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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mineral sands miner Iluka has reported a 42% year-on-year decline in zircon, rutile and synthetic rutile production for the year ended December.
The ASX-listed miner said that the decrease in production was in line with guidance, and reflected production constraints consistent with Iluka’s preferred approach to a period of low market demand.
Total mineral sands production for the full year reduced to 471 000 t, compared with the 811 800 t produced in 2012, while production during the three months to December reached 90 700 t, compared with the 165 900 t produced in the previous corresponding period.
Zircon production was down to 285 100 t for the full year and down to 68 500 t during the quarter ended December, while rutile production was down 127 000 t for the full year, with quarterly rutile production reaching 56 700 t.
Synthetic rutile production for the full year was down to 59 000 t, while no synthetic rutile was produced during the three months to December.
Ilmenite production for the full year reached 584 500 t, compared with the 674 100 t produced in the 2012 financial year, while quarterly production reached 116 400 t, compared with the 115 800 t produced in the previous corresponding period.
Meanwhile, sales volumes for zircon, rutile and synthetic rutile reached 584 400 t, with zircon sales volumes increasing 73.2% on the previous financial year to 370 200 t.
Mineral sands sales revenue for the three months to December reached $234.3-million, compared with the $182.5-million achieved in the previous corresponding period.
For the full 12 months, revenue declined to $763-million, from $1.06-billion achieved in 2012.