Ferro-alloys.com: With the price of various commodities having improved during the 2017 financial year, diversified miner South32 remains optimistic about the aluminium, manganese and energy coal sectors for the year ahead.

“Manganese led the way [in terms of price increases], and metallurgical coal, energy coal, zinc, lead and alumina all rose during the year, says South32 CEO Graham Kerr.

While manganese “has run hot” in the last six months, Kerr, however, expects some downward pressure as a result of a forecast moderation in demand from China, an expected drop in steel production and the influx of niche manganese suppliers.

Additional opportunities lie in unlocking resources, as is evident from the group’s progress made towards approving a project to extend the life-of-mine of the Klipspruit colliery – the announcement of which is expected before the end of the year – the start of exploration at the southern areas of Gemco manganese mine, in the Northern Territory, and the delivery of the first higher-grade nickel ore from the La Esmeralda deposit, in Cerro Matoso, in Colombia.

• [Editor:yuyunqing]