Production from Kumba Iron Ore decreased by 19% to 9 Mt, mainly due to the impact of the illegal strike at Sishen mine during the quarter and low attendance in the mining section following the strike action. At 31 December 2012, around 5 Mt of production had been lost at Sishen mine, though production rates have continued to improve. The faster than planned ramp up of Kolomela mine partially offset the negative impact on production at Sishen mine. Kolomela mine has exceeded monthly design capacity since July 2012 and reached record levels in the fourth quarter. The mine produced 2.8 Mt for the quarter, and is on track to achieve design capacity of 9 Mtpa in 2013.

Export sales volumes for the quarter decreased by 6% to 9 Mt principally as a result of the production losses at Sishen mine, partially offset by production from Kolomela mine and by sales from stock.

Finished product stockpile levels amounted to 3.7 Mt, a decrease of 29% compared to 31 December 2011.

During the quarter, Anglo American announced that all three injunctions contributing to the previously announced delay of first ore on ship to the end of 2014 had been lifted. As announced in November 2012, Anglo American is carrying out a detailed capital cost review to assess the outstanding capital expenditure requirements in light of current development progress and the disruptive challenges faced by the project.