AngloGold year earnings fall 39 percent despite output rise

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Africa's top bullion producer AngloGold Ashanti reported an almost 40 percent decline in its full year earnings in 2013 as the precious metal's spot price posted its biggest drop in three decades, the company said on Wednesday.

AngloGold said full-year adjusted headline earnings were $599 million, or 153 U.S. cents per share, compared with $988 million or 255 U.S. cents per share in 2012.

The company also said it would not declare a final dividend "as it has elected to prioritise its cash flow at this stage for debt repayment and for the completion of existing capital growth projects."

(Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Tosin Sulaiman)

((Edward.Stoddard@thomsonreuters.com; +27 11 775 3160; Reuters Messaging: edward.stoddard.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: ANGLOGOLD/