Perth-based South32 says its FY26 production guidance will remain unchanged across all operations, following the release of its September 2025 quarterly report.
Perth-based South32 says its FY26 production guidance will remain unchanged across all operations, as the mixed metals miner aims for positive momentum to continue.
In a statement to the ASX on Tuesday, South32 boss Graham Kerr said he was heartened by the company’s financial performance during the September 2025 quarter.
“We delivered another period of strong operating performance as we continued our focus on safe and reliable operations,” Mr Kerr said.
“Production highlights included a 12 per cent increase in payable copper equivalent production at Sierra Gorda and a 33 per cent uplift in manganese volumes, as we successfully executed the operational recovery plan at Australia Manganese.”
Closer to home, production at South32’s Worsley alumina refinery remained stable at 934,000 tonnes of bauxite during the first quarter of FY26, with an overall annual target of 3.75mt.
Aside from improved supply to the refinery, scheduled calciner maintenance was also finalised – although due to a combination of shipment timing and drawdown of inventory, sales dipped by 12 per cent.
In February, the company’s subsidiary Worsley Alumina, received both state and federal government backing for its Worsley Mine Development Project, paving the way for further expansion within the South West region.
South32 also provided an update regarding production at its Mozal aluminium asset in Mozambique, with its long-term future still currently unclear.
Aluminium production rose by 3000t to 93,000t, as a result of the site’s smelter functioning close to full capacity.
FY26 guidance at Mozal has been set at 240,000t – however in August, South32 announced it wasn’t confident a ‘sufficient and affordable’ electricity supply alternative for the site could be sourced once its present agreement expires.
As part of this update, the company said it had begun to stand down associated contractors a Mozal, tipping that the operation would be put on care and maintenance from March 2026 onwards.
Despite the uncertainty, South32 said on Tuesday it was still endeavouring to find a positive resolution, despite also reiterating remarks surrounding care and maintenance.
South32 closed trade up 4 per cent to $3.26.
