IRON ORE – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Riches keep rolling in for Rinehart

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian – Page: 22 : 12-Nov-19

Hancock Prospecting posted a net profit of $2.6bn in 2018-19, compared with just $443m in 2016, while its revenue increased from $1.6bn to $8.4bn over the same period. Hancock, which is controlled by mining magnate Gina Rinehart, benefited from a sustained rally in the iron ore price in 2018-19. The Roy Hill iron ore project was a major contributor to Hancock’s earnings for the financial year, with a profit of $1.38bn and revenue of $5.16bn. Rinehart’s wealth was estimated at $13.12bn in March.

CORPORATES
HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, ROY HILL HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Rio Tinto could hit iron ore goal in 2022

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 1-Nov-19

The head of Rio Tinto’s iron ore division, Chris Salisbury, has told investors that production at its Koodaideri mine in Western Australia is slated for late 2021. He also said the mine will give Rio Tinto the capacity to ship 360 million tonnes of iron ore from the Pilbara each year. This target was first set in 2013, but to date the most Rio Tinto has shopped from the Pilbara in a single year is 338.2 million tonnes. Analysts expect its Pilbara shipments to total 325.5 million tonnes in 2019.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, VUMA FINANCIAL LIMITED

Forrest baulks at sugar hit pledges

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 30-Oct-19

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest has criticised iron ore rivals such as BHP and Rio Tinto for their stance on issues such as Scope 3 emissions and gender parity. He has described their announcements on such issues as "sugar hits" that have no real substance. Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines has told the pure-play miner’s AGM that its own Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are a priority, rather than the emissions of its customers. Meanwhile, 24.72 per cent of votes cast at the AGM rejected Fortescue’s remuneration report.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Flush Fortescue now close to net cash

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 25-Oct-19

Pure-play iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has advised that its shipments totalled 42.2 million tonnes in the September quarter. Fortescue has maintained its full-year export guidance of 170-175 million tonnes. The company received an average price of $US85 per tonne during the quarter, which is 89 per cent higher than the previous corresponding period. Fortescue reduced its net debt to $US500m ($730m) during the quarter, while it has gross debt of $US3.9bn.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED

Sinosteel cautions Oakajee doubters

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Original article by Peter Ker, Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 22-Oct-19

Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan says he would welcome any move to proceed with the stalled Oakajee port and rail project, after Sinosteel’s recent deal to acquire Mitsubishi’s interest in it. However, Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan ha expressed doubts regarding the $10bn project’s viability. Stuart Griffiths, the CEO of Sinosteel Midwest, says people should keep "an open mind" on the issue, adding that good quality iron ore will always be in demand.

CORPORATES
SINOSTEEL CORPORATION, SINOSTEEL MIDWEST CORPORATION LIMITED, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

China launches $10b push for Oakajee iron ore

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 & 22 : 21-Oct-19

Sinosteel has acquired Mitsubishi’s interests in the long-stalled $9.7 billion Oakajee port and rail project in Western Australia. Sinosteel’s $2 billion Weld Range iron ore project was to be a customer of the Oakejee project, but cost blowouts saw proposed port tariffs increased, leading Sinosteel to conclude that Weld Range would not be viable, and it stopped work on Weld Range in June 2011. Sinosteel’s acquisition of Mitsubishi’s stake in the Oakajee project has sparked hopes that it could be revived, and that a new iron ore export province in WA can be created.

CORPORATES
SINOSTEEL CORPORATION, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

BHP holds out against activist push

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 18-Oct-19

BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie has defended its membership of mining industry groups such as the Minerals Council of Australia and associated entities like Coal 21, amid growing pressure from activist groups and shareholders. Meanwhile, BHP has advised that scheduled maintenance work at Port Hedland resulted in its Pilbara iron ore production falling three per cent to 69 million tonnes in the September quarter. BHP has also approved additional expenditure of $US344m on the Jansen potash project in Canada, ahead of a final investment decision in February 2021.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, COAL 21

Rio on track for world iron ore crown

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 17-Oct-19

Rio Tinto shipped 86.1 million tonnes of Pilbara iron ore during the September quarter, and 240 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2019. A strong performance in the fourth quarter could see Rio Tinto’s full-year exports top 330 million tonnes, which is the upper range of its guidance for the calendar year. This would also allow it to surpass Vale as the world’s biggest iron ore exporter, given that the Brazilian company now expects to export about 319 million tonnes for the year. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto has advised that its alumina and bauxite production in 2019 will be below previous guidance.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, VALE SA, TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LIMITED

Forrest reaps $1bn in dividends

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Original article by John Stensholt, Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 27-Aug-19

Fortescue Metals Group has posted a record net profit of $US3.2bn ($4.7bn) and revenue of $US10bn for 2018-19. The pure-play iron ore miner’s net debt was $US2.1bn at the end of the financial year, while its cash holdings totalled $US1.9bn. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $0.24 per share and a full-year payout of $1.14 a share. Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest will be paid $1.24bn in dividends for the full year, including about $261m from the final dividend. Fortescue expects its iron ore shipments for 2019-20 to be within the range of 170-175 million tonnes, at an average price of $US13.25-$US13.75 per tonne.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, VALE SA

FMG’s dilemma as record profit meets price fall

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 26-Aug-19

Fortescue Metals Group is forecast to post a record underlying profit of $US3.03bn ($4.49bn) for 2018-19, following a rally in the iron ore price during the financial year. Some analysts expect the pure-play miner to announce a final dividend on 26 August, despite the recent fall in the iron ore price and the fact that Fortescue’s interim dividend was well within its stated target of paying 50-80 per cent of its net profits in dividends.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX ILU