Anglo American reports heavy losses, sheds 6000 staff

Global mining firm Anglo American on Friday reported heavy first-half losses and announced staff numbers would drop by 6,000, with the company hit by weakness in iron ore prices.

Between January 1 and June 30, Anglo American suffered net losses of $3.015 billion (2.754 billion euros). In the same period in 2014, it gained $1.464 billion.

"The first six months of 2015 saw considerable further price decreases for our products amidst a volatile market environment and economic uncertainty in certain key markets," said chief executive Mark Cutifani.

"Having defined our portfolio and significantly improved operational performance, now is the right time to accelerate the right-sizing of the organisation that supports the future business.

"We are targeting a $500 million total cost saving, of which $300 million will be realised from our ongoing core business, through the reduction of 6,000 overhead and other indirect roles."

This will include "those that will transfer with the businesses we are divesting," he added.

The Anglo-South African firm has made a string of costly writedowns on the value of its Brazilian Minas-Rio iron ore project.

It recorded a writedown of $3.5 billion due to weak mineral prices, including $2.9 billion on its Minas-Rio operations, and $600 million mostly linked to its coal mining in Australia and Canada.