African Rainbow Minerals, led by CEO Mike Schmidt, posted a 58% fall in annual headline earnings on Friday reflecting lower commodity prices which forced it to shut down several manganese alloy furnaces.

It said above-inflation cost increases, especially for electricity and labour, made manganese alloys operations “unprofitable”.

It placed all furnaces at its Machadodorp Works and three furnaces at the Cato Ridge Works on care and maintenance.

Headline earnings a share, a measure used in South Africa which strips off some one-off items, fell to 803c from 1900c a year earlier.

“The reduction in headline earnings was largely as a result of a decline in average realized US dollar prices for iron-ore, manganese ore, platinum, nickel, export thermal coal and copper,” ARM said in a statement outlining the company’s results.

It said the US dollar price for iron ore fell by about 42%, due to increased supply from the major global producers coupled with a slowdown in demand, especially from China.

That resulted in a 61% slump in ARM’s iron-ore division.

Iron-ore, used in making steel, has recovered from a decade-low of $44.10 in July but expectations of additional supply later in the year have capped further gains.

South Africa’s miners sell their commodities in dollars while paying costs in rand and the company painted a dim outlook, projecting further price falls.

“The business environment for mining will remain challenging and US dollar prices are expected to be low for longer in certain commodities,” ARM said.

It said it would trim capital expenditure by R1-billion ($73.26-million) in response to lower commodity prices.

ARM declared a dividend of 350c, down from 600c paid a year earlier.

• [Editor:Juan]