Interim Results 2013
Anglo American Platinum Limited reported headline earnings per share of R5.14 in the first half of 2013, an 88% increase primarily due to a weaker Rand and an increase in platinum sales volumes, partially offset by the impact of higher costs and lower realised dollar metal prices.
Headline earnings for the first half of 2012 excluded an after-tax loss of R1.2 billion (R4.55 per share) resulting from the revaluation of Wesizwe Platinum Limited investments and the write-down of assets, which were considered uneconomical in the current environment, compared to an after-tax loss of R142 million(54 cents per share) in the first half of 2013.
Net sales revenue increased by 24% or R4.7 billion to R24.1 billion. R1.8 billion of the increase in net sales revenue was due to higher sales volumes and R2.9 billion was due to higher average realised Rand prices. Refined platinum sales for the period ended 30 June 2013 increased by 11%, to 1,074,155 ounces. The realised average dollar basket price declined by 5% from US$2,532 per ounce in the first half of 2012 to US$2,416 per ounce. However, the average exchange rate achieved on sales during the first half of 2013 was R9.31, 17% weaker compared to R7.94 in the first half of 2012. As a result, the average realised Rand basket price in the first half of 2013 was R22,473 per platinum ounce, 12% higher than the basket price of R20,086 achieved in the first half of 2012.
The first half of 2013 was characterised by intermittent illegal industrial actions which impacted production, unit costs and labour productivity. Notwithstanding these challenges, Anglo American Platinum delivered solid operational performance during the period. Equivalent refined platinum production was 1.2 million ounces, in line with the first half of 2012. Labour productivity declined marginally by 1% to 6.5 m2 in the first half of 2013.