en.Wedoany.com Reported - Anglo American plc's production report for the first quarter of 2026 shows a strong start for copper and premium iron ore operations, in line with previous mine plans.
Anglo American Chief Executive Duncan Wanblad stated that in copper operations, the restart of the second plant at Los Bronces in Chile has brought incremental profitable production, Collahuasi continues to prepare for higher-grade ore production later this year, and Quellaveco in Peru has seen improved recovery rates, which partially offsets the expected impact of lower grades in the first half of the year. In premium iron ore, operations at Kumba and Minas-Rio remain stable. The company is actively managing its supply chain to address market volatility and potential cost inflation impacts arising from the Middle East conflict.
In terms of portfolio optimization, the Moranbah North coal mine has resumed normal operations, and the sale process for steelmaking coal is progressing well, with an agreement expected to be reached in the second quarter of 2026. The sale process for De Beers is advancing, while the company is also evaluating further cost and capital preservation measures to address challenges in the diamond market. For the nickel business, the antitrust approval process with the European Commission is underway.
The merger with Teck is expected to be completed between September 2026 and March 2027, aiming to create a global critical minerals leader focused on copper. Regulatory approval was obtained in South Korea in the first quarter of this year, with antitrust approval in China being the last remaining regulatory milestone, and integration planning is progressing smoothly.
In terms of production data, copper output increased by 1% year-on-year to 170,400 tons, driven by higher throughput at Los Bronces and Collahuasi, partially offset by expected lower grades at Quellaveco. Premium iron ore production was 15.2 million tons, down 2% year-on-year, with slight declines at Kumba and Minas-Rio. Manganese ore production surged 118% to 759,100 tons, reflecting a recovery from the temporary suspension in March 2024 due to a tropical cyclone in Australia. Rough diamond production increased by 17% to 7.1 million carats, primarily driven by planned ore release at the Gahcho Kué mine and high output from the Venetia underground mine. Steelmaking coal production fell 31% to 1.5 million tons, due to lower output at Moranbah North following an accident in March 2025 and weather impacts at the Dawson mine. Nickel production decreased by 7% to 9,100 tons, affected by maintenance work at Barro Alto and Codemin.
The 2026 production guidance remains unchanged, with copper output target of 700 to 760 thousand tons, premium iron ore of 55 to 59 million tons, and diamonds of 21 to 26 million carats. The unit cost guidance for continuing operations also remains unchanged.
This production report is unaudited. Detailed production reports and data tables are available on the company's official website.
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