Wrap Text
Kumba production and sales report for the third quarter ended 30 September 2025
Kumba Iron Ore Limited
A member of the Anglo American plc group
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2005/015852/06)
Share code: KIO
ISIN: ZAE000085346
("Kumba" or "the Company")
Kumba production and sales report for the third quarter ended 30 September 2025
Kumba's Chief Executive, Mpumi Zikalala, said: "'Kumba continued to deliver a solid performance in the third quarter of the year
(Q3 2025), thanks to the commitment from our teams on safety and operational excellence. Improved logistics stability has also
contributed to production and sales performance. This positions us well to deliver on our market guidance for the full year 2025.
"Safety is our first value and number one priority, and we are encouraged by the progress in our total recordable injury
frequency rate (TRIFR) which has reduced to 0.97 in Q3 2025, while maintaining our fatality-free production record of more
than nine years at Sishen and over two years at Kolomela.
"Strong steel margins underpinned Chinese iron ore demand in the third quarter, keeping prices elevated despite an ample
supply of steel. Year-to-date (YTD), Kumba achieved an average realised free-on-board (FOB) export price of US$94 per wet
metric tonne (wmt), 12% above the average benchmark iron ore price of US$84/wmt.
"Our ultra-high-dense-media-separation (UHDMS) technology project to treble Sishen's premium-grade iron ore product
volumes remain a strategic priority, given the margin enhancement we expect it to bring. We continue to make good progress
on the construction of the first coarse and fines modules, as well as the modular substation."
Overview
- TRIFR of 0.97 for 2025 YTD (2024 YTD: 0.86) improved from 1.18 in the first half of the year (H1 2025) as our safety
programmes gain further impetus in Q3 2025.
- Total production decreased by 2% to 9.2 Mt (Q3 2024: 9.4 Mt), due to plant maintenance interventions at Sishen ahead of
the main tie-in of the UHDMS in 2026.
- Total sales increased by 7% to 9.6 Mt (Q3 2024: 9.0 Mt), reflecting improved rail performance.
- Finished stock were broadly flat at 7.3 Mt (Q2 2025: 7.4 Mt), with 5.5 Mt on-mine and 1.8 Mt at Saldanha Bay Port.
- Average YTD realised FOB export iron ore price of US$94/wmt (2024 YTD: US$94/wmt), 12% above the average benchmark
price of US$84/wmt (2024 YTD: US$90/wmt).
% %
Q3 Q3
vs vs YTD YTD
Q3 Q2 2025 2024
YTD
Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 vs
000 tonnes 2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 YTD
Iron ore waste 44,175 39,817 40,485 27,835 39,414 12 11 124,477 127,871 (3)
Iron ore production 9,247 9,257 8,990 7,826 9,446 (2) — 27,494 27,905 (1)
Iron ore sales 9,625 9,701 9,007 9,135 9,027 7 (1) 28,333 27,116 4
Kumba waste 44,175 39,817 40,485 27,835 39,414 12 11 124,477 127,871 (3)
Sishen 36,744 33,341 34,631 25,100 34,073 8 10 104,716 108,840 (4)
Kolomela 7,431 6,476 5,854 2,735 5,341 39 15 19,761 19,031 4
Kumba production by 9,247 9,257 8,990 7,826 9,446 (2) — 27,494 27,905 (1)
mine
Sishen 6,347 6,427 5,955 5,687 6,767 (6) (1) 18,729 19,974 (6)
Kolomela 2,900 2,830 3,035 2,139 2,679 8 2 8,765 7,931 11
Kumba sales 9,625 9,701 9,007 9,135 9,027 7 (1) 28,333 27,116 4
Lump 6,391 6,418 6,127 6,071 6,191 3 — 18,936 17,736 7
Fines 3,234 3,283 2,880 3,064 2,836 14 (1) 9,397 9,380 —
Safety performance
Safety is our first value, and our commitment is underscored by our fatality-free track record of over nine years at Sishen and
two years at Kolomela. Kumba's 2025 YTD TRIFR of 0.97 relative to 0.86 in the comparative 2024 YTD period, was driven by an
increase in low energy incidents in the first quarter 2025 and reduced man hours following our business reconfiguration last
year. However, good progress has been made compared to a TRIFR of 1.18 in H1 2025 as a result of constructive collaboration
with service partners on fatal risk management practices and embedding the Company's safe way of work.
Mining, production, and unit costs
Kumba is on track to deliver on the full year 2025 waste mining and production guidance of 166 – 182 Mt and 35 – 37 Mt,
respectively.
During Q3 2025, total waste mining increased by 12% to 44.2 Mt (Q3 2024: 39.4 Mt), underpinned by an 8% increase at Sishen
to 36.7 Mt (Q3 2024: 34.1 Mt) and a 39% increase at Kolomela to 7.4 Mt (Q3 2024: 5.3 Mt). Performance was driven by a
combination of the business reconfiguration impact in 2024 and improved equipment efficiency and operating times in Q3
2025.
Total production decreased by 2% to 9.2 Mt (Q3 2024: 9.7 Mt), driven by a 6% decrease in Sishen's production to
6.3 Mt (Q3 2024: 6.8 Mt). This was partly mitigated by an 8% increase in Kolomela production to 2.9 Mt (Q3 2024: 2.7 Mt),
reflecting our flexible production approach. The decrease in production at Sishen relates to plant maintenance interventions
brought forward in preparation for the main tie-in of our UHDMS technology in 2026. Relative to the second quarter of this
year, total production was consistent, demonstrating an ongoing focus on operational stability and capability.
Sishen's unit cost is expected to end the year within guidance of between R510 – 540/tonne. At Kolomela, the increase in
production, could potentially result in the unit cost improving to below the full year guidance of between R430 – 460/tonne.
Our C1 unit cost target has been maintained at US$39/tonne (based on a foreign exchange rate of R18.60/US$).
Logistics, sales, and the market environment
Ore railed to port increased by 12% to 10.2 Mt (Q3 2024: 9.1 Mt), demonstrating improved rail stability facilitated by the
collaborative partnership between the Ore User's Forum and Transnet on the ore corridor restoration programme.
Total finished stock levels were broadly flat at 7.3 Mt (Q2 2025: 7.4 Mt). Due to the improvement in rail performance, on-mine
stock reduced to 5.5 Mt (Q2 2025: 6.4 Mt) and stock at Saldanha Bay Port increased to 1.8 Mt (Q2 2025: 1.0 Mt).
As a result of improved rail stability and port stock levels, sales increased by 7% to 9.6 Mt (Q3 2024: 9.0 Mt). Given this and
the successful completion of the annual logistics maintenance, sales volumes are expected to end the year closer to the upper
end of the guidance of 35 – 37 Mt, subject to logistics performance in the remainder of the year.
Iron ore prices were supported by improved profitability in China, due to lower raw material input costs. Blast furnace
profitability rates at 247 mills were on average around 35% in the comparative 2024 period, and this year profitability rates
increased to 60%. The improved demand for steel was largely driven by infrastructure, and exports from China, particularly in
the auto and manufacturing sector, whilst the property market remained subdued. Steel production in markets outside of
China came under pressure from robust Chinese exports. However, iron ore supply has remained relatively flat with growth in
Brazil offset by a 40% reduction in supply from India, providing further price support.
On average YTD, Kumba's Lump:Fine ratio was 67:33 (2024 YTD: 65:35) and iron content at 64.0% (2024 YTD: 64.1%). An
average YTD realised FOB export iron ore price was achieved of US$94/wmt (2024 YTD: US$94/wmt), 12% above the average
YTD benchmark price of US$84/wmt (2024 YTD: US$90/wmt).
Full year 2025 guidance
Kumba's full year 2025 guidance is unchanged, subject to Transnet's logistics constraints (including the ramp-up of the rail and
port activities following the annual maintenance shutdown) and is as follows:
Guidance FY2025
Total sales (Mt) (wmt) 35 - 37
Total production (Mt) (wmt) 35 - 37
Sishen ~26
Kolomela ~10
Waste mining (Mt) (dmt) 166 - 182
Sishen 140 - 150
Kolomela 26 - 32
On-mine unit cost (R/t) (dmt)
Sishen 510 - 540
Kolomela 430 - 460
C1 unit cost (US$/t) (wmt) ~39
Volumes excluding waste mining, and on-mine unit costs, are reported as wmt. Product is shipped with ~1.5% moisture and
the 2025 C1 unit cost guidance is calculated at a foreign exchange rate of R18.60/US$. Production and sales volumes referred
to for the period are 100% of Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (SIOC), and attributable to shareholders of Kumba
as well as to the non-controlling interests in SIOC.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements which are based on the Company's current beliefs and expectations
about future events. The operational and financial information contained in this announcement have not been reviewed and
reported on by the Company's external auditors and is the responsibility of the board of directors of Kumba.
Johannesburg
28 October 2025
Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
For further information, please contact:
Company Secretary
Fazila Patel
fazila.patel@angloamerican.com
Tel: +27 12 683 7060
Mobile: +27 83 297 2293
Investors Media
Penny Himlok Melangini Pillay
penny.himlok@angloamerican.com melangini.pillay@angloamerican.com
Tel: +27 12 622 8324 Mobile: +27 76 959 2019
Mobile: +27 82 781 1888
Notes to editors:
Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a member of the Anglo American plc group, is a leading value-adding supplier of high quality iron ore
to the global steel industry. Kumba produces iron ore in South Africa at Sishen and Kolomela mines in the Northern Cape
Province. Kumba exports iron ore to customers around the globe including in China, Japan, South Korea and a number of
countries in Europe and the Middle East.
Anglo American is a leading global mining company focused on the responsible production of copper, premium iron ore and
crop nutrients – future-enabling products that are essential for decarbonising the global economy, improving living standards,
and food security. Our portfolio of world-class operations and outstanding resource endowments offers value-accretive
growth potential across all three businesses, positioning us to deliver into structurally attractive major demand growth trends.
Our integrated approach to sustainability and innovation drives our decision-making across the value chain, from how we
discover new resources to how we mine, process, move and market our products to our customers – safely, efficiently and
responsibly. Our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals over different time horizons to ensure we
contribute to a healthy environment, create thriving communities and build trust as a corporate leader. We work together
with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for our
shareholders, for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, and for society as a whole. Anglo
American is re-imagining mining to improve people's lives.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in
this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding Kumba's financial position, business, acquisition and
divestment strategy, dividend policy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans
and objectives relating to Kumba's products, production forecasts and Ore Reserves and Mineral Resource estimates), are
forward-looking statements. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Kumba, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Kumba's present and future business
strategies and the environment in which Kumba will operate in the future. Important factors that could cause Kumba's actual
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among
others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of global demand and commodity market prices, mineral resource
exploration and development capabilities, recovery rates and other operational capabilities, the effects of global pandemics
and outbreaks of infectious diseases, the availability of mining and processing equipment, the ability to produce and transport
products profitably, the availability of transport infrastructure, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices
and operating costs, the availability of sufficient credit, the effects of inflation, political uncertainty and economic conditions,
the actions of competitors, activities by governmental authorities such as permitting and changes in taxation or safety, health,
environmental or other types of regulation, conflicts over land and resource ownership rights and such other risk factors
identified in Kumba's most recent Integrated Report. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of
such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Kumba expressly disclaims any obligation
or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the Takeover Regulation Panel, the Listings Requirements of the
securities exchange of the JSE Limited in South Africa, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority and any other applicable
regulations) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any
change in Kumba's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based. Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Kumba will
necessarily match or exceed its historical published earnings per share.
Certain statistical and other information about Kumba included in this announcement is sourced from publicly available third-
party sources. As such, it has not been independently verified and presents the views of those third parties, though these may
not necessarily correspond to the views held by Kumba and Kumba expressly disclaims any responsibility for, or liability in
respect of, such third-party information.
Date: 28-10-2025 09:00:00
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