Glencore Plc – Third Quarter 2020 Production Report

Glencore Plc

Third Quarter 2020 Production Report

Glencore Chief Executive Officer, Ivan Glasenberg:

“Glencore has delivered a solid third quarter operating performance, including the continued successful ramp-up of Katanga, which remains on track to achieve design capacity by year end. Our teams have adapted well to the numerous challenges presented by Covid-19.

“We maintain our 2020 full year production guidance, except coal, which was adjusted for the extended strike at Cerrejon. We will provide a detailed business update, including progress on climate change initiatives at our Investor Update on 4 December.”

Production from own sources – Total¹

1  Controlled industrial assets and joint ventures only. Production is on a 100% basis, except as stated.

Production guidance

• Changes in guidance reflect the tightening of most ranges and coal down 5mt (4%), accounting for the current extended industrial strike at Cerrejón JV (Colombia).

1 Excludes Volcan

Highlights

• The generally strong sequential quarterly production performance noted in the table above, in large part, reflects reversal of the various short-term Covid-19 related shutdowns in Q2, as mandated by several national/local governments.

• Own sourced copper production of 934,700 tonnes was 81,100 tonnes (8%) lower than the comparable prior period, reflecting Mutanda being on care and maintenance in the current period and the temporary suspension of operations at Antamina in Q2, partly offset by a continued strong milling performance at Collahuasi and Katanga's ramp-up.

• Own sourced cobalt production of 21,600 tonnes was 12,800 tonnes (37%) lower than the comparable prior period, mainly reflecting Mutanda on care and maintenance, partly offset by Katanga's ramp-up.

• Own source zinc production of 860,100 tonnes was 50,900 tonnes (6%) higher than the comparable prior period, mainly reflecting: (i) higher zinc grades from Antamina notwithstanding the temporary Covid-related suspension (21,800 tonnes); (ii) improved throughput at Mount Isa (14,900 tonnes); and (iii) the net positive effect of 13,800 tonnes from Other South America owing to re-opening the short-life Iscaycruz mine in Peru, offset by Covid-related slowdowns and suspensions.

• Own sourced nickel production of 81,800 tonnes was 7,600 tonnes (9%) lower than the comparable prior period, mainly reflecting Koniambo running as a single-line operation for most of Q2/Q3, with Covid-related restrictions on mobility affecting timing of maintenance.

• Attributable ferrochrome production of 651,000 tonnes was 379,000 tonnes  (37%) lower than the comparable prior period, primarily reflecting the Q2 South African lockdown measures. As of 1 September, four of the five smelters were running. The competitive environment across the South African ferrochrome industry continues to be challenging, in particular due to high input costs including electricity.

• Coal production of 83.5 million tonnes was 20.5 million tonnes (20%) lower than the comparable prior period, reflecting Prodeco being on care and maintenance for most of 2020, disruptions at Cerrejón (initially Covid-related, and lately due to industrial action), and targeted H2 volume reductions across the Australian portfolio, during a time of weak market conditions.

• Entitlement interest oil production of 3.4 million barrels was 0.3 million barrels (8%) lower than the comparable prior period, reflecting the temporary suspension of Chad operations since April 2020, partly offset by new wells drilled in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.