PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Mineral Resources (MinRes) has reported record iron-ore sales for its full year ended June, with the company increasing export volumes by 88% on the 2013 figures, to 10.4-million tonnes.
During the quarter ended June, iron-ore exports increased by 14%, to 5.9-million tonnes.
The miner told shareholders on Friday that the increased iron-ore shipments were mainly sourced from the Phil’s Creek operation, in the Pilbara, which increased its production by 27%, to 1.28-million tonnes during the quarter ended June, as part of the continued ramp-up of the operation and the re-focus on the Pilbara operations.
The Spinifex Ridge operation, which was acquired in 2013, also delivered 395 000 t of ore during the quarter, and was expected to continue at a rate of around 130 000 t/m until the end of its mine life in 2015.
The Carina operations, in the Yilgarn, delivered 4.5-million tonnes during the full year, an increase of 28% on the previous financial year, with some 1.13-million tonnes delivered in the three months to June. This was up 9% on the previous quarter.
MinRes said that ongoing operational efficiency measures at Carina had allowed for a steady increase in volumes over the year under review, with further measures in progress to reduce costs and advance production rates.
During the next two quarters, MinRes would introduce its Iron Valley operation, in the Pilbara, into production and was expected to subsequently wind down operations at its other Pilbara operations.
This was expected to maximise operational efficiencies by operating from a single mine site in the Pilbara.