Portfolio Update

BLACKROCK WORLD MINING TRUST plc
All information is at 30 June 2015 and unaudited.
Performance at month end with net income reinvested
One Three One Three Five
Month Months Year Years Years
Net asset value -10.1% -6.0% -32.2% -45.3% -41.9%
Share price -7.4%       -1.9% -33.9% -41.6% -37.9%
Euromoney Global Mining Index -10.4% -8.3% -23.3% -34.9% -39.3%
(Total return)
Sources: BlackRock, Euromoney Global Mining Index, Datastream
At month end
Net asset value including income*: 314.74p
Net asset value capital only: 305.14p
*Includes net revenue of 9.6p
Share price: 288.50p
Discount to NAV**: 8.3%
Total assets: £631.7m
Net yield***: 7.3%
Net gearing: 12.5%
Ordinary shares in issue: 177,287,242
Ordinary shares held in treasury: 15,724,600
Ongoing charges****: 1.4%
** Discount to NAV including income.
*** Based on an interim dividend of 7.00p and a final dividend of 14.00p in respect of the year ended 31 December 2014.
**** Calculated as a percentage of average net assets and using expenses, excluding finance costs for the year ended 31 December 2014.
Sector % Total  Country Analysis % Total 
Assets  Assets 
Diversified 39.7  Global 52.3 
Base Metals 24.3  Latin America 14.2 
Gold 12.9  Australasia 8.2 
Silver & Diamonds 10.1  Other Africa 7.6 
Industrial Minerals 4.5  Canada 6.5 
Other 4.0  Emerging Europe 5.0 
Energy Minerals 2.3  South Africa 2.4 
Aluminium 1.1  China 2.3 
Zinc 0.5  Indonesia 0.5 
Net current assets 0.6  USA 0.4 
Net current assets 0.6 
-----  ----- 
100.0  100.0 
=====  ===== 
Ten Largest Investments

Company
% Total
Assets
BHP Billiton 11.4
Rio Tinto 10.3
First Quantum Minerals 9.4
Glencore 7.9
Lundin Mining 4.7
MMC Norilsk Nickel 4.7
Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde 3.9
Fresnillo 3.0
Hudbay Minerals 2.7
Iluka Resources 2.6

   

Commenting on the markets, Evy Hambro, representing the Investment Manager noted:
Performance
It was a challenging month for the mining sector, with the deterioration in commodity prices witnessed at the end of May continuing into June. The weakness was primarily driven by a series of poor economic data points from China and a general risk-off environment associated with the Greek crisis. In addition to this, Chinese equity markets came under pressure following a bull market rally since the second half of 2014 with the Shanghai Composite suffering its first negative month since June 2014.
Despite negativity surrounding China, we have seen some encouraging signs which include government action in the form of a removal of the 85% floor on lending rates and a cut to the deposit rate both of which have led to increasing house prices in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. As we move into the second half of the year we are looking for signs that these various stimulus measures will translate into improved commodity demand.
The Company’s overweight to copper producers including First Quantum, Cerro Verde and Hudbay aided relative performance during the month. The Company’s largest copper holding, First Quantum, was one of the best performing mining stocks during the month, with the market re-rating the shares following the company’s decision last month to raise C$1.25bn of fresh equity to de-risk the balance sheet and underpin the company’s impressive growth profile over the next few years.
During the month, the Company looked to further reduce its exposure to some of the smaller-cap companies exiting four positions in the process. In addition, the Company took advantage of the rally in iron ore prices during April/May to further reduce exposure to iron ore via writing calls over a major iron ore producer.
Strategy and Outlook
In 2014, good company strategy was outweighed by weakening commodity demand and falling commodity prices with the sector ultimately trending lower. At the half way point in 2015, the outlook for commodity prices continues to remain subdued, given expectations of further US dollar strength and demand weakness in China. However, there are some encouraging signs following the raft of fiscal and monetary stimulus measures announced by the Chinese Government during the 1H 2015, which has seen a pick-up in house prices in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in recent months. As the year progresses, we would expect an acceleration of closures of high-cost capacity in oversupplied markets. This bodes well for the longer term and limits the industry’s ability to respond to the next upturn in demand which will ultimately see prices go higher.
While the sector continues to face headwinds, it is important to remember that we are another year further into the underinvestment phase and closer to the deficit markets that we foresee. We expect an inflection point to be reached once price (and consequently return) expectations start to recover as a result of the supply curtailment, which should accelerate with the current commodity price weakness.
14 July 2015
ENDS
Latest information is available by typing www.brwmplc.co.uk on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal).  Neither the contents of the Manager’s website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager’s website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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