Anglo American's metallurgical coal output rose sharply quarter on quarter in the second quarter of 2026 as production at a mine resumed normal operations after an accident, though volumes slipped slightly from a year earlier. Iron ore output also fell year on year but edged up from the prior quarter.

The miner produced 2.03 million tonnes of met coal in the April-June period, down 1% year on year but up 32% from the first quarter, according to its quarterly report released July 23. Hard coking coal output totaled 1.56 million tonnes, down 11% year on year but up 28% quarter on quarter, while PCI/semi-soft coking coal production reached 473,000 tonnes, up 54% from a year earlier and 46% from the previous quarter.

The company said expected difficult strata conditions at the Aquila mine weighed on met coal output, but a recovery in production at the Moranbah North mine partially offset the decline, resulting in a slight year-on-year drop in overall volumes.

Moranbah North produced 459,000 tonnes of steelmaking coal in the second quarter, surging 238% from a year earlier and 135% from the prior quarter. The mine was closed in March 2025 after a fire caused by high gas content, and resumed normal operations after regulators lifted the final directives in February 2026.

Anglo American previously announced the sale of its portfolio of Australian met coal mines to Dhilmar Limited, a UK-registered privately held mining company. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the first quarter of 2027, the company said in its latest report.

In addition, thermal coal output in the second quarter totaled 276,000 tonnes, down 7% year on year and 10% quarter on quarter.

Met coal sales reached 1.92 million tonnes in the second quarter, down 13% year on year but up 31% from the previous quarter. Hard coking coal sales stood at 1.41 million tonnes, down 17% year on year but up 14% quarter on quarter, while PCI/semi-soft coking coal sales were 514,000 tonnes, flat year on year but up 121% from the prior quarter. Export thermal coal sales totaled 253,000 tonnes, down 24% year on year and 12% quarter on quarter.

In the first half of 2026, Anglo American's steelmaking coal output totaled 3.58 million tonnes, down 17% year on year, with sales of 3.39 million tonnes, down 12%. The average realized price for hard coking coal was $201/t in the first half, below the benchmark price of $236/t, due to lower production of premium hard coking coal from underground mines.

Premium iron ore

Anglo American's premium iron ore output reached 15.39 million wet tonnes in the second quarter, down 3% year on year but up 1% quarter on quarter. Production at both its Kumba operation in South Africa and the Minas-Rio operation in Brazil fell short of year-ago levels.

Kumba produced 8.84 million wet tonnes, down 4% year on year as a 16% drop in output at the Kolomela mine due to a planned plant maintenance shutdown tied to scheduled rail maintenance weighed on volumes, and largely flat quarter on quarter.

Minas-Rio output totaled 6.55 million wet tonnes, down 2% year on year due to lower ore grade and mass recovery, but up 3% from the first quarter.

Iron ore sales in the second quarter reached 16.72 million wet tonnes, up 2% year on year and 13% quarter on quarter. Kumba sales were 9.42 million wet tonnes, down 4% year on year but up 3% quarter on quarter, while Minas-Rio sales totaled 7.30 million wet tonnes, up 10% year on year and 28% quarter on quarter.

In the first half of 2026, Anglo American's iron ore output totaled 30.60 million wet tonnes, down 2% year on year, while sales rose 2% to 31.56 million wet tonnes.

The company maintained its full-year 2026 iron ore production guidance at 55-59 million wet tonnes, with Kumba at 31-33 million wet tonnes and Minas-Rio at 24-26 million wet tonnes.