Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a leading supplier of high-grade iron ore, has reported solid operational and financial results for the first half of 2025, showing resilience in the face of global economic uncertainty and market volatility.

The company maintained a strong focus on safety, achieving more than nine years of fatality-free production at its Sishen mine. Kumba also reported a 9% reduction in energy consumption, bringing it down to 3.513 million gigajoules.

Women now make up 30% of Kumba’s workforce, and the company created a total of R25.9 billion in shared value during the period. Of this amount, R1.9 billion will be distributed to empowerment partners.

Financial performance

Kumba delivered an average realised FOB export price of US$91 per wet metric tonne, 8% above the benchmark. The company also achieved R661 million in cost savings and maintained an EBITDA margin of 46%. EBITDA for the period was R16.0 billion, and Kumba closed with a net cash position of R16.1 billion.

Attributable free cash flow was R7.9 billion, with a return on capital employed (ROCE) of 48%. The Board declared an interim cash dividend of R16.60 per share, amounting to R5.3 billion.

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Mpumi Zikalala, Chief Executive of Kumba, said, “In an environment characterised by global economic uncertainty and market volatility, Kumba is positioned to continue delivering stakeholder value. We have progressed with our strategy of safely and sustainably unlocking value from our core assets, demonstrated by our consistent production, cost, and capital discipline.

“This, combined with higher sales volumes and the ability to earn additional premium from our high-quality iron ore products, contributed to EBITDA of R16.0 billion and an EBITDA margin of 46%. Attributable free cash flow of R7.9 billion supported our Board’s decision to declare an interim cash dividend of R5.3 billion. Kumba created R25.9 billion of enduring shared value, of which our empowerment partners will receive R1.9 billion as we continue to reimagine mining to improve people’s lives.”