Whitehaven has wrapped up FY25 on a high, smashing production and cost targets across its Queensland and New South Wales operations, even as global coal prices softened.
The company reported group managed run-of-mine (ROM) production of 10.6 million tonnes (Mt) for the June quarter, up 15 per cent on Q3. For the full year, ROM production reached 39.1Mt – a 60 per cent increase on FY24, driven by a full year of ownership of the Blackwater and Daunia mines in Queensland.
Equity sales of produced coal totalled 6.0Mt for the June quarter and 26.5Mt for FY25, at the top end of guidance. The FY25 revenue mix was approximately 64 per cent metallurgical and 36 per cent thermal coal.
“Whitehaven delivered strong operational results in the June quarter, capping off a very strong year in FY25,” Whitehaven CEO and managing director Paul Flynn said.
“We’ve established a solid foundation for our Queensland operations, with FY25 outcomes meeting or exceeding our guidance. In parallel, our New South Wales operations performed well overall, particularly our open cut mines.”
Queensland was a standout, producing 5.6Mt of ROM in the June quarter – a 26 per cent improvement – while full-year production hit 20.0Mt. Blackwater achieved record quarterly ROM production of 4.1Mt, while Daunia delivered 1.5Mt, recovering from weather disruptions earlier in the year.
In New South Wales, June quarter ROM output was 4.9Mt, with Maules Creek contributing 3.6Mt. However, Narrabri volumes were impacted by an extended eight-week longwall move, producing just 0.4Mt for the quarter.
“Our focus on cost management is reflected in the estimated A$139/t cost of coal for FY25, which is better than our cost guidance for the year,” Flynn said.
“In the June quarter, Queensland produced 5.6Mt of ROM and New South Wales produced 4.9Mt, to close the year with 39.1Mt of group ROM production. This compares with 24.5Mt in FY24, which included the first quarter of production from the acquired Queensland operations, and is at the top end of our FY25 guidance range of 35.0 – 39.5Mt. Equity sales of produced coal of 26.5Mt for the year were also at the top end of guidance.”
