DRDGold reports 22% profit fall




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DRDGold on Wednesday reported a 22% fall in profit for the year ended June 30 mainly due to surging costs.

DRDGold’s headline earnings per share (HEPS), South African companies’ main profit measure, fell to R1.30 ($0.0767) from R1.68.

Production totalled 183 902 ounces, little changed from 183 999 ounces a year earlier, but all-in sustaining costs (AISC) rose 15%. Increases in the prices of diesel, chemicals and steel drove costs higher, DRDGold said.

The company, which recovers gold from processing mine dumps and tailings dams, declared a dividend of 40 cents per share.