Gold Fields Q1 2014 Results I 13
Quarter ended 31 March 2014 compared with
quarter ended 31 March 2013
Group attributable equivalent gold production, increased by 17 per
cent from 477,000 ounces for the March 2013 quarter to 557,000 for
the March 2014 quarter, mainly due to the inclusion of production
from the Yilgarn South assets in the March 2014 quarter.
At the South Africa region, gold production at South Deep decreased
by 6 per cent from 1,959 kilograms (63,000 ounces) in the March
2013 quarter to 1,840 kilograms (59,200 ounces) in the March 2014
quarter.
At the West Africa operations, total managed gold production
decreased by 10 per cent from 213,400 ounces for the March 2013
quarter to 191,900 for the March 2014 quarter. At Tarkwa, gold
production decreased by 15 per cent from 170,100 ounces to
145,200 ounces mainly due to cessation of crushing and stacking
operations at the heap leach facilities. At Damang, gold production
increased by 8 per cent from 43,300 ounces to 46,700 ounces
mainly due to higher mill throughput in the March 2014 quarter.
In South America, gold equivalent production at Cerro Corona
increased by 5 per cent from 76,900 ounces in the March 2013
quarter to 80,500 in the March 2014 quarter mainly due to increased
ore processed partially offset by lower gold and copper grades.
At the Australia operations, gold production increased by 68 per cent
from 145,700 ounces in the March 2013 quarter to 245,200 in the
March 2014 quarter mainly due to the acquisition of the Yilgarn
South assets. At St Ives, gold production decreased by 5 per cent
from 102,000 ounces to 96,600 ounces, mainly due to cessation of
crushing and stacking at the heap leach facility and lower
underground head grade. The heap leach facility produced 900
ounces in the March 2014 quarter compared with 4,900 ounces in
the March 2013 quarter. At Agnew/Lawlers, gold production
increased by 35 per cent from 43,700 ounces to 59,200 ounces,
mainly due to the inclusion of Lawlers. At Darlot and Granny Smith
gold production amounted to 22,900 ounces and 66,500 ounces,
respectively.
Income statement
Revenue decreased by 11 per cent from US$805 million in the
March 2013 quarter to US$715 million in the March 2014 quarter
due to the lower gold price received. The average gold price
decreased by 21 per cent from US$1,625 per ounce to US$1,283
per ounce. The average Rand/US dollar exchange rate weakened
by 22 per cent from R8.89 in the March 2013 quarter to R10.85 in
the March 2014 quarter. The average Rand/Australian dollar
exchange rate weakened by 5 per cent from R9.22 to R9.70. The
average Australian/US dollar exchange rate weakened by 14 per
cent from A$1.00 = US$1.04 to A$1.00 = US$0.89.
Net operating costs increased by 5 per cent from US$401 million to
US$423 million.
At South Deep in South Africa, net operating costs increased by 5
per cent from R679 million (US$76 million) in the March 2013
quarter to R714 million (US$66 million) in the March 2014 quarter.
This was mainly due to annual wage increases, an increase in
employees and the increase in the electricity tariff. All-in sustaining
costs of US$1,345 per ounce and total all-in cost of US$1,597 per
ounce in the March 2014 quarter compared with US$1,823 per
ounce and US$2,225 per ounce, respectively, in the March 2013
quarter.
At the West Africa operations, net operating costs decreased by 19
per cent from US$169 million in the March 2013 quarter to US$137
million in the March 2014 quarter. At Tarkwa, net operating costs
decreased by 29 per cent from US$135 million to US$96 million.
Annual wage increases and increased power rates were offset by
cost reductions as well as lower contractor and consumable stores
costs resulting from the heap leach closure. Net operating costs
were also lower due to a smaller drawdown of stockpiles in the
March 2014 quarter, specifically, the drawdown of stockpiles of
US$1 million in the March 2014 quarter compared with US$11
million in the March 2013 quarter. At Damang, net operating costs
increased by 21 per cent from US$34 million to US$41 million due to
the US$5 million larger gold-in-process credit in the March 2013
quarter. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for the region
amounted to US$1,039 per ounce in the March 2014 quarter
compared with US$1,358 per ounce in the March 2013 quarter.
At Cerro Corona in South America, net operating costs decreased by
37 per cent from US$38 million in the March 2013 quarter to US$24
million in the March 2014 quarter mainly due to less employees
following retrenchments in the second half of 2013 and the lower
reagents and grinding media prices, as well as a higher build-up of
inventory in March 2014. Gold-in-process credit of US$13 million
due to shipment schedules at the end of the March 2014 quarter
compared with gold-in-process credit of US$5 million at the end of
the March 2013 quarter. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost
amounted to US$97 per ounce in the March 2014 quarter compared
with US$150 per ounce in the March 2013 quarter. All-in sustaining
costs and total all-in cost, on a gold equivalent basis amounted to
US$581 per ounce in the March 2014 quarter compared with
US$794 per ounce in the March 2013 quarter.
At the Australia operations, net operating costs increased by 92 per
cent from A$114 million (US$119 million) in the March 2013 quarter
to A$219 million (US$196 million) in the March 2014 quarter mainly
due to the inclusion of the Yilgarn South assets.
At St Ives, net operating costs increased from A$85 million (US$88
million) to A$97 million (US$87 million) mainly due to a A$9 million
larger gold-in-process charge as well as a 12 per cent increase in
underground ore mined in the March 2014 quarter. At Agnew, net
operating costs increased by 40 per cent from A$30 million (US$31
million) to A$42 million (US$37 million) due to additional costs from
Lawlers. At Darlot, net operating costs were A$24 million (US$22
million). At Granny Smith, net operating costs were A$56 million
(US$50 million). All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for the
region amounted to A$1,234 per ounce (US$1,103 per ounce) in the
March 2014 quarter compared with A$1,217 per ounce (US$1,263
per ounce) in the March 2013 quarter.
The Group all-in sustaining costs of US$1,066 per ounce and total
all-in cost of US$1,114 per ounce in the March 2014 quarter
compared with US$1,303 per ounce and US$1,476 per ounce,
respectively, in the March 2013 quarter.
Operating profit decreased from US$404 million to US$292 million
as a result of the above.
Amortisation for the Group increased from US$137 million in the
March 2013 quarter to US$159 million in the March 2014 quarter
due to the inclusion of the Yilgarn South assets, partially offset by
lower amortisation at St Ives due to its lower cost base as a result of
the December 2013 quarter impairments.
Net interest paid increased from US$10 million to US$19 million due
to an increase in borrowings during the second half of 2013.