【Ferro-alloys.com】Australia Manganese saleable production decreased by 5% (or 144kwmt) to 2,519kwmt in the nine months ended March 2022 as ore handling characteristics resulted in lower yield at the primary concentrator. The PC02 circuit continued to operate above its design capacity, as we took advantage of favourable market conditions and realised the benefit of establishing market depth for our low-cost PC02 fines product. The product contributed 12% of total production (9M YTD21: 10%), further benefiting margins at the operation. Notwithstanding the improved production performance in the March 2022 quarter, FY22 production guidance is currently unchanged at 3,200kwmt while we continue to monitor the potential for further impacts from the wet season

South Africa Manganese saleable production decreased by 5% (or 72kwmt) to 1,444kwmt in the nine months ended March 2022, as scheduled maintenance was completed in the quarter at both the Wessels and Mamatwan mines. Although ore sales reduced by 15% in the March quarter due to the lower production volumes and third party port performance, we maintained the significant drawdown in stocks that we have prioritised in FY22, returning finished goods to their optimal operating window. Notwithstanding fewer sales in the quarter, we achieved a premium of circa 15% to the medium grade 37% manganese lump ore index21 on a volume weighted M-1 basis as we continue to optimise our product mix. FY22 production guidance remains unchanged at 2,000kwmt as we continue to monitor market conditions and optimise our use of higher cost trucking that incurs additional costs, but maximises cash flow at the operation.

• [Editor:zhaozihao]