce and transport products profitably, demand for our products, changes to the assumptions regarding the recoverable value of our tangible and intangible assets, the effect of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, and actions by governmental authorities, such as changes in taxation or regulation, and political uncertainty.
Neither Glencore nor any of its associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this document will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which only speak as of the date of this document.
Except as required by applicable regulations or by law, Glencore is not under any obligation and Glencore and its affiliates expressly disclaim any intention, obligation or undertaking, to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This document shall not, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the business or affairs of Glencore since the date of this document or that the information contained herein is correct as at any time subsequent to its date.
No statement in this document is intended as a profit forecast or a profit estimate and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities.
The companies in which Glencore plc directly and indirectly has an interest are separate and distinct legal entities. In this document, “Glencore”, “Glencore group” and “Group” are used for convenience only where references are made to Glencore plc and its subsidiaries in general. These collective expressions are used for ease of reference only and do not imply any other relationship between the companies.  Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer collectively to members of the Group or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.