4
Gold Fields Q1 2015 Results
quarter to 157,300 ounces in the March quarter. Attributable
equivalent gold production at Cerro Corona in Peru decreased by
21 per cent from 84,100 ounces in the December quarter to
66,300 ounces in the March quarter. Gold production at the
Australian operations decreased by 7 per cent from 260,200
ounces in the December quarter to 241,400 ounces in the March
quarter mainly due to lower production at all the operations except
at St Ives.
At the South Africa region, production at South Deep decreased
by 25 per cent from 1,508 kilograms (48,500 ounces) in the
December quarter to 1,129 kilograms (36,300 ounces) in the
March quarter mainly due to the traditional annual Christmas
break.
At the West Africa region, managed gold production at Tarkwa
increased by 2 per cent from 133,100 ounces in the December
quarter to 135,800 ounces in the March quarter mainly due to
higher grade mined and processed. At Damang, managed gold
production decreased by 18 per cent from 47,800 ounces in the
December quarter to 39,000 ounces in the March quarter mainly
due to lower tonnes processed and lower grade, related to the
mining profile as scheduled.
At the South America region, total managed gold equivalent
production at Cerro Corona decreased by 21 per cent from 84,600
ounces in the December quarter to 66,600 ounces in the March
quarter. This decrease was in line with the mining schedule and
mainly due to lower gold and copper head grades treated.
At the Australia region, St Ives’ gold production increased by 6 per
cent from 93,000 ounces in the December quarter to 98,700
ounces in the March quarter mainly due to higher throughput
partially offset by lower grade. At Agnew/Lawlers, gold production
decreased by 19 per cent from 73,200 ounces in the December
quarter to 59,600 ounces in the March quarter mainly due to a
scheduled decrease in tonnes processed as well as lower yield.
At Darlot, gold production decreased by 28 per cent from 15,500
ounces in the December quarter to 11,200 ounces in the March
quarter mainly due to lower tonnes processed at lower grade. At
Granny Smith, gold production decreased by 8 per cent from
78,500 ounces in the December quarter to 72,000 ounces in the
March quarter due to scheduled lower volumes and grade mined.
The average quarterly US dollar gold price achieved by the Group
increased by 2 per cent from US$1,179 per equivalent ounce in
the December quarter to US$1,198 per equivalent ounce in the
March quarter. The average rand gold price increased by 6 per
cent from R432,290 per kilogram to R457,031 per kilogram. The
average Australian dollar gold price increased by 9 per cent from
A$1,417 per ounce to A$1,550 per ounce. The average US dollar
gold price for the Ghanaian operations increased by 1 per cent
from US$1,203 per ounce in the December quarter to US$1,218
per ounce in the March quarter. The average US dollar gold price,
net of treatment and refining charges, for Cerro Corona decreased
by 2 per cent from US$1,046 per equivalent ounce in the
December quarter to US$1,021 per equivalent ounce in the March
quarter. The average US dollar/Rand exchange rate weakened by
5 per cent from R11.18 in the December quarter to R11.71 in the
March quarter. The average Australian/US dollar exchange rate
weakened by 8 per cent from A$1.00 = US$0.86 to A$1.00 =
US$0.79.
Revenue decreased by 14 per cent from US$708 million in the
December quarter US$610 million in the March quarter due to
lower gold sold, partially offset by the higher gold price achieved.
Equivalent gold sold decreased by 15 per cent from 600,500
ounces in the December quarter to 508,900 ounces in the March
quarter. This was mainly due to 54,500 less equivalent ounces
sold at Cerro Corona in the March quarter compared with the
December quarter, as a result of delays in the shipping schedule
at the Salaverry port in Peru in the March quarter.
OPERATING COSTS
Net operating costs decreased by 10 per cent from US$405
million in the December quarter to US$366 million in the March
quarter mainly due to the lower production.
At the South Africa region, net operating costs at South Deep
increased by 3 per cent from R618 million (US$55 million) in the
December quarter to R634 million (US$54 million) in the March
quarter. This was mainly due to planned annual wage increases
for senior officials effective 1 January 2015, as well as increased
overtime worked during the Christmas break.
At the West Africa region, net operating costs decreased by 8 per
cent from US$136 million in the December quarter to US$125
million in the March quarter. This decrease in net operating costs
was mainly due to efficient cost control at both operations as well
as lower tonnes treated at Damang. Tarkwa had a larger build-up
of inventory in the March quarter compared with the December
quarter, while Damang had a build-up of inventory in the March
quarter compared with a drawdown in the December quarter.
At the South America region, net operating costs at Cerro Corona
decreased by 51 per cent from US$57 million in the December
quarter to US$28 million in the March quarter mainly due to a
US$5 million build-up of concentrate at the end of the March
quarter compared with a US$13 million drawdown at the end of
the December quarter as well as lower tonnes processed and the
lower diesel price.
At the Australia region, net operating costs increased by 9 per
cent from A$184 million (US$157 million) in the December quarter
to A$200 million (US$158 million) in the March quarter. This was
mainly due to the drawdown of gold-in-process at St Ives of A$18
million (US$14 million) in the March quarter compared with a
build-up of A$22 million (US$20 million) in the December quarter
and a drawdown at Granny Smith of A$6 million (US$4 million) in
the March quarter compared with a build-up of A$2 million (US$2
million) in the December quarter.
OPERATING PROFIT
Operating profit for the Group decreased by 20 per cent from
US$303 million in the December quarter to US$244 million in the
March quarter due to the decrease in revenue, partially offset by
the lower net operating costs.