Gold Fields Q4 2014 Results I 14
in 2013 to 326,600 ounces in 2014 mainly due an increase in
ore processed and higher copper grades.
At the Australia region, gold production increased by 47 per
cent from 700,200 ounces in 2013 to 1,031,000 ounces in
2014 mainly due to the inclusion of the Yilgarn South assets
for the full year in 2014 as opposed to only one quarter in
2013. At St Ives, gold production decreased by 10 per cent
from 402,700 ounces to 361,700 ounces, mainly due to the
closure of Argo and lower underground head grade. At
Agnew/Lawlers, gold production increased by 26 per cent
from 215,600 ounces to 270,700 ounces, mainly due to the
inclusion of Lawlers for the full year. At Darlot and Granny
Smith gold production amounted to 83,600 ounces and
315,200 ounces in 2014, respectively, compared with 19,700
ounces and 62,200 ounces for one quarter only, respectively,
in 2013.
Income statement
Revenue decreased by 1 per cent from US$2,906 million in
2013 to US$2,869 million in 2014 due to the lower gold price
received, partially offset by the higher gold sold. The average
gold price decreased by 10 per cent from US$1,386 per
ounce to US$1,249 per ounce. The average Rand/US dollar
exchange rate weakened by 13 per cent from R9.60 in 2013
to R10.82 in 2014. The average Australian/US dollar
exchange rate weakened by 7 per cent from A$1.00 =
US$0.968 to A$1.00 = US$0.903.
Net operating costs increased marginally from US$1,667
million to US$1,678 million due to the inclusion of the Yilgarn
South assets for the full year in 2014, partially offset by good
cost control at South Deep, Tarkwa, Damang and Cerro
Corona.
At South Deep in South Africa, net operating costs decreased
by 14 per cent from R3,089 million (US$322 million) in 2013
to R2,657 million (US$246 million) in 2014. This was mainly
due to the lower production as well as cost restructuring,
partially offset by annual wage increases and normal
inflationary increases. All-in sustaining costs of R538,254 per
kilogram (US$1,548 per ounce) and total all-in cost of
R602,363 per kilogram (US$1,732 per ounce) in 2014
compared with R475,706 per kilogram (US$1,541 per ounce)
and R544,190 per kilogram (US$1,763 per ounce),
respectively, in 2013.
At the West Africa region, net operating costs decreased by
17 per cent from US$665 million in 2013 to US$551 million in
2014. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for the
region amounted to US$1,094 per ounce in 2014 compared
with US$1,343 per ounce in 2013. At Tarkwa, net operating
costs decreased by 26 per cent from US$505 million to
US$372 million due to the lower production. Good cost
control as well as lower contractor and consumable stores
costs due to the heap leach closure were partially offset by
annual wage increases and increased power rates. Net
operating costs were also lower due to a US$2 million gold-
in-process credit to cost in 2014, compared with a US$31
million drawdown of stockpiles in 2013. All-in sustaining
costs and total all-in costs amounted to US$1,068 per ounce
in 2014 compared with US$1,291 per ounce in 2013. At
Damang, net operating costs increased by 13 per cent from
US$160 million to US$180 million due to the higher
production and a US$2 million charge to costs in 2014
compared with a US$11 million credit to cost in 2013. All-in
sustaining costs and total all-in cost amounted to US$1,175
per ounce in 2014 compared with US$1,558 per ounce in
2013.
At Cerro Corona in South America, net operating costs
increased by 13 per cent from US$142 million in 2013 to
US$160 million in 2014. This was mainly due to US$19
million credit to costs in 2013 related to a build-up in
concentrate compared with a US$2 million drawdown of
concentrate inventory in 2014. All-in sustaining costs and
total all-in cost amounted to US$316 per ounce in 2014
compared with US$206 per ounce in 2013. All-in sustaining
costs and total all-in cost, on a gold equivalent basis
amounted to US$702 per ounce in 2014 compared with
US$714 per ounce in 2013.
At the Australia region, net operating costs increased by 44
per cent from A$556 million (US$538 million) in 2013 to
A$799 million (US$721 million) in 2014 mainly due to the
inclusion of the Yilgarn South assets for the full year in 2014.
All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for the region
amounted to A$1,124 per ounce (US$1,015 per ounce) in
2014 compared with A$1,130 per ounce (US$1,094 per
ounce) in 2013.
At St Ives, net operating costs decreased by 10 per cent from
A$348 million (US$337 million) to A$313 million (US$282
million) mainly due to lower surface operational waste tonnes
mined in 2014 as well as cost improvements and a A$11
million (US$10 million) build-up of gold-in-process in 2014
compared with a A$9 million (US$9 million) drawdown in
2013. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for St Ives
amounted to A$1,289 per ounce (US$1,164 per ounce) in
2014 compared with A$1,257 per ounce (US$1,218 per
ounce) in 2013.
At Agnew/Lawlers, net operating costs increased by 36 per
cent from A$141 million (US$136 million) in 2013 to A$191
million (US$173 million) in 2014 due to a full year’s additional
costs from Lawlers compared with only one quarter in 2013.
All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for Agnew/Lawlers
amounted to A$1,096 per ounce (US$990 per ounce) in 2014
compared with A$949 per ounce (US$919 per ounce) in
2013.
At Darlot and Granny Smith, net operating costs were A$93
million (US$84 million) and A$202 million (US$183 million),
respectively, in 2014 compared with A$21 million (US$20
million) and A$47 million (US$45 million), respectively, in
2013. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for Darlot
and Granny Smith amounted to A$1,353 per ounce
(US$1,222 per ounce) and A$896 per ounce (US$809 per
ounce), respectively, in 2014. This compared with all-in
sustaining costs and total all-in cost of A$1,169 per ounce
(US$1,132 per ounce) and A$917 per ounce (US$888 per
ounce) for Darlot and Granny Smith, respectively in 2013.
The Group all-in sustaining costs of US$1,053 per ounce and
total all-in cost of US$1,087 per ounce in 2014 compared with
all-in sustaining costs of US$1,202 per ounce and total all-in
cost of US$1,312 per ounce in 2013.
Operating profit decreased from US$1,239 million to
US$1,191 million as a result of the above.
Amortisation for the Group increased from US$611 million in
2013 to US$657 million in 2014 due to the inclusion of the
Yilgarn South assets for the full year in 2014 and the higher
charge at Cerro Corona, partially offset by lower amortisation