Sibanye Stillwater (SBSW) - 2025 H1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group adjusted EBITDA increased by 120% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching ZAR 10 billion, and even excluding the 45X credits, it was still 51% higher [6][7] - Net debt to adjusted EBITDA improved to 0.89 times, significantly below the market's earlier projections [7] - The total fair value of the 45X credits is projected to increase to ZAR 12.6 billion by 2034, representing 32% of the acquisition value of the Stillwater operations [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - South African PGM operations produced 840,400 ounces, a 4% decrease year-on-year, with underground operations consistent at 750,000 ounces [60] - South African gold operations saw a 36% increase in average gold price received, reaching slightly more than ZAR 1.8 million per kilogram, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 118% to ZAR 4.8 billion [66] - Montana PGM operations produced 141,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,207 per ounce, reflecting a 41% decrease in costs compared to pre-restructuring [75] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gold prices increased by 26% in the first half of the year, with average trading volumes reaching $329 billion per day, the highest for any half-year period on record [49] - PGM prices have rallied due to tight supply, with platinum prices outperforming due to lower mine supplies [50] - Lithium market remains oversupplied, with average prices around $9,000 per ton, but recent price movements have seen a rise to over $11,000 per ton due to Chinese government actions [57][58] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on commodity diversification, particularly in gold and lithium, to stabilize earnings during volatile market cycles [26] - A multipolarity strategy is being implemented to enhance local supply of critical minerals, with significant investments in lithium projects in Europe [26][29] - Sustainability remains a core aspect of the company's strategy, with recent acquisitions aimed at expanding recycling capabilities [31][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to thrive in a turbulent industry, highlighting a strong earnings trend and decreasing leverage [25][11] - The outlook for the second half of the year is positive, with expectations of improved results driven by higher commodity prices [74] - Management acknowledged challenges in certain operations but emphasized ongoing assessments to optimize production and maintain safety [71][72] Other Important Information - The company reported three fatalities during the reporting period, emphasizing safety as the top priority and ongoing efforts to improve safety metrics [5][23] - A strategic project status was granted for both the Calibre and Galicam projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, providing access to grants and tax credits [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for dividend payments? - The company has decided not to pay dividends at the interim stage but will review this at year-end, with confidence in returning to dividend-paying territory if commodity prices remain stable [42][43] Question: How is the company addressing the challenges in the gold operations? - Management is actively reviewing the Cliff operations to optimize long-term sustainability and has revised production guidance for managed operations [72][74] Question: What are the expectations for the lithium market? - The company remains bullish on the long-term demand for lithium, forecasting a healthy CAGR for battery electric vehicle production over the next decade [58]