Amplats warns of sharp profit fall after delayed smelter rebuild

Amplats warns of sharp profit fall after delayed smelter rebuild

Anglo American Platinum (AMSJ.J) (Amplats) expects its 2022 annual profit to be down as much as 52%, hit by a decline in sales of platinum group metals (PGM) after a delayed smelter rebuild, it said on Monday.

The company, which is due to report annual results on Feb. 20, said that headline earnings per share (HEPS) – the main profit measure in South Africa – are expected to be between 144.31 rand and 201.28 rand, down from 300.42 rand in 2021.

Johannesburg-listed Amplats said PGM sales volumes fell 26% last year after refined metal output declined by 25% to 3.831,1 million ounces, from a record 5.138,4 million ounces in 2021.

This was mainly because of a two-month delay in the rebuild of Amplats’ Polokwane smelter owing to delivery of sub-standard materials, the company said.

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