Diversified miner South32 has warned Covid-19-induced congestions at the ports, and labour shortages are denting its operations, prompting a cut in full-year guidance for its Australian manganese production.

Australia is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 numbers, driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant, with the pandemic also prompting a worldwide container shortage and a shipping backlog in ports, notably in commodities-hungry China...