Antofagasta (LON:ANTO)
Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) has released strong results on the back of stronger copper prices, output and robust cost control. Revenue of US$2bn was up 42% YoY as copper sold increased 14% to 310kt YoY while copper prices averaged 25% higher. Unit costs of US$1.56/lb were down 2.5% YoY. EBITDA was consequently up strongly by 88% YoY to US$1.1bn. Net income of US$455m was up 187% YoY while the interim dividend of USc10.3/sh. was more than double that of 2016.
Delayed shipments from H2 2016 at Centinela offset the impact of port disruption at Los Pelambres. Production is expected to increase further in H2 with full year guidance of 685-720kt. This is primarily expected to come from the ramp up at Centinela.
BHP Billiton (LON:BLT)
BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) has released strong results for full year FY 2017. Revenue of US$38.3bn was up 24% YoY while underlying EBITDA of US$20.3bn was up 64% YoY. This was primarily driven by stronger earnings in from bulk materials and copper although petroleum earnings were also stronger. Iron ore EBITDA increased by 62% to US$9bn while coal EBITDA was up five-fold to US$3.8bn. The full year dividend of USc83/sh. was up from USc30/sh. in 2016 with an H2 contribution in 2017 of USc43/sh.
FY 2018 production guidance is for increases across the board bar the petroleum division which has been declared non-core and available for sale. Iron ore production is expected to increase on an attributable basis from 231mnt to between 239-243mnt with cash costs down from US$14.6/t to below US$14/t. Copper production is expected to increase from 1.3mnt to between 1.66-1.79mnt as production is normalised at Escondida, however, cash costs are expected to increase to US$1/lb (up 8% YoY). Coal costs are guided as flat YoY although met coal production is expected to increase from 40mnt to 44-46mnt whilst thermal coal production is expected to increase by 7% YoY to 29mnt. Petroleum output is expected to fall from 208mmboe to between 180-190mmboe.