Expectations of a “very different” second half-year support Chilean-based copper giant Antofagasta’s expectations of meeting revised FY2022 guidance of 640,000-660,000t copper despite a 25.7% production drop to 268,600t in the June half.
H1 impacts included drought and the shutdown for a leaking concentrate pipeline at Los Pelambres and lower grades at its Centinela Concentrates. Lower production and higher input costs increased cash costs 37% to $US2.37/lb.
CEO Iván Arriagada says Antofagasta will benefit from improving production, deferred concentrate sales and improved water availability.
H1 revenue fell to $2.53B (H1FY2021: $3.6B), lowering EBITDA to $1.24B ($2.36B).