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South32 Ltd on Tuesday reported solid operations for the first quarter ended September 30, with year-on-year gains in copper, alumina, aluminium, and nickel production. In its quarterly report, the Perth, Australia-based diversified mining company said Worsley alumina production rose 9.8% at 934,000 tonnes year-on-year, up from 850,000 tonnes. Brazil alumina output increased 5.9% to 354,000 tonnes, up from last year’s 334,000 tonnes while Brazil aluminium production surged 23% to 37,000 tonnes from 30,000 tonnes. Hillside aluminium production edged up 0.5% to 181,000 tonnes from 180,000 tonnes and Mozal aluminium rose 5.7% to 93,000 tonnes from last year’s 88,000 tonnes. Payable copper equivalent production at Sierra Gorda jumped 11% to 24,900 tonnes from 22,500 tonnes. At Cannington, payable zinc equivalent production declined 1.2% to 48,300 tonnes from 48,900 tonnes last year. Payable nickel production at Cerro Matoso grew 9.3% to 9,400 tonnes from 8,600 tonnes. South32 also reported Australia manganese ore production of 854,000 wet metric tonnes, compared with none previously. ‘We delivered another period of strong operating performance as we continued our focus on safe and reliable operations...Production highlights included a 12% increase in payable copper equivalent production at Sierra Gorda and a 33% uplift in manganese volumes, as we successfully executed the operational recovery plan at Australia Manganese,’ said Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr. In South Africa, the company reported an 8.3% decline in manganese ore production to 551,000 wet metric tonnes from 597,000 wet metric tonnes. ‘Looking ahead, we remain focused on maintaining our operating momentum and capitalising on strengthening market conditions in base metals,’ CEO Kerr added. South32 kept production guidance across all operations unchanged for financial 2026. Shares in South32 were up 5.6% at A$3.30 each in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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