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South32 Ltd on Thursday said it put in a ‘consistent’ operating performance in the first half of its financial year, benefitting from ‘strengthening’ market conditions. The Perth-based diversified mining group said Worsley alumina production was up 2.3% to 1.89 million tonnes for the six months to December 31 from 1.85 million tonnes a year earlier. Output for the second quarter alone fell 4.1% to 959,000 tonnes from 1.0 million tonnes in the same quarter a year before, but was up 2.6% from 934,000 tonnes in the first quarter to September 30. Brazil alumina production for the first half was 3.9% higher at 709,000 tonnes from 682,000 a year before. Production rose by 2.0% to 355,000 tonnes in the second quarter from 348,000, but was flat from 354,000 tonnes on the first quarter. For the first half, Brazil aluminium production was up 16% to 74,000 tonnes from 64,000 a year before. Output in the second quarter grew by 8.8% to 37,000 tonnes from 34,000 a year earlier, but was steady compared to the first quarter. Hillside aluminium production was unchanged at 362,000 tonnes for the first half. Output inched up 0.5% in the second quarter to 181,000 tonnes on-year from 182,000, but remained flat compared to the first quarter. Mozal aluminium production for the first six months was up 2.8% to 183,000 tonnes from 178,000 tonnes a year before. Production for the second quarter was flat at 90,000 tonnes year-on-year, but fell 3.2% from 93,000 tonnes in the first quarter. Payable copper equivalent production at Sierra Gorda in Chile was flat at 47,000 tonnes in the first half, compared to 47,200 tonnes a year before. Production for the second quarter was down 11% to 22,100 tonnes from 24,700 a year before and from 24,900 tonnes in the first quarter. At Cannington in Australia, production in zinc, silver and lead was down. Payable zinc equivalent production for the first half declined 18% to 102,800 tonnes from 125,800 a year before. Output for the second quarter slumped 29% to 54,500 tonnes year-on-year from 76,900, but rose 13% from 48,300 tonnes on-quarter. Payable silver production fell 20% to 4,487 ounces for the first half from 5,615 a year before. Output for the second quarter plunged 35% to 2,420 ounces on-year from 3,700, but was up 17% from 2,067 ounces on-quarter. Payable lead production for the first half was down 15% to 42,300 tonnes from 49,600 tonnes a year before. Production was 31% lower at 21,000 tonnes for the second quarter from 30,300, but inched up 1.4% from 21,3000 tonnes on-quarter. Australian manganese ore production multiplied to 1.66 million wet metric tonnes for the first half from 639,000 tonnes a year before. Output rose 26% annually to 806,000 wet metric tonnes for the second quarter from 639,000, but was down 5.6% from 854,000 tonnes on-quarter. However, South African manganese ore production for the first half was down 2.3% from 1.05 million wet metric tonnes from 1.08 million tonnes a year before. Production was 4.3% higher at 506,000 wet metric tonnes for the second quarter from 485,000 tonnes a year before, but was down 8.2% from 551,000 tonnes on-quarter. ‘Our consistent operating performance, combined with strengthening market conditions, enabled the group to maintain a strong financial position while investing in our high-returning growth options and delivering returns to shareholders,’ Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr said. Looking ahead, South32 maintained its production guidance for 2026 financial year for all operated assets. But it noted that annual guidance for non-operated Brazil Aluminium is under review as it awaits the operator’s revised ramp-up profile. In Sydney, South32 shares closed up 5.3% to A$4.40 on Thursday. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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