Sydney -
Mustang Resources Ltd. ("Mustang") (ASX:MUS) (OTCMKTS:MTTGF) is pleased to advise that it has made strong early progress with its recently implemented sales and marketing strategy with the first ruby sales from its newly-established sales and marketing office in Chanthaburi, Thailand.
Key Points:
- Maiden sales totaling A$230,953 achieved from the sales and marketing office established in Chanthaburi, Thailand during March 2018
- 18,288 carats of mostly lower and medium quality rubies sold at an average price of A$12.67 / carat
- Total sales of ~A$1.76M achieved since September 2017 through the sale of 395,374 carats at an average price of A$4.44 recovered from exploration activities at the Montepuez Ruby Project in Mozambique
- Thai sales and marketing office opened in March 2018 now fully operational with 329,309 carats of rubies on hand which are available for sale as at 10 April 2018
- Ruby sales now classified into three main categories:
o Higher Quality Ruby
o Medium Quality Ruby
o Lower Quality Ruby
- Market development progressing very well with the sales and marketing team currently selecting and developing long-term sales relationships with preferred buyers
- Significant interest received from well-known international jewellery brands and buyers who seek sustainable and responsibly produced rubies with full supply chain assurance
The new Thai office was opened in March 2018 following a comprehensive review of the Company's marketing and sales strategy, as announced on 6 March 2018. All figures are unaudited and presented in Australian Dollars.
Mustang achieved ruby sales totalling A$230,953 in the first month since opening the new marketing and sales office in Chanthaburi. A total of 18,228 carats of rubies, predominantly in the lower and medium quality ranges, were sold for an average of A$12.67 / carat.
The sales can be summarised in the following general categories:
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Category Value (A$) Carats Sold A$/ct
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Higher Quality Ruby 13,406 14 957.57
Medium Quality Ruby 193,908 10,605 18.28
Lower Quality Ruby 23,639 7,609 3.11
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Total 230,953 18,228 12.67
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The Company commenced larger-scale exploration activities on its Montepuez Ruby Project in Mozambique during H1 2017 and conducted its first sale of rubies generated from these exploration activities during H2 2017. Total sales of A$1,757,763 have been generated since September 2017 to date from the sale of 395,374 carats (all categories) at an average price of A$4.44 / carat.
The establishment of the marketing and sales office in Thailand has already generated significant interest from well-known international jewellery brands and customers who met Mustang and visited the office.
The office enables Mustang to establish strong relationships with major jewellery brands and ruby customers who require product transparency, full supply chain assurance and consistent supply from a sustainable and responsible mining company.
Mustang intends to conduct regular sales and generate regular cash-flow from its Thai office as it continues to advance exploration and bulk sampling activities on its Montepuez Ruby Project.
As at 10 April 2018, the Company had a total ruby inventory of 329,309 carats available for sale.
Mustang Managing Director Dr. Bernard Olivier said: "I am very pleased to report that sales have now commenced from our newly established marketing office in Thailand and that we are already receiving strong levels of interest from well-known international jewellery brands and groups who would like to source responsible and ethically mined rubies from our Montepuez operation. The first sales from our Thailand office, further demonstrate that Mustang's strategy to establish Montepuez as a world-class ruby project is progressing on track.
"Moving forward, we will be conducting sales from material extracted from our ongoing exploration activities on a regular and ongoing basis and intend to report sales predominantly on a quarterly basis to the market."
About Mustang Resources Ltd:
Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Mustang Resources Ltd. (ASX:MUS) (FRA:GGY) is an emerging gemstone developer and producer focused on the near-term development of the highly prospective Montepuez Ruby Project in northern Mozambique.
The Montepuez Ruby Project consists of three licences and now one mining concession covering 19,300 hectares directly adjacent to the world’s largest ruby deposit discovered by Gemfields Plc in 2012. Since supply of rubies from sources outside Mozambique has become fractured and unreliable, Mustang stands to capitalise on the current high demand around the world for ethically produced rubies by becoming a reliable, consistent supplier of high-quality rubies.
The Company is currently fast-tracking its work program on the Montepuez Ruby Project with extensive secondary deposits discovered and low-cost bulk sampling well underway. First rough ruby sales are scheduled for 27 to 30 October 2017 in Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius under a closed bid tender of more than 350,000 cts gem quality rubies.
Visit the Mustang website at http://www.mustangresources.com.au for more information.
Contact:
Mustang Resources Ltd.
Managing Director: Bernard Olivier
E: bernard@mustangresources.com.au
M: +61-4-08948-182
T: +27-66-4702-979
Media & Investor Relations: Paul Armstrong
E: paul@readcorporate.com.au
T: +61-8-9388-147
