JOHANNESBURG - Shares in Kumba Iron Ore have risen despite its results showing a whopping fall in its profits.
Shareholders knew what was coming after Kumba issued a profit warning earlier.
Its headline earnings per share for the half-year that ended in June fell by 41% partly due to lower prices for iron ore which is the main ingredient in steelmaking.
Kumba Iron Ore is Africa’s top iron ore miner and a key subsidiary of Anglo American in South Africa, as the company seeks to simplify its offering.
The company’s operations include the Kolomela and Sishen mines in the Northern Cape.
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Kumba says it experienced higher fuel and shipping costs on the back of the Middle East Conflict.
Sales to China, which is the top buyer of iron ore globally, also declined to 53% of overall sales during the first half of the year.
Kumba declared an interim dividend of R7.90, less than half of last year’s payout.
While the share price rose today, it is down more than 16% from a year ago and the company has more than halved in value compared to five years ago.