(all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise noted)
Ero Copper Corp. (TSX: ERO, NYSE: ERO) (“Ero” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. eastern time to discuss the results. Dial-in details for the call can be found near the end of this press release.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Tucumã Operation achieved a major commissioning milestone in July 2024, producing its first saleable copper concentrate. As ramp-up efforts increased mill throughput during the quarter, the operation delivered 839 tonnes of copper, contributing to consolidated quarterly copper production of 10,759 tonnes.
- Consolidated quarterly copper production also included contributions from the Caraíba Operations of 9,920 tonnes at C1 cash costs(*) of $1.63 per pound of copper produced.
- Gold production for the quarter was 13,485 ounces at C1 cash costs(*) and All-in Sustaining Costs (“AISC”)(*) of $539 and $1,034, respectively, per ounce produced.
- Improved operating margins were supported by a significant decrease in unit operating costs at the Caraíba Operations and higher realized gold prices at the Xavantina Operations, resulting in:
- Net income attributable to the owners of the Company of $40.9 million, or $0.39 per share on a diluted basis.
- Adjusted net income attributable to the owners of the Company(*) of $27.6 million, or $0.27 per share on a diluted basis.
- Adjusted EBITDA(*) of $62.2
- Available liquidity at quarter-end was $125.2 million, including $20.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, $80.0 million of undrawn availability under the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility, and $25.0 million of undrawn availability under the copper prepayment facility.
(*) These are non-IFRS measures and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Please refer to the Company’s discussion of Non-IFRS measures in its Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures section at the end of this press release.
- During the quarter, the Company opportunistically entered into zero-cost gold collar contracts on 2,500 ounces of gold per month from January 2025 to December 2025, representing just over 50% of projected 2025 gold production at the Xavantina Operations. These contracts set a floor price of $2,200 per ounce, while allowing for upside participation in gold price increases up to a cap of $3,425 per ounce, over 20% above the all-time high price reached in October 2024.
- Key 2024 guidance updates include:
- The Company is updating consolidated copper production guidance to 43,000 to 48,000 tonnes in concentrate, reflecting an extension of Tucumã’s ramp-up schedule due to power disruptions in Q3 and October 2024 and slower-than- expected underground development progress at Caraíba’s Pilar Mine.
- Due to the anticipated delay in achieving commercial production at the Tucumã Operation, the Company is narrowing 2024 C1 cash cost guidance to only include the Caraíba Operations. The Company is reaffirming full-year C1 cash cost guidance for the Caraíba Operations of $1.80 to $2.00 per pound of copper produced.
- Full-year gold production guidance is being maintained at the increased range of 60,000 to 65,000. The Company is also reaffirming reduced full-year gold cost guidance of $450 to $550 per ounce of produced for C1 cash costs, and $900 to $1,000 per ounce for AISC.
- The Company is maintaining full-year consolidated capital expenditure guidance of $303 to $348 million.
“The third quarter and year-to-date period presented both significant achievements to celebrate and new challenges to navigate,” said David Strang, Chief Executive Officer. “We have reached the inflection point we have been working towards since the publication of Tucumã’s Optimized Feasibility Study in September 2021. With construction complete and ramp-up to commercial production underway, reaching this milestone in just over three years is a remarkable accomplishment.
“Alongside this achievement, came operational headwinds, including power-related challenges that have impacted our ramp-up schedule at Tucumã. At our Caraíba Operations, we made progress in accelerating underground development rates at the Pilar Mine, though the performance of a third-party development contractor has been below expectations. We view these challenges as transitional, and our team is actively working on returning to plan.
“Despite these setbacks, our financial results have been strengthened by improved operating margins driven by significantly lower unit costs at Caraíba and higher realized gold prices at Xavantina. We are optimistic about the path ahead, with 2025 on track to be our best year yet, and look forward to delivering strong value for our stakeholders.”
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