In its September 2026 quarterly report dated 19 October, South32 said payable copper-equivalent production at Sierra Gorda reached 22,400 tonnes, with planned higher copper grades more than offsetting wet-weather effects. Australia Manganese production rose 15% to 902,000 wet metric tonnes as utilisation improved after heavy rain in the previous quarter. South Africa Manganese output increased 11% to 588,000 wet metric tonnes.

At Cannington, payable zinc-equivalent production fell 27% to 59,200 tonnes after a temporary reduction in paste backfill delayed access to planned stopes. The company processed lower-grade stockpiles to supplement ore feed. FY2027 guidance was unchanged across operations. A fourth grinding line at Sierra Gorda is expected to raise processing capacity by about 25%; that and the production outlook are company expectations.