Resilient performance underpinned by enhanced operational excellence
- Safety performance – Two tragic work-related fatalities at Mogalakwena and at Amandelbult. The total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) at 1.41 per million hours at own operations increased by 10% compared to the prior period.
- Total PGM production (expressed as 5E+Au metal-in-concentrate (M&C)) increased by 1% to 775,400 ounces, driven by higher own-mined volume, partially offset by weaker purchase of concentrate (POC) volumes.
- Own-mined PGM production increased by 13% to 525,700 ounces, primarily driven by improved performance at Amandelbult following the 2025 flooding, partially offset by lower production at Mototolo, Mogalakwena and Unki.
- Purchase of PGM concentrate (POC) decreased by 18% to 249,700 ounces, reflecting reduced volumes from various third-party producers.
- Refined PGM production (excluding tolling) increased by 1% to 963,500 ounces, in line with the increase in M&C production. Refined production exceeded M&C production, reflecting the ongoing optimisation of work-in-progress inventory across the processing value chain.
- PGM sales volumes decreased by 4% to 945,600 ounces, primarily reflecting timing differences between production and sales during the period.
- Guidance for 2026 remains unchanged, with M&C and refined production expected to be between 3.0-3.4 million ounces. Cash operating unit cost guidance remains intact at R19,000-R20,000 per PGM ounce, although costs are anticipated to be at the upper end of the guidance range. The targeted all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of ~US$1,050 per 3E ounce is also unchanged. We continue to closely monitor the potential inflationary impact of the Middle East conflict on input costs.
Craig Miller, CEO of Valterra Platinum, said:
“The safety of everyone at Valterra Platinum remains our highest priority, and it is therefore with deep regret that we lost two colleagues in separate work-related incidents during the quarter. Mr. Thato Makuwa at Mogalakwena lost his life on 9 June, and Mr. Mongezi Mbusi at Amandelbult on 11 June. On behalf of the entire Valterra Platinum team, we convey our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. While we cannot undo these tragic events, they have strengthened our resolve to create a safer workplace and prevent future loss of life. We have taken decisive action across the business, bringing our leaders together to align safety priorities, undertaking operation-wide day long safety stoppages, and strengthening frontline leadership engagement and risk management. We remain unwavering in our commitment to preventing harm and ensuring that everyone returns home safely every day.
“From a production perspective, the second quarter of 2026 reflected a resilient year-on-year recovery with own-mined metal-in-concentrate (M&C) production up 13%, driven largely by improved performance at Amandelbult following the flooding disruptions experienced in 2025.
“Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, our priorities are clear. We remain focused on embedding a culture of zero harm, while continuing to advance operational excellence as we unlock further efficiencies across the portfolio. We are well positioned for a strong second half, supported by improving operational performance and increased production flexibility. We remain committed to delivering within our 2026 guidance.”
Overview – Q2 2026 performance vs prior period Q2 2025
Safety performance
We recorded two tragic work-related fatalities during the quarter. On 9 June, Mr. Thato Makuwa lost his life in a drowning incident at Mogalakwena, and on 11 June Mr. Mongezi Mbusi lost his life in an underground load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicle incident at Amandelbult.
These incidents are a stark reminder that safety must remain our highest priority. In response, we have reinforced our safety interventions and intensified our focus on achieving a step change in safety performance across the business. We have aligned leadership on key safety priorities, implemented operation-wide safety stoppages for all employees and business partners, accelerated our behavioural safety programme to strengthen our zero-harm culture, and enhanced controls around critical risks. While investigations remain ongoing, we are embedding the initial lessons learned across the business to strengthen risk management, improve safety behaviours and leadership accountability, and ensure that everyone returns home safely every day.
Our total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) at own operations increased by 10% to 1.41 per million hours worked, reflecting a higher number of recorded injuries and increased working shifts as Amandelbult returned to more normalised operating levels compared to Q2 2025.
Total M&C PGM production
Total PGM production in Q2 2026 increased by 1% to 775,400 ounces compared to the prior period, primarily driven by a 13% increase in own-mined production, offset by a 18% decrease in POC volumes.
PGM production from own mines
Own-mined production increased by 13% to 525,700 ounces compared to the prior period, mainly due to higher output from Amandelbult, partially offset by lower production at Mogalakwena, Mototolo and Unki.
- Mogalakwena’s PGM production decreased by 2% to 228,900 ounces, mainly due to lower milling throughput following the expiry of the Baobab concentrator lease at the end of 2025. Ore tonnes mined increased in line with the pit sequence, supporting an improvement in built-up head grade. Consistent with our value-over-volume approach, we continued to optimise feed grades through the strategic blending of low-grade ore stockpiles.
- Amandelbult PGM production increased by 116% to 151,300 ounces, reflecting the recovery from the significant flooding experienced in 2025. As the operation only returned to steady-state production during the third quarter of 2025, the prior period remained significantly impacted by the 2025 flooding. Since then, improvements in both mining and concentrator performance, together with higher grades have supported the increase in production.
- Mototolo’s PGM production decreased by 13% to 58,700 ounces, reflecting the impact of a safety stoppage of approximately 14 days following the fatal incident at Borwa Shaft in March and a gradual ramp-up after the upliftment of the regulatory stoppage. The operation has since returned to steady-state production, with operational performance normalising, and a step-up in output is expected in the second half of the year.
- Unki’s PGM production declined by 4% to 51,800 ounces, driven by the anticipated transition into lower-grade areas of the orebody.
- Modikwa PGM production (50% own-mined) decreased by 9% to 35,000 ounces, primarily due to lower milling volumes and a decline in built-up head grade.
Purchase of PGM concentrate
Purchase of concentrate volumes decreased by 18% to 249,700 ounces, reflecting reduced volumes from various third-party producers.
Refined PGM production
Refined PGM production (excluding tolling) increased by 1% to 963,500 ounces, in-line with the increase in M&C production. Refined production continued to exceed M&C production, reflecting the ongoing optimisation of work-in-progress inventory across the processing value chain.
Improved base metal and chrome production
Nickel production was broadly in line with the prior period at 6,425 tonnes. Copper production increased by 18% to 4,209 tonnes, driven by a timing difference for copper tonnes returned from tolling arrangements in the prior period.
Total chrome production for the quarter increased by 78% to 294,000 tonnes, primarily driven by the return of Amandelbult to stable operating levels following the 2025 flooding and improved chrome yields, partially offset by lower chrome production at Mototolo.
PGM sales volumes and realised basket price
PGM sales volumes decreased by 4% to 945,600 ounces, primarily reflecting timing differences between production and sales during the period.
The average realised basket price increased strongly to R44,708/PGM ounce, or $2,710/PGM ounce, representing a year-on-year increase of 63% in rand terms and 80% in dollar terms. While prices moderated quarter-on-quarter as investor demand for precious metals eased amid changing interest rate expectations, all PGM prices remained substantially above prior-year levels, supported by favourable underlying supply and demand fundamentals.
Guidance for 2026-2028
Production guidance for 2026 remains unchanged, with M&C and refined production expected to be between 3.0-3.4 million ounces. Cash operating unit cost guidance remains intact at R19,000-R20,000 per PGM ounce, although costs are anticipated to be at the upper end of the guidance range. The targeted all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of ~US$1,050 per 3E ounce is also unchanged. We continue to closely monitor the potential inflationary impact of the Middle East conflict on input costs.
The information contained in this announcement has not been audited by the Company’s auditors.
JSE equity sponsor:
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Pty) Ltd t/a BofA Securities
JSE debt sponsor:
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited