A summary of Glencore's 2021 third-quarter production report for the coal sector, released on Friday October 29.
In brief
The company's coal production for the year to September 30 was 76.3 million tonnes, some 7.2 million tonnes (9%) lower than the comparable period in 2020, reflecting a full period with its Prodeco operations in Colombia under care and maintenance, the progressive recovery from the market-related reductions across the Australian portfolio initiated in the second half of 2020 and lower domestic production and demand in South Africa.As previously announced, Glencore was formally notified that the Colombian National Mining Agency had accepted the relinquishment of Prodeco's key mining contracts back to the Republic of Colombia. The mines will remain under care and maintenance until the formal process of relinquishing the contracts is complete.Australian coking coal production in the year to September 30 was 18% higher than the comparable period in 2020, mainly reflecting additional metallurgical-quality material from Collinsville.The company's year-to-date Australian thermal and semi-soft coal production was 6% lower than the comparable 2020 period, mainly reflecting the residual impact of market-related supply reductions initiated in the second half of 2020. Sequential quarterly production increased by 15%, reflecting a recovery from those declines.South African thermal coal production in the year to the end of September was 16% lower than the comparable period in 2020, reflecting lower domestic production due to weaker local demand conditions and curtailments, where required, to match reduced export rail capacity.Attributable production at the Cerrej??n mine in Colombia in the first nine months of the year was 47% higher than the comparable 2020 period, mainly reflecting a Covid-related suspensions in 2020.Key production figures - January 1-September 30
(tonnes, year-on-year percentage changes)Total coal production: 76.3 million, down 9%
Australian coking coal: 6.6 million, up 18%
Australian semi-soft coal: 3.5 million, down 3%
Australian thermal coal (export): 40.5 million, down 6%
Australian thermal coal (domestic): 4.2 million tonnes, down 14%
South African thermal coal (export): 11.6 million tonnes, up 1%
South African thermal coal (domestic): 4.3 million tonnes, down 42%
Cerrej??n: 5.6 million tonnes, up 47%
Prodeco: none, down 100%
Q3 2021 results
(tonnes, year-on-year percentage changes)Total coal production: 27.6 million, up 9%
Australian coking coal: 2.5 million tonnes, up 32%
Australian semi-soft coal: 0.9 million tonnes, down 10%
Australian thermal coal (export): 15.5 million tonnes, up 15%
Australian thermal coal (domestic): 1.6 million tonnes, up 33%
South African thermal coal (export): 3.9 million tonnes, down 9%
South African thermal coal (domestic): 1.2 million tonnes, down 50%
Cerrej??n: 2.0 million tonnes, up 82%
Prodeco: none
2021 full-year guidance
100-108 million tonnes, unchanged