CLEVELAND, Jan. 26, 2012/PRNewswire/ -- Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) today provided an update on its 2011 expected results by business segment, along with its business segment outlook for 2012. Cliffs will report its complete fourth-quarter and full-year results on Feb. 15, 2012, and hold a conference call with the investment community at 10 a.m.on Feb. 16, 2012(additional conference call information below).
U.S. Iron Ore
Cliffs expects to report full-year 2011 revenue per ton in
its U.S. Iron Ore business segment at the low end of its
previous 2011 revenue per ton outlook of $135 -
$140, with a rate of approximately
$120per ton in the fourth quarter. The fourth
quarter rate was driven by sales mix and retroactive
pricing adjustments recorded for specific contracts during
the quarter. The Company expects to report full-year sales
volume and cash cost per ton in line with its previous
outlook of 24 million tons and $63per ton,
respectively.
Eastern Canadian Iron Ore
Cliffs expects to report full-year 2011 sales volume of 7.4
million tons in its Eastern Canadian Iron Ore segment, down
from its previous outlook of 8 million tons. The
lower-than-anticipated sales volume was driven by lower
pellet sales volume resulting from operational challenges
at Wabush Mine. During the fourth quarter,
Wabushexperienced a number of crusher, dryer
and other equipment outages, resulting in lack of pellet
availability.
In addition, Cliffs expects to report 2011 revenue per ton in Eastern Canadian Iron Ore slightly below its previous outlook of $160 - $165. Full-year cash cost per ton in the segment are expected to be at the high end of Cliffs' previous outlook of $90 - $95. Higher cash costs per ton were primarily driven by the challenges at Wabush, which included a $4per ton impact from lower fixed cost leverage and unplanned fourth-quarter repair spending.
Asia Pacific Iron Ore
Cliffs expects to report full-year 2011 sales volumes of
8.6 million tons in its Asia Pacific Iron Ore segment, down
from its previous outlook of 8.8 million tons. The
lower-than-anticipated sales volumes were due to timing of
two shipments, one from Koolyanobbing and one from Cockatoo
Island.
Revenue per ton in Asia Pacific Iron Ore is expected to be in line with Cliffs' previous outlook of $155 - $160. Primarily as a result of higher mining costs, Cliffs expects to report cash cost per ton in Asia Pacific Iron Ore of approximately $66, slightly higher than its previous outlook of $60 - $65per ton.
North American Coal
Cliffs' Pinnacle Mine generated strong results in the
fourth quarter, with production of over 600,000 tons of
low-volatile metallurgical coal expected to be reported. In
addition, Oak Grove Mine achieved year-end inventory of
approximately 1.9 million tons of raw coal (or 740,000 tons
of clean coal equivalent) in the fourth quarter. As a
result, Cliffs anticipates reporting full-year 2011
production in its North American Coal segment of over 5
million tons and sales volume of approximately 4.2 million
tons, slightly higher than its previous outlook. Full-year
2011 revenue per ton in North American Coal is expected to
be at the high end of Cliffs' previous outlook of
$115 - $120, with cash costs per ton expected
to be approximately $112per ton.
Other 2011 Expectations
Cliffs anticipates reporting 2011 cash flow from operations
of approximately $2.3 billionand capital
spending of $880 millionfor the year. The
Company noted it anticipates recording a $28
millionpre-tax, goodwill impairment charge in the
fourth quarter related to its coal operations that were
acquired from INR Energy in 2010. Cliffs also noted that
its fourth-quarter effective income tax rate is expected to
be approximately 36%. For the full year, the effective tax
rate is expected to be approximately 19%, slightly above
Cliffs' previous outlook of 18%.
Cliffs' 2012 Outlook
In 2012, Cliffs anticipates selling approximately half of
its over 45 million tons of expected global iron ore sales
volume to seaborne customers in Asia, with
remaining volumes sold to North American customers. The
Company expects modest 2012 growth in the U.S. economy,
supporting healthy demand for Cliffs' U.S. Iron Ore
business. Conversely, the Company expects meaningful growth
in emerging economies, specifically China, where crude
steel production and iron ore imports are anticipated to
reach record annual levels.
Given these expectations, Cliffs anticipates an average 2012 spot price for 62% Fe seaborne iron ore of approximately $150per ton (C.F.R. China), a price serving as the basis for the iron ore business outlook below.
U.S. Iron Ore 2012 Outlook (Long tons)
For 2012, the Company is maintaining its expected sales
volume in U.S. Iron Ore of approximately 23 million tons.
U.S. Iron Ore revenue per ton is expected to be approximately $115 - $125, based on the following assumptions:
- 2012 U.S. blast furnace utilization of approximately 70% - 75%
- 2012 average hot rolled steel pricing of $700 - $750per ton
In addition, the revenue-per-ton expectation also considers various contract provisions, lag-year adjustments and pricing caps and floors contained in certain supply agreements. Actual realized revenue per ton for the full year will depend on iron ore price changes, customer mix, production input costs and/or steel prices (all factors contained in certain of Cliffs' supply agreements).
Cliffs' full-year 2012 U.S. Iron Ore cash cost per ton expectation is approximately $60 - $65. Depreciation, depletion and amortization for full-year 2012 is expected to be approximately $5per ton. Cliffs also expects its U.S. Iron Ore 2012 production volume of approximately 22 million tons.
Eastern Canadian Iron Ore 2012 Outlook (Metric Tons,
F.O.B. Eastern Canada)
For 2012, the Company is maintaining its previously
disclosed Eastern Canadian Iron Ore expected sales and
production volume of approximately 12 million tons.
Cliffs' full-year 2012 Eastern Canadian Iron Ore revenue-per-ton outlook is approximately $135 - $145, assuming a product mix of approximately two-thirds iron ore concentrate and one-third iron ore pellets. Full-year 2012 cash costs per ton in Eastern Canadian Iron Ore are expected to be approximately $70 - $75. Depreciation, depletion and amortization is expected to be approximately $19per ton for full-year 2012.
Asia Pacific Iron Ore 2012 Outlook (Metric tons, F.O.B. the
port)
Cliffs is maintaining its full-year 2012 Asia Pacific Iron
Ore expected sales and production volumes of approximately
11 million tons. Cliffs' full-year 2012 Asia Pacific
Iron Ore revenue-per-ton outlook is approximately
$135 - $145, assuming a product mix of
approximately half lump and half fines iron ore.
Full-year 2012 Asia Pacific Iron Ore cash cost per ton is expected to be approximately $65 - $70, which assumes an U.S./Australian dollar exchange rate of $1.03for 2012. Cliffs anticipates depreciation, depletion and amortization to be approximately $13per ton for full-year 2012.
North American Coal 2012 Outlook (Short tons, F.O.B. the
mine)
Cliffs is maintaining its 2012 North American Coal sales
and production volume expectations of approximately 7.2
million tons and 6.6 million tons, respectfully. Sales
volume mix is anticipated to be approximately 4.3 million
tons of low-volatile metallurgical coal and 1.8 million
tons of high-volatile metallurgical coal, with thermal coal
making up the remainder of the expected sales volume.
Cliffs' North American Coal 2012 revenue-per-ton expectation is approximately $140 - $150. Cash cost per ton is anticipated to be approximately $105 - $110, including the impact of sales from higher cost inventory stockpiles at Oak Grove Mine related to the operation's recovery from severe weather in 2011. Full-year 2012 depreciation, depletion and amortization is expected to be approximately $16per ton.
The following table provides a summary of Cliffs' 2012 guidance for its four business segments:
2012 Outlook Summary | |||||||||||
U.S. | Eastern Canadian | Asia Pacific | North American | ||||||||
Iron Ore (1) | Iron Ore (2) | Iron Ore (3) | Coal (4) | ||||||||
Sales volume (million tons) | 23 | 12 | 11 | 7.2 | |||||||
Revenue per ton | $115 - $125 | $135 - $145 | $135 - $145 | $140 - $150 | |||||||
Cash cost per ton | $60 - $65 | $70 - $75 | $65 - $70 | $105 - $110 | |||||||
DD&A per ton | $5 | $19 | $13 | $16 | |||||||
(1) U.S. Iron Ore tons and are reported in long tons. | |||||||||||
(2) Eastern Canadian lron Ore tons are reported in metric tons, F.O.B. Eastern Canada. | |||||||||||
(3) Asia Pacific Iron Ore tons are reported in metric tons, F.O.B. the port. | |||||||||||
(4) North American Coal tons are reported in short tons, F.O.B. the mine. |
2012 Cash Flow from Operations and Capital Budget
For 2012, based on the above outlook, Cliffs would generate an anticipated $1.9 billionin cash flow from operations.
Cliffs is maintaining the 2012 capital expenditures budget previously disclosed on Jan. 19, 2012. This $1 billionbudget was comprised of approximately $300 millionin sustaining capital and $700 millionin growth and productivity-improvement capital.
Conference Call Information
Cliffs intends to announce unaudited 2011 fourth-quarter
financial results after the U.S.-market close
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, and invites
interested parties to listen to a live broadcast of a
conference call with securities analysts and institutional
investors to discuss the results at 10 a.m.
ETon Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.
About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is an international mining
and natural resources company. A member of the S&P 500
Index, the Company is a major global iron ore producer and
a significant producer of high- and low-volatile
metallurgical coal. Cliffs' strategy is to continually
achieve greater scale and diversification in the mining
industry through a focus on serving the world's largest
and fastest growing steel markets. Driven by the core
values of social, environmental and capital stewardship,
Cliffs associates across the globe endeavor to provide all
stakeholders operating and financial transparency.
The Company is organized through a global commercial group responsible for sales and delivery of Cliffs products and a global operations group responsible for the production of the minerals the Company markets. Cliffs operates iron ore and coal mines in North Americaand two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia. The Company also has a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia. In addition, Cliffs has a major chromite project, in the pre-feasibility stage of development, located in Ontario, Canada.
'Safe Harbor' Statement under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This release contains "forward-looking"
statements within the safe harbor protections of the
federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that
its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties relating to Cliffs' operations and
business environment that are difficult to predict and may
be beyond Cliffs' control. Such uncertainties and
factors may cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements
for a variety of reasons including: the uncertainty or
weakness in global economic and/or market conditions;
trends affecting our financial condition, results of
operations or future prospects, particularly any slowing of
the economic growth rate in Chinafor an
extended period of time; Cliffs' ability to achieve the
synergies and the strategic and other objectives related to
the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson; the outcome of
any contractual disputes with our customers or significant
suppliers of energy, materials or services; our ability to
successfully complete the repair and refurbishment work at
the Oak Grove Mine in the expected time frame; the amount
and timing of any insurance recovery proceeds with respect
to Oak Grove Mine; the impact of price-adjustment factors
on our sales contracts; availability of capital equipment
and component parts; the failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated; unanticipated
downturns in business relationships with customers or their
purchases from us; events or circumstances that could
impair or adversely impact the viability of a mine and the
carrying value of associated assets; unexpected claims,
charges, litigation or dispute resolutions; the impact of
acquisitions and divestitures; unanticipated difficulties
integrating acquisitions; our ability to obtain any
permits, approvals, modifications or other authorization
of, or from, any governmental or regulatory entity; new
laws and governmental regulations; the ability to achieve
planned production rates or levels; our actual economic ore
reserves; reductions in current resource estimates; the
ability to maintain adequate liquidity and successfully
implement our financing plans; and problems or
uncertainties with productivity, third-party contractors,
labor disputes, weather conditions, natural disasters, tons
mined, changes in cost factors, the supply or price of
energy, transportation, mine-closure obligations and
employee benefit costs and other risks of the mining
industry; and other factors and risks that are set forth in
the Company's most recently filed reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The information
contained herein speaks as of the date of this release and
may be superseded by subsequent events. Except as may be
required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake
any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statements contained in this release.
SOURCE Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
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