Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay” or the “company”) (TSX,
NYSE: HBM) today released its first quarter 2024 financial
results. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.
All production and cost amounts reflect the Copper Mountain mine on
a 100% basis, with Hudbay owning a 75% interest in the mine.
"We delivered another consecutive quarter of
strong operational and financial performance with steady free cash
flow generation and further debt reduction,” said Peter Kukielski,
President and Chief Executive Officer. “These results demonstrate
the strength of our diversified operating base, with continued
contributions from the high-grade Pampacancha deposit in Peru,
better-than-planned gold production in Manitoba and benefits
starting to be realized from operational stabilization efforts at
the Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia. We are well on track
to achieve all of our production and cost guidance metrics.
Hudbay’s resilient operating platform offers leading exposure to
copper and unique complementary exposure to gold, which together
with our quality pipeline of growth assets, provide significant
upside potential for further value creation at higher copper and
gold prices.”
Delivered Strong First Quarter Operating
and Financial Results; Production and Cost Guidance
Affirmed
- Enhanced operating platform
delivered consolidated copper production of 34,749 tonnes and
stronger than expected gold production of 90,392 ounces in the
first quarter.
- Solid operating performance was
driven by continued high copper and gold grades at the Pampacancha
deposit in Peru, continued high gold grades at Lalor and strong
performance from the New Britannia mill in Manitoba, and the
operational stabilization efforts at the Copper Mountain mine in
British Columbia.
- Achieved revenue of $525.0 million
and operating cash flow before change in non-cash working capital
of $147.5 million in the first quarter of 2024.
- Affirmed full year 2024
consolidated copper production and cash cost guidance of 137,000 to
176,000 tonnes of copper at a cash cost of $1.05 to $1.25 per
poundi and sustaining cash cost of $2.00 to $2.45 per poundi.
- Consolidated cash costi and
sustaining cash costi per pound of copper produced, net of
by-product creditsi, in the first quarter of 2024, were $0.16 and
$1.03, respectively, consistent with strong levels achieved in the
fourth quarter of 2023.
- Peru operations benefited from
continued contributions from the high-grade Pampacancha satellite
pit, resulting in 24,576 tonnes of copper and 29,144 ounces of gold
produced in the first quarter of 2024. Peru cash cost per pound of
copper produced, net of by-product creditsi, in the first quarter
improved to $0.43, a 20% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of
2023.
- Manitoba operations produced 56,831
ounces of gold in the first quarter of 2024, exceeding management's
quarterly cadence expectations as New Britannia continues to
operate well above nameplate capacity and budgeted throughput
levels. Manitoba cash cost per ounce of gold produced, net of
by-product creditsi, was $736 during the first quarter of 2024 and
well within guidance expectations.
- British Columbia operations
produced 7,024 tonnes of copper at a cash cost per pound of copper
produced, net of by-product creditsi, of $3.49 in the first
quarter. Operational stabilization plans continue to be advanced at
the Copper Mountain mine.
- First quarter net earnings and
earnings per share were $18.5 million and $0.05, respectively.
After adjusting for a non-cash gain of $5.3 million related to a
quarterly revaluation of the closed site environmental reclamation
provision, a $12.8 million mark-to-market adjustment loss related
to share-based compensation, gold prepayment liability and
strategic gold and copper hedges and a $9.0 million write-down of
property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), among other items,
first quarter adjusted earningsi per share were $0.16.
- Cash and cash equivalents increased
by $34.6 million to $284.4 million during the first quarter due to
strong operating cash flows bolstered by higher copper and gold
prices and sales volumes enabling a $43.5 million reduction in net
debti during the quarter.
Operating Performance and Financial
Discipline Driving Free Cash Flow and Deleveraging
- Unique copper and gold
diversification provides exposure to higher copper and gold prices
and attractive free cash flow generation.
- Executed on planned higher
production levels and achieved continued operating and capital cost
efficiencies to generate significant free cash flow in the first
quarter.
- Realized strong margins by
maintaining low consolidated cash cost of $0.16 per pound of copper
in the first quarter while benefiting from higher copper prices,
positioning the company for continued significant cash flow
generation in a period of high commodity prices.
- Achieved adjusted EBITDAi of $214.2
million in the first quarter and a trailing twelve month adjusted
EBITDAi of $760.5 million.
- Reduced net debti to $994.2 million
during the first quarter, which, together with higher levels of
adjusted EBITDAi, further improved the company’s net debt to
adjusted EBITDA ratioi to 1.3x compared to 1.6x at the end of
2023.
- Continued deleveraging efforts with
a $10 million repayment of the revolving credit facility balance in
January 2024 and an additional $10 million repayment after
quarter-end in May 2024.
- Increased cash and total liquidity
by $45.2 million to $618.9 million as at March 31, 2024 compared to
the end of 2023.
Continued Execution of Growth
Initiatives to Further Enhance Copper and Gold
Exposure
- Post-acquisition plans to stabilize
the Copper Mountain operations remain in progress, with a focus on
mining fleet ramp-up activities, accelerated stripping and
increasing mill reliability. Achieved better than planned copper
recoveries of 83% in the first quarter, and stabilization benefits
continued to be realized subsequent to quarter end with 83% copper
recoveries and approximately 40,000 tonnes per day average mill
throughput in the month of April.
- Constancia’s expected mine life
extended by three years to 2041 as a result of mineral reserve
conversion with the addition of a further mining phase at the
Constancia pit.
- The New Britannia mill achieved
record throughput levels, averaging 1,870 tonnes per day in the
first quarter, exceeding its original design capacity of 1,500
tonnes per day due to the successful implementation of process
improvement initiatives and effective preventative maintenance
measures. Received permit to increase New Britannia throughput to
2,500 tonnes per day.
- Achieved copper recoveries of
approximately 92% and gold recoveries of approximately 68% at the
Stall mill in the first quarter of 2024 as the company continues to
benefit from the Stall mill recovery improvement project, which was
completed in 2023.
- The development of an access drift
to the 1901 deposit in Snow Lake remains on track and on budget.
1901 is located within 1,000 metres of the existing underground
ramp access to the Lalor mine. The drift is expected to reach
mineralization in late-2024, which is intended to enable
confirmation of the optimal mining method and conducting drilling
to further evaluate the orebody and upgrade inferred gold resources
to reserves.
- Progressing the three prerequisites
plan (the “3-P plan”) for sanctioning Copper World with
deleveraging advancing towards targeted levels and remaining key
state permits expected in 2024.
- Drill permitting for highly
prospective Maria Reyna and Caballito properties near Constancia
continues to advance through the regulatory process with
environmental impact assessment applications submitted for both
properties in recent months.
- Largest annual exploration program
in Snow Lake underway consisting of geophysical surveys and drill
campaigns testing the newly acquired Cook Lake claims, former
Rockcliff properties and near-mine exploration at Lalor.
- Advancing Flin Flon tailings
reprocessing opportunities through metallurgical test work and
early economic evaluation to potentially produce critical minerals
and precious metals while reducing the environmental
footprint.
- Entered into an option agreement
with Marubeni Corporation relating to three exploration projects
located near Hudbay's existing Flin Flon processing
facilities.
Summary of First Quarter
Results
Consolidated copper production of 34,749 tonnes
in the first quarter of 2024 declined from the strong levels
achieved in the fourth quarter of 2023 but was in line with mine
plan expectations. Consolidated gold production of 90,392 ounces in
the first quarter exceeded expectations. First quarter production
benefitted from the continued mining of high copper and gold grades
at the Pampacancha deposit in Peru, continued high gold grades
mined at Lalor and strong performance from the New Britannia mill
in Manitoba, and the operational stabilization efforts at the
Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia. Full year 2024 production
guidance for all metals has been affirmed.
Industry-leading consolidated cash cost per
pound of copper produced, net of by-product creditsi, was $0.16 in
the first quarter of 2024, consistent with the favourable levels
achieved in the fourth quarter of 2023. This was primarily the
result of continued high by-product credits, partially offset by
higher mining costs and lower copper production. Consolidated
sustaining cash cost per pound of copper produced, net of
by-product creditsi, was $1.03 in the first quarter of 2024
compared to $1.09 in the fourth quarter of 2023. This improvement
was primarily due to lower sustaining capital expenditures. Full
year 2024 consolidated cash cost, sustaining cash cost and
capitalized expenditures guidance has been affirmed.
Cash generated from operating activities in the
first quarter of 2024 of $139.7 million was lower than the fourth
quarter of 2023 but better than anticipated, primarily because of
strong gold sales volumes and higher realized copper prices,
partially offset by a $30.1 million increase in cash taxes paid
mainly in Peru. Operating cash flow before change in non-cash
working capital of $147.5 million also exceeded expectations due to
the same reasons.
Similarly, adjusted EBITDAi of $214.2 million in
the first quarter of 2024 benefited from the solid operating
performance outlined above and remained comparable to the strong
levels achieved in recent quarters, including $274.4 million in the
fourth quarter and $190.7 million in the third quarter of 2023.
Net earnings and earnings per share in the first
quarter of 2024 were $18.5 million and $0.05, respectively,
compared to net earnings and earnings per share of $33.5 million
and $0.10, respectively in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted net
earningsi and adjusted net earnings per sharei in the first quarter
of 2024 were $57.6 million and $0.16 per share, after adjusting for
a $5.3 million non-cash gain related to the quarterly revaluation
of the environmental reclamation provision at the closed sites, a
$12.8 million mark-to-market revaluation loss related to
share-based compensation expense, a revaluation of the gold
prepayment liability and a revaluation of the company’s strategic
gold and copper hedges, and a $9.0 million write-down of PP&E,
among other items.
As at March 31, 2024, total liquidity increased
to $618.9 million, including $284.4 million in cash and cash
equivalents as well as undrawn availability of $334.5 million under
the company’s revolving credit facilities. Net debt declined by
$43.5 million during the quarter to $994.2 million as at March 31,
2024. Based on expected free cash flow generation beyond the first
quarter of 2024, the company continues to make progress on the
deleveraging targets as outlined in the 3-P plan for sanctioning
Copper World.
Consolidated Financial Condition ($000s) |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
284,385 |
249,794 |
255,563 |
Total long-term debt |
|
1,278,587 |
1,287,536 |
1,225,023 |
Net debt1 |
|
994,202 |
1,037,742 |
969,460 |
Working capital2 |
|
200,850 |
135,913 |
100,987 |
Total assets |
|
5,231,283 |
5,312,634 |
4,367,982 |
Equity3 |
|
2,107,532 |
2,096,811 |
1,574,521 |
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA1,4 |
|
1.3 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
1 Net debt and net debit to adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS financial
performance measures with no standardized definition under IFRS.
For further information, please see the "Non-IFRS Financial
Performance Measures" section of this news release. |
2 Working capital is determined as total current assets less total
current liabilities as defined under IFRS and disclosed on the
consolidated interim financial statements. |
3 Equity attributable to owners of the company. |
4 Net debt to adjusted EBITDA for the 12 month period. |
Consolidated Financial Performance |
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Revenue |
$000s |
524,989 |
602,189 |
295,219 |
Cost of sales |
$000s |
373,035 |
405,433 |
228,706 |
Earnings before tax |
$000s |
67,750 |
80,982 |
17,430 |
Net earnings |
$000s |
18,535 |
33,528 |
5,457 |
Basic earnings per share |
$/share |
0.05 |
0.10 |
0.02 |
Adjusted earnings per share1 |
$/share |
0.16 |
0.20 |
0.00 |
Operating cash flow before change in non-cash working capital |
$ millions |
147.5 |
246.5 |
85.6 |
Adjusted EBITDA1 |
$ millions |
214.2 |
274.4 |
101.9 |
1 Adjusted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS
financial performance measures with no standardized definition
under IFRS. For further information, please see the “Non-IFRS
Financial Performance Measures” section. |
Consolidated Production and Cost Performance |
Three Months Ended1 |
|
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Contained metal in concentrate and doré
produced2 |
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
34,749 |
45,450 |
22,562 |
Gold |
ounces |
90,392 |
112,776 |
47,240 |
Silver |
ounces |
947,917 |
1,197,082 |
702,809 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
8,798 |
5,747 |
9,846 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
397 |
397 |
289 |
Payable metal sold |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
33,608 |
44,006 |
18,541 |
Gold3 |
ounces |
108,081 |
104,840 |
49,720 |
Silver3 |
ounces |
1,068,848 |
1,048,877 |
541,884 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
6,119 |
7,385 |
5,628 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
415 |
468 |
254 |
Consolidated cash cost per pound of copper
produced4 |
|
|
|
Cash cost |
$/lb |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.85 |
Sustaining cash cost |
$/lb |
1.03 |
1.09 |
1.83 |
All-in sustaining cash cost |
$/lb |
1.32 |
1.31 |
2.07 |
1Includes 100% of Copper Mountain mine production. Hudbay owns 75%
of Copper Mountain mine. As Copper Mountain was acquired on June
20, 2023, there were no comparative figures for the three months
ended March 31, 2023. |
2 Metal reported in concentrate is prior to deductions associated
with smelter contract terms. |
3 Includes total payable gold and silver in concentrate and in doré
sold. |
4 Cash cost, sustaining cash cost and all-in sustaining cash cost
per pound of copper produced, net of by-product credits, are
non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standardized
definition under IFRS. For further information, please see the
“Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures” section of this news
release. |
|
Peru Operations Review
Peru Operations |
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Constancia ore mined1 |
tonnes |
2,559,547 |
973,176 |
3,403,181 |
Copper |
% |
0.31 |
0.30 |
0.34 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
0.04 |
0.04 |
0.04 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
2.79 |
2.26 |
2.52 |
Molybdenum |
% |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
Pampacancha ore mined |
tonnes |
2,214,354 |
5,556,613 |
897,295 |
Copper |
% |
0.56 |
0.56 |
0.49 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.52 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
4.64 |
4.84 |
5.12 |
Molybdenum |
% |
0.02 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
Total ore mined |
tonnes |
4,773,901 |
6,529,789 |
4,300,476 |
Strip ratio4 |
|
1.95 |
1.26 |
1.84 |
Ore milled |
tonnes |
8,077,962 |
7,939,044 |
7,663,728 |
Copper |
% |
0.36 |
0.48 |
0.33 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
0.15 |
0.25 |
0.08 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
3.48 |
4.20 |
3.69 |
Molybdenum |
% |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
Copper recovery |
% |
84.9 |
87.4 |
81.7 |
Gold recovery |
% |
73.4 |
77.6 |
56.8 |
Silver recovery |
% |
70.7 |
78.0 |
60.7 |
Molybdenum recovery |
% |
43.2 |
33.6 |
34.8 |
Contained metal in concentrate |
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
24,576 |
33,207 |
20,517 |
Gold |
ounces |
29,144 |
49,418 |
11,206 |
Silver |
ounces |
639,718 |
836,208 |
552,167 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
397 |
397 |
289 |
Payable metal sold |
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
23,754 |
31,200 |
16,316 |
Gold |
ounces |
42,677 |
38,114 |
11,781 |
Silver |
ounces |
753,707 |
703,679 |
392,207 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
415 |
468 |
254 |
Combined unit operating cost2,3 |
$/tonne |
10.92 |
12.24 |
11.47 |
Cash cost3 |
$/lb |
0.43 |
0.54 |
1.36 |
Sustaining cash cost3 |
$/lb |
1.06 |
1.21 |
2.12 |
1 Reported tonnes and grade for ore mined are estimates based on
mine plan assumptions and may not reconcile fully to ore
milled. |
2 Reflects combined mine, mill and general and administrative
("G&A") costs per tonne of ore milled. Reflects the deduction
of expected capitalized stripping costs. |
3 Combined unit costs, cash cost and sustaining cash cost per pound
of copper produced, net of by-product credits, are non-IFRS
financial performance measures with no standardized definition
under IFRS. For further information, please see the “Non-IFRS
Financial Performance Measures” section of this news release. |
4 Strip ratio is calculated as waste mined divided by ore
mined. |
|
During the first quarter of 2024, the Peru
operations produced 24,576 tonnes of copper, 29,144 ounces of gold,
639,718 ounces of silver and 397 tonnes of molybdenum. While high
grade copper and gold ore continued to be mined from Pampacancha in
the first quarter of 2024, the mill processed less Pampacancha ore
than in the fourth quarter of 2023, which resulted in lower copper,
gold and silver production, in line with mine plan expectations.
The company is on track to achieve its 2024 production guidance for
all metals in Peru.
The Constancia operations benefited from strong
mill throughput, averaging 89,000 tonnes per day in the first
quarter. Mill ore feed has reverted to the typical blend of
approximately one-third from Pampacancha and two-thirds from
Constancia, which is expected to continue throughout 2024. The
operations benefited from strong cost performance, achieving lower
unit operating costs, cash cost and sustaining cash cost compared
to the fourth quarter of 2023. Cash cost also benefited from higher
gold sales volumes in the first quarter of 2024.
Total ore mined in the first quarter of 2024
decreased by 27% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, and was in
line with the mine plan, which included supplemental ore feed from
stockpiles during the quarter as the company advances pit stripping
activities. Ore mined from Pampacancha during the first quarter was
2.2 million tonnes at average grades of 0.56% copper and 0.32 grams
per tonne gold.
Ore milled during the first quarter of 2024 was
2% higher than the fourth quarter of 2023 mainly due to the
treatment of softer ore from stockpiles. Milled copper and gold
grades decreased in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the
fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of a normalized blending of ore
feed from Pampacancha, as described above. Recoveries of copper,
gold and silver during the first quarter of 2024 were 84.9%, 73.4%
and 70.7%, respectively, and were in line with metallurgical
models.
Combined mine, mill and G&A unit operating
costsi in the first quarter were $10.92 per tonne, 11% lower than
the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to lower milling costs and
higher ore throughput.
Cash cost per pound of copper produced, net of
by-product creditsi, in the first quarter of 2024 was $0.43, a 20%
improvement over the favourable levels achieved in the fourth
quarter of 2023 primarily due to higher by-product credits, lower
milling costs, lower treatment and refining costs and lower freight
costs, partially offset by higher copper production. Cash cost for
the quarter was below the low end of the 2024 guidance range
primarily due to high gold by-product credits, and it is expected
to increase during the remainder of 2024 with full year cash cost
expected to be within the 2024 guidance range.
Sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced, net of by-product creditsi, for the first quarter of 2024
was $1.06, a 12% improvement over the fourth quarter of 2023
primarily due to the same factors affecting cash cost.
The collective bargaining agreement with the
labour union representing a portion of the Constancia workforce
expired in November 2023, and Hudbay continues to negotiate the
terms of a new agreement with the union.
In March 2024, the Peruvian Ministry of Energy
and Mines indicated an intention to make regulatory changes to
allow mining companies to increase their permitted mill throughput
levels by up to 10%. The company is monitoring the status of this
proposed regulation and evaluating the potential to increase future
production at Constancia.
Manitoba Operations Review
Manitoba Operations |
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Lalor |
|
|
|
|
Ore mined |
tonnes |
407,708 |
372,384 |
373,599 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
4.84 |
5.92 |
3.96 |
Copper |
% |
0.84 |
1.04 |
0.57 |
Zinc |
% |
2.92 |
2.20 |
3.32 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
23.44 |
28.92 |
18.24 |
New Britannia |
|
|
|
|
Ore milled |
tonnes |
170,409 |
165,038 |
143,042 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
7.03 |
8.03 |
6.05 |
Copper |
% |
1.13 |
1.46 |
0.61 |
Zinc |
% |
0.82 |
0.85 |
0.76 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
21.6 |
27.97 |
22.39 |
Gold recovery1 |
% |
88.6 |
89.0 |
87.9 |
Copper recovery |
% |
96.2 |
91.6 |
91.7 |
Silver recovery1 |
% |
82.0 |
83.2 |
79.1 |
Stall Concentrator |
|
|
|
Ore milled |
tonnes |
219,358 |
228,799 |
242,619 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
3.07 |
4.22 |
2.78 |
Copper |
% |
0.64 |
0.73 |
0.59 |
Zinc |
% |
4.54 |
3.20 |
4.81 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
24.46 |
28.63 |
17.14 |
Gold recovery |
% |
68.0 |
67.5 |
61.9 |
Copper recovery |
% |
91.7 |
92.0 |
87.0 |
Zinc recovery |
% |
88.4 |
78.5 |
84.4 |
Silver recovery |
% |
59.8 |
61.8 |
56.3 |
Total contained metal in concentrate and
doré2 |
|
|
Gold |
ounces |
56,831 |
59,863 |
36,034 |
Copper |
tonnes |
3,149 |
3,735 |
2,045 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
8,798 |
5,747 |
9,846 |
Silver |
ounces |
219,823 |
255,579 |
150,642 |
Total payable metal sold |
|
|
|
Gold3 |
ounces |
62,003 |
63,635 |
37,939 |
Copper |
tonnes |
2,921 |
3,687 |
2,225 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
6,119 |
7,385 |
5,628 |
Silver3 |
ounces |
231,841 |
246,757 |
149,677 |
Combined unit operating cost4,5 |
C$/tonne |
235 |
216 |
216 |
Gold cash cost5 |
$/oz |
736 |
434 |
938 |
Gold sustaining cash cost5 |
$/oz |
950 |
788 |
1,336 |
1 Gold and silver recovery includes total recovery from concentrate
and doré. |
2 Doré includes sludge, slag and carbon fines in three ended March
31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023. |
3 Includes total payable precious metals in concentrate and in doré
sold. |
4 Reflects combined mine, mill and G&A costs per tonne of ore
milled. |
5 Combined unit cost, gold cash cost and sustaining cash cost per
ounce of gold produced, net of by-product credits, are non-IFRS
financial performance measures with no standardized definition
under IFRS. For further information, please see the “Non-IFRS
Financial Performance Measures” section of this news release. |
|
The Manitoba operations produced 56,831 ounces
of gold, 3,149 tonnes of copper, 8,798 tonnes of zinc and 219,823
ounces of silver during the first quarter of 2024. Production of
gold in the first quarter was better than expected as a result of
many operational improvement initiatives and record performance
from the New Britannia mill, as described below. The company is on
track to achieve its 2024 production guidance for all metals in
Manitoba.
The strong production results in the first
quarter of 2024 were partly attributed to the successful
implementation of improvement initiatives at the Lalor mine that
were completed in the second half of 2023 and in early 2024.
Noteworthy improvements include high shaft availability, efficient
ore hoisting, stope fragmentation reduction and mucking
productivity enhancements. In 2024, the company’s primary focus
entails implementing stope design modifications aimed at improving
mucking efficiency throughout a stope's lifecycle. The company also
continues to focus on maintaining the quality of ore production
with elevated metal grades through diligent efforts to minimize
dilution and enhance ore recovery from stopes.
Total ore mined in Manitoba in the first quarter
of 2024 was 9% higher than the fourth quarter of 2023. Grades for
all metals reflect the successful execution of the company’s
strategic mine plan that prioritizes gold and copper production
with a focus on enhanced ore recovery. This resulted in the
continued mining of higher gold and copper grade zones and robust
grade control practices, including assaying and sampling of
blastholes, which further improved ore quality. This also resulted
in reduced mining from the zinc areas, lowering the overall zinc
grade at Lalor in the first quarter of 2024, in line with the mine
plan.
Consistent with the company strategy of
allocating more Lalor ore feed to New Britannia, the New Britannia
mill throughput averaged a record 1,870 tonnes per day in the first
quarter of 2024, a 4% improvement over the previous record level
achieved in the fourth quarter of 2023. Recoveries of gold, copper
and silver in the first quarter of 2024 were 88.6%, 96.2% and
82.0%, respectively.
The Stall mill processed 4% less ore in the
first quarter of 2024 than the fourth quarter of 2023, which is
aligned with the strategy of allocating more Lalor ore feed to New
Britannia, as noted above. With the completion of the Stall mill
recovery improvement project in 2023, recoveries of gold, copper
and silver in the first quarter of 2024 were consistent with the
fourth quarter, achieving targeted gold recovery levels of
approximately 68%.
Combined mine, mill and G&A unit operating
costsi in the first quarter of 2024 were C$235 per tonne, a small
increase of 9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 due to higher
mining costs as a result of lower capitalized development costs and
longer haulage distances and higher milling costs at Stall
associated with lower throughput.
Cash cost per ounce of gold produced, net of
by-product creditsi, in the first quarter of 2024 was $736, an
increase compared to the uncharacteristically low fourth quarter of
2023 which benefitted from record gold production and higher
by-product credits. However, the first quarter cash cost was well
positioned at the lower end of the 2024 cash cost guidance range,
and the company expects full year gold cash cost to remain within
the 2024 guidance range.
Sustaining cash cost per ounce of gold produced,
net of by-product creditsi, in the first quarter of 2024 was $950,
an increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to
the same factors affecting cash cost as well as lower sustaining
capital costs during the quarter.
The New Britannia mill achieved record quarterly
throughput of 1,870 tonnes per day in the first quarter due to
ongoing improvement initiatives and effective preventative
maintenance measures. Noteworthy enhancements in the elution
circuit, which facilitates efficient carbon transfer and gold
stripping, have bolstered gold recovery to doré. During the first
quarter, Hudbay received a permit approval from the Manitoba
Environment and Climate Change ministry ("MECC") to increase the
New Britannia mill production rate above nameplate capacity to
2,500 tonnes per day. This key approval aligns with the company’s
long-term objectives to further increase gold production at the
Snow Lake operations by directing more gold ore from Lalor to the
New Britannia mill to achieve higher gold recoveries.
At the Anderson tailings facility, Hudbay
successfully improved the tailings deposition process during the
quarter, leveraging new equipment and procedural refinements,
enabling optimized storage capacity and deferred dam construction
capital to future years. To further optimize the storage capacity
of the facility, a permit to conduct a subaerial tailings
deposition trial study was submitted to MECC during the
quarter.
British Columbia Operations
Review
British Columbia Operations |
|
Three Months Ended5 |
|
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Ore mined1 |
tonnes |
3,722,496 |
2,627,398 |
Waste mined |
tonnes |
15,276,598 |
14,032,093 |
Strip ratio2 |
|
4.10 |
5.34 |
Ore milled |
tonnes |
3,180,149 |
3,261,891 |
Copper |
% |
0.27 |
0.33 |
Gold |
g/tonne |
0.07 |
0.06 |
Silver |
g/tonne |
1.19 |
1.36 |
Copper recovery |
% |
83.4 |
78.8 |
Gold recovery |
% |
61.8 |
54.1 |
Silver recovery |
% |
72.4 |
73.8 |
Total contained metal in
concentrate2 |
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
7,024 |
8,508 |
Gold |
ounces |
4,417 |
3,495 |
Silver |
ounces |
88,376 |
105,295 |
Total payable metal sold |
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
6,933 |
9,119 |
Gold |
ounces |
3,401 |
3,091 |
Silver |
ounces |
83,300 |
98,441 |
Combined unit operating cost3,4 |
C$/tonne |
23.67 |
20.90 |
Cash cost4 |
$/lb |
3.49 |
2.67 |
Sustaining cash cost4 |
$/lb |
4.85 |
3.93 |
1 Reported tonnes and grade for ore mined are estimates based on
mine plan assumptions and may not reconcile fully to ore
milled. |
2 Strip ratio is calculated as waste mined divided by ore
mined. |
3 Reflects combined mine, mill and G&A costs per tonne of ore
milled. Reflects the deduction of expected capitalized stripping
costs. |
4 Combined unit operating cost, cash cost and sustaining cash cost
per pound of copper produced, net of by-product credits, are
non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standardized
definition under IFRS. For further information, please see the
“Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures” section of this news
release. |
5 Copper Mountain mine results are stated at 100%. Hudbay owns 75%
of Copper Mountain mine. |
|
During the first quarter of 2024, the British
Columbia operations produced 7,024 tonnes of copper, 4,417 ounces
of gold and 88,376 ounces of silver. Production of copper and
silver was lower than the fourth quarter of 2024 primarily as a
result of lower head grades, partially offset by higher recoveries.
Production of gold was higher than the fourth quarter of 2024 as a
result of higher grades and higher recoveries. The company is on
track to achieve 2024 production guidance for all metals in British
Columbia.
Since completing the acquisition of Copper
Mountain on June 20, 2023, Hudbay has been focused on advancing
operational stabilization plans, including opening up the mine by
adding additional mining faces and re-mobilizing idle haul trucks,
optimizing the ore feed to the plant and implementing plant
improvement initiatives that mirror Hudbay's successful processes
at Constancia. While the benefits of these stabilization plans are
not expected to be fully realized until 2025, the company
successfully increased the total tonnes moved and has seen stronger
mill performance as demonstrated by higher mill availability and
above-target copper recoveries of 83.4% in the first quarter of
2024, achieving the highest quarterly copper recoveries in the last
decade. Stabilization benefits continued to be realized into April
with 83% copper recoveries and approximately 40,000 tonnes per day
average mill throughput, an increase of approximately 9% over
throughput levels in the first quarter.
Hudbay has exceeded the targeted $10 million in
annualized corporate synergies and is on track to realize the
three-year annual operating efficiencies target.
Total ore mined at Copper Mountain in the first
quarter of 2024 was 3.7 million tonnes, a 42% increase versus the
fourth quarter of 2023. The mine operations team continues to
implement a fleet production ramp up plan to remobilize idle
capital equipment at the Copper Mountain site as part of the
accelerated stripping program to access higher head grades. This
plan entails remobilization of the mining truck fleet, deployment
of an additional shovel, production drill and associated equipment.
During the quarter, the company also advanced the delivery of five
haul trucks to self-perform additional stripping activities over
the next three years at a lower cost than the contractor mining
approach that was contemplated in the technical report. As a
result, total material moved is expected to continue to increase
quarter over quarter in line with the mine plan.
The mill processed 3.2 million tonnes of ore
during the first quarter of 2024, a 3% decrease versus the fourth
quarter of 2023. Benefiting from stabilization and reliability
initiatives within the comminution circuit, the average mill
availability during the first quarter of 2024 increased by
approximately 4% to 90.4%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023,
while maintaining a stable throughput rate. Mill throughput in the
first quarter 2024 was impacted by reduced reliability of the
crushing circuit, caused primarily by elevated levels of magnetite
and scrap metal as mining progresses through areas of historical
underground workings. During the quarter, a number of initiatives
were advanced to address these issues and other identified
constraints and improve throughput to targeted levels, with the
benefits expected to be realized throughout the rest of 2024. These
initiatives include reprogramming of the mill expert system,
installation of advanced semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) control
instrumentation, redesign of the SAG liner package and updated
operational procedures intended to remove magnetite from the pebble
stream.
Maintenance practices to improve mill
availability continue to be a key pillar of the stabilization
initiatives. The first quarter planned maintenance shutdown focused
on achieving 100% compliance to planned execution. Future
maintenance practice enhancements are planned for rollout over the
second and third quarters of 2024, which entail the implementation
of improved maintenance management processes and a change in the
maintenance organizational structure. Work has begun to analyze the
trade-off among the various alternatives to further enhance mill
performance.
Milled copper grades during the first quarter of
2024 averaged 0.27%, lower than the fourth quarter of 2023 but
higher than the reserve grade of 0.25%. Copper recoveries of 83.4%
were higher than the fourth quarter of 2023 and higher than
expectations for the first quarter due to relieving the regrind
circuit constraint and implementing the flotation operational
strategy improvements, including reagent selection and dose
modification.
Work continues on the expert system that
controls mill feed with implementation expected during the second
quarter. Throughput in April increased to approximately 40,000
tonnes per day as the mill began realizing benefits from the
recalibrated expert system, amongst other initiatives. The benefits
of the operational stabilization improvements are expected to
continue to be realized throughout 2024. The company is also
accelerating engineering studies to debottleneck and increase the
nominal plant capacity to 50,000 tonnes per day earlier than was
contemplated in the technical report.
Combined mine, mill and G&A unit operating
costs in the first quarter of 2024 were C$23.67 per tonne milled,
13% higher than the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to higher
mining costs. Combined unit operating costs are expected to
decrease over time as the company continues to implement its
stabilization and optimization initiatives at Copper Mountain. As
the hiring and training of additional haul truck drivers continues,
the company expects to have a fully trained complement of truck
drivers by July to support the larger mining fleet, which is
expected to increase material moved and reduce unit operating
costs.
Cash cost and sustaining cash cost per pound of
copper produced, net of by-product credits, in the first quarter of
2024 were $3.49 and $4.85, respectively. Cash cost for the quarter
was above the upper end of the 2024 guidance range; however, it is
expected to decline during the remainder of 2024 and the full year
cash cost is expected to be within the 2024 guidance range.
Generating Free Cash Flow with Increased
Production and Continued Financial Discipline
Hudbay delivered a third successive quarter of
positive free cash flow during the first quarter of 2024 as the
company executed its plan for higher copper and gold production
from Pampacancha and higher gold production at Lalor, both driven
by higher grades, throughput and recoveries. The company continues
to expect to see strong production levels throughout 2024 from
sustained higher grades in Peru and Manitoba, along with additional
production from Copper Mountain.
During the first quarter, Hudbay completed $10
million in net repayments on its revolving credit facilities. The
company also completed three additional months of deliveries under
the gold forward sale and prepay agreement, further reducing the
outstanding gold prepayment liability, and is scheduled to fully
repay the gold prepay facility by August 2024. Despite these debt
repayments and gold deliveries, the company increased its cash and
cash equivalents to $284.4 million and reduced overall net debt to
$994.2 million as at March 31, 2024, compared to $249.8 million and
$1,037.7 million, respectively, as at December 31, 2023. The $43.5
million decline in net debt, together with higher levels of
adjusted EBITDAi in the first quarter, have improved Hudbay’s net
debt to adjusted EBITDA ratioi to 1.3x compared to 1.6x at the end
of 2023. Subsequent to quarter-end, the company continued the
deleveraging efforts with an additional $10 million repayment on
the revolving credit facilities in May 2024.
During the first quarter, the company continued
to exercise financial discipline and take steps to support free
cash flow generation during the stabilization period at Copper
Mountain. To this end, Hudbay entered into new forward sales
contracts at Copper Mountain for a total of 3,600 tonnes of copper
production over the twelve-month period from May 2024 to April 2025
at an average price of $3.97 per pound, as well as zero-cost
collars for 3,000 tonnes of copper production over the twelve-month
period from May 2024 to April 2025 at an average floor price of
$4.00 per pound and an average cap price of $4.36 per pound. As at
March 31, 2024, 15.9 million pounds of copper forwards and 19.8
million pounds of copper collars were outstanding, representing
approximately 44% of 2024 production guidance levels for Copper
Mountain. The company also entered into zero-cost collars for
36,000 ounces of gold production over the period from April to
December 2024 at an average floor price of $2,088 per ounce and an
average cap price of $2,458 per ounce.
Annual Reserve and Resource
Update
Hudbay provided its annual mineral reserve and
resource update on March 28, 2024. Current mineral reserve
estimates at Constancia and Pampacancha total an aggregate of
approximately 548 million tonnes at 0.27% copper with approximately
1.5 million tonnes of contained copper. The expected mine life of
Constancia has been extended by three years to 2041 as a result of
the successful conversion of mineral resources to mineral reserves
with the addition of a further mining phase at the Constancia pit
following positive geotechnical drilling studies in 2023. There
remains potential for further reserve conversion and future mine
life extensions at Constancia through an additional 172 million
tonnes of measured and indicated resources at 0.22% copper and 37
million tonnes of inferred resources at 0.40% copper, in each case,
exclusive of mineral reserves.
Current mineral reserve estimates in Snow Lake
total 17 million tonnes with approximately 2 million ounces in
contained gold, and the expected mine life of the Snow Lake
operations has been maintained until 2038. The Snow Lake operations
continue to achieve higher gold production levels due to the New
Britannia mill operating well above design capacity, the recent
completion of the Stall mill recovery improvement project in 2023
and the implementation of several optimization initiatives at the
Lalor mine to improve the quality of ore production and minimize
waste dilution. There remains another 1.4 million ounces of gold in
inferred resources in Snow Lake that have the potential to maintain
strong annual gold production levels beyond 2030 and further extend
the mine life in Snow Lake. The company is advancing an access
drift at the nearby 1901 deposit to enable infill drilling aimed at
converting the inferred mineral resources in the gold lenses to
mineral reserves.
Current mineral reserve estimates at the Copper
Mountain mine total 367 million tonnes at 0.25% copper and 0.12
grams per tonne gold with approximately 900,000 tonnes of contained
copper and 1.4 million ounces of contained gold. Hudbay acquired
the Copper Mountain mine as part of the acquisition of Copper
Mountain Mining Corporation in June 2023. The company holds a 75%
interest in the Copper Mountain mine, while Mitsubishi Materials
Corp. holds the remaining 25% interest. The current mineral reserve
estimates support a 21-year mine life, as previously disclosed in
Hudbay’s first National Instrument 43-101 technical report in
respect of the Copper Mountain mine filed in December 2023 (the
"Copper Mountain Technical Report"). There exists significant
upside potential for reserve conversion and extending mine life
beyond 21 years through an additional 140 million tonnes of
measured and indicated resources at 0.21% copper and 0.10 grams per
tonne gold and 370 million tonnes of inferred resources at 0.25%
copper and 0.13 grams per tonne gold, in each case, exclusive of
mineral reserves.
Hudbay released updated three-year production
guidance with its annual mineral reserve and resource update, as
presented below. Consolidated copper production over the next three
years is expected to average 153,000ii tonnes, representing an
increase of 16% from 2023 levels. Consolidated gold production over
the next three years is expected to average 272,500ii ounces,
reflecting continued high annual gold production levels in Manitoba
and a smoothing of Pampacancha high grade gold zones in Peru over
the 2023 to 2025 period. Annual production at the Constancia
operations is expected to average approximately 101,000ii tonnes of
copper and 62,000ii ounces of gold over the next three years.
Annual gold production from Snow Lake is expected to average
approximately 185,000ii ounces over the next three years, in line
with 2023 levels. Annual copper production at the British Columbia
operations is expected to average approximately 41,000ii tonnes of
copper over the next three years. British Columbia production
guidance ranges in 2024 and 2025 are wider than typical ranges and
coincide with the operation ramp up activities over the
stabilization period. Copper production at the Copper Mountain mine
is expected to increase by 32% in 2026 compared to 2024, reflecting
operational improvements consistent with the Copper Mountain
Technical Report.
3-Year Production OutlookContained Metal
in Concentrate and Doré1 |
2024 Guidance |
2025 Guidance |
2026 Guidance |
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
98,000 - 120,000 |
94,000 - 115,000 |
80,000 - 100,000 |
Gold |
ounces |
76,000 - 93,000 |
70,000 - 90,000 |
15,000 - 25,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
2,500,000 - 3,000,000 |
2,700,000 - 3,300,000 |
1,500,000 - 1,900,000 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
1,250 - 1,500 |
1,200 - 1,600 |
1,500 - 1,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
Manitoba |
|
|
|
|
Gold |
ounces |
170,000 - 200,000 |
170,000 - 200,000 |
170,000 - 200,000 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
27,000 - 35,000 |
25,000 - 33,000 |
18,000 - 24,000 |
Copper |
tonnes |
9,000 - 12,000 |
8,000 - 12,000 |
10,000 - 14,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
750,000 - 1,000,000 |
800,000 - 1,100,000 |
800,000 - 1,100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
British Columbia2 |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
30,000 - 44,000 |
30,000 - 45,000 |
44,000 - 54,000 |
Gold |
ounces |
17,000 - 26,000 |
24,000 - 36,000 |
24,000 - 29,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
300,000 - 455,000 |
290,000 - 400,000 |
450,000 - 550,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
137,000 - 176,000 |
132,000 - 172,000 |
134,000 - 168,000 |
Gold |
ounces |
263,000 - 319,000 |
264,000 - 326,000 |
209,000 - 254,000 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
27,000 - 35,000 |
25,000 - 33,000 |
18,000 - 24,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
3,550,000 - 4,455,000 |
3,790,000 - 4,800,000 |
2,750,000 - 3,550,000 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
1,250 - 1,500 |
1,200 - 1,600 |
1,500 - 1,900 |
1 Metal reported in concentrate and doré is prior to treatment or
refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms. |
2 Includes 100% of Copper Mountain mine production. Hudbay owns 75%
of Copper Mountain mine. |
|
Advancing Permitting at Copper World
The first key state permit required for Copper
World, the Mined Land Reclamation Plan, was initially approved by
the Arizona State Mine Inspector in October 2021 and was
subsequently amended to reflect a larger private land project
footprint. This approval was challenged in state court, but the
challenge was dismissed in May 2023. In late 2022, Hudbay submitted
the applications for an Aquifer Protection Permit and an Air
Quality Permit to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Hudbay continues to expect to receive these two outstanding state
permits in 2024. Hudbay also received the floodplain use permit
approval from Pima County in April 2024.
Copper World is one of the highest-grade open
pit copper projects in the Americasiii with proven and probable
mineral reserves of 385 million tonnes at 0.54% copper. There
remains approximately 60% of the total copper contained in measured
and indicated mineral resources (exclusive of mineral reserves),
providing significant potential for Phase II expansion and mine
life extension. In addition, the inferred mineral resource
estimates are at a comparable copper grade and also provide
significant upside potential.
Exploration Update
Progressing Maria Reyna and Caballito
Exploration Permits
Hudbay controls a large, contiguous block of
mineral rights with the potential to host mineral deposits in close
proximity to the Constancia processing facility, including the past
producing Caballito property and the highly prospective Maria Reyna
property. The company commenced early exploration activities at
Maria Reyna and Caballito after completing a surface rights
exploration agreement with the community of Uchucarcco in August
2022. As part of the drill permitting process, environmental impact
assessment applications were submitted for the Maria Reyna property
in November 2023 and for the Caballito property in April 2024.
Executing Largest Snow Lake Exploration
Program
The planned 2024 exploration program is Hudbay’s
largest Snow Lake program in company history and consists of modern
geophysical programs and multi-phased drilling campaigns:
- Modern geophysics
program – A majority of the newly acquired Cook Lake and
former Rockcliff claims have been untested by modern deep
geophysics, which was the discovery method for the Lalor deposit. A
large geophysics program is currently underway including surface
electromagnetic surveys using cutting-edge techniques that enable
the team to detect targets at depths of almost 1,000 metres below
surface.
- Multi-phased drilling
program – The results from the winter 2024 surface drill
program near Lalor are being analyzed and the company is planning
follow-up drill programs for the balance of 2024.
The goal of the 2024 exploration program is to
test mineralized extensions of the Lalor deposit and to find a new
anchor deposit within trucking distance of the Snow Lake processing
infrastructure, which has the potential to extend the life of the
Snow Lake operations beyond 2038.
Advancing Access to the 1901 Deposit
In the first quarter of 2024, the company
commenced the development of a smaller profile drift from the
existing Lalor ramp towards the 1901 deposit. The 1901 development
and exploration drift is proceeding on schedule and on budget and
is expected to reach the mineralization in late-2024, followed by
planned definition drilling in 2025 intended to confirm the optimal
mining method, evaluate the orebody geometry and continuity, and
convert inferred mineral resources in the gold lenses to mineral
reserves. In addition to the benefits of being able to cycle
development rounds faster, the smaller profile drift has
significantly reduced the cost per metre of advance by 33% compared
to average 2023 development costs incurred at Lalor.
Unlocking Value Through Flin Flon Tailings
Reprocessing
Hudbay is advancing studies to evaluate the
opportunity to reprocess Flin Flon tailings where more than 100
million tonnes of tailings have been deposited for over 90 years
from the mill and the zinc plant. The studies are evaluating the
potential to use the existing Flin Flon concentrator, which is
currently on care and maintenance after the closure of the 777 mine
in 2022, with flow sheet modifications to reprocess tailings to
recover critical minerals and precious metals while creating
environmental and social benefits for the region. The company is
completing metallurgical test work and an early economic study to
evaluate the tailings reprocessing opportunity.
The Flin Flon tailings facility contains
materials generated from the metallurgical complex and confirmatory
drilling has been conducted over the last several years:
- Mill tailings –
Initial confirmatory drilling completed in 2022 indicated higher
zinc, copper and silver grades than predicted from historical mill
records while confirming the historical gold grade. In 2023, Hudbay
advanced metallurgical test work and evaluated metallurgical
technologies, including the signing of a test work co-operation
agreement with Cobalt Blue Holdings (“COB”) examining the use of
COB technology to treat Flin Flon mill tailings. Initial results
from preliminary roasting test work were encouraging in converting
more than 90% of pyrite into pyrrhotite and molten sulphur, and the
project has been advanced to the next stage of testing.
- Zinc plant
tailings – This section of the tailings facility was
previously unable to be drilled in 2022 due to water levels from
operations. The water levels have receded since the completion of
operations in mid-2022, and in 2024, Hudbay completed an initial
confirmatory drill program in this portion of the tailings facility
with results pending.
A key benefit of tailings reprocessing is the
potential to reduce the environmental footprint by removing
acid-generating properties of the tailings, which would improve the
environmental impacts through higher quality water in the tailings
facility and reduce the need for long-term water treatment.
Marubeni Flin Flon Exploration Partnership
In March 2024, Hudbay entered into an option
agreement (the “Marubeni Option Agreement”) with Marubeni
Corporation, pursuant to which Hudbay has granted Marubeni’s
wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary an option to acquire a 20%
interest in three projects located within trucking distance of
Hudbay’s existing processing facilities in the Flin Flon area.
Pursuant to the Marubeni Option Agreement, the option holder must
fund a minimum of C$12 million in exploration expenditures over a
period of approximately five years in order to exercise its option.
All three projects hold past producing mines that generated
meaningful production with attractive grades of both base metals
and precious metals. The properties remain highly prospective with
potential for further discovery based on the attractive geological
setting, limited historical deep drilling and promising geochemical
and geophysical targets.
Upon successful completion of the option
holder's earn-in obligations and the exercise of the option, a
joint venture will be formed to hold the selected projects with
Hudbay, acting as operator, holding an 80% interest and Marubeni
indirectly holding the remaining 20% interest.
Website Links
Hudbay:
www.hudbay.com
Management’s Discussion and Analysis:
https://www.hudbayminerals.com/MDA524
Financial Statements:
https://www.hudbayminerals.com/FS524
Conference Call and Webcast
Date: |
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 |
Time: |
11:00 a.m. ET |
Webcast: |
www.hudbay.com |
Dial in: |
1-416-764-8650 or 1-888-664-6383Additional Dial-in |
|
|
Qualified Person and NI 43-101
The technical and scientific information in this
news release related to the company’s material mineral projects has
been approved by Olivier Tavchandjian, P. Geo, Senior Vice
President, Exploration and Technical Services. Mr. Tavchandjian is
a qualified person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
For a description of the key assumptions,
parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and
resources at Hudbay's material mineral properties, as well as data
verification procedures and a general discussion of the extent to
which the estimates of scientific and technical information may be
affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal title,
taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant factors,
please see the technical reports for the company’s material
properties as filed by Hudbay on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and
EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures
Adjusted net earnings (loss), adjusted net
earnings (loss) per share, adjusted EBITDA, net debt, cash cost,
sustaining and all-in sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced, cash cost and sustaining cash cost per ounce of gold
produced, combined unit costs and ratios based on these measures
are non-IFRS performance measures. These measures do not have a
meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be
comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These
measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute
for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not
necessarily indicative of operating gross profit or cash flow from
operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate
these measures differently.
Management believes adjusted net earnings (loss)
and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share provides an alternate
measure of the company’s performance for the current period and
gives insight into its expected performance in future periods.
These measures are used internally by the company to evaluate the
performance of its underlying operations and to assist with its
planning and forecasting of future operating results. As such, the
company believes these measures are useful to investors in
assessing the company’s underlying performance. Hudbay provides
adjusted EBITDA to help users analyze the company’s results and to
provide additional information about its ongoing cash generating
potential in order to assess its capacity to service and repay
debt, carry out investments and cover working capital needs. Net
debt is shown because it is a performance measure used by the
company to assess its financial position. Net debt to adjusted
EBITDA is shown because it is a performance measure used by the
company to assess its financial leverage and debt capacity. Cash
cost, sustaining and all-in sustaining cash cost per pound of
copper produced are shown because the company believes they help
investors and management assess the performance of its operations,
including the margin generated by the operations and the company.
Cash cost and sustaining cash cost per ounce of gold produced are
shown because the company believes they help investors and
management assess the performance of its Manitoba operations.
Combined unit cost is shown because Hudbay believes it helps
investors and management assess the company’s cost structure and
margins that are not impacted by variability in by-product
commodity prices.
The following tables provide detailed
reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures.
Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss) Reconciliation
|
Three Months Ended |
(in $ millions) |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Net earnings for the period |
18.5 |
|
33.5 |
|
5.4 |
|
Tax expense |
49.3 |
|
47.5 |
|
12.0 |
|
Earnings before tax |
67.8 |
|
81.0 |
|
17.4 |
|
Adjusting items: |
|
|
|
Mark-to-market adjustments1 |
12.8 |
|
12.7 |
|
6.8 |
|
Foreign exchange loss |
4.8 |
|
4.2 |
|
0.3 |
|
Inventory adjustments |
— |
|
1.4 |
|
— |
|
Variable consideration adjustment - stream revenue and
accretion |
4.0 |
|
— |
|
(5.0 |
) |
Premium paid on redemption of notes |
— |
|
2.2 |
|
— |
|
Re-evaluation adjustment - environmental provision2 |
(5.3 |
) |
34.0 |
|
(8.2 |
) |
Insurance recovery |
— |
|
(4.2 |
) |
— |
|
Value-added-tax recovery |
— |
|
(3.9 |
) |
— |
|
Write off fair value of the Copper Mountain bonds |
— |
|
(1.0 |
) |
— |
|
Reduction of obligation to renounce flow-through expenditures |
(0.7 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
Restructuring charges |
0.9 |
|
0.6 |
|
— |
|
Loss on disposal of investments |
— |
|
— |
|
0.7 |
|
Write-down/loss on disposal of PP&E |
9.0 |
|
6.6 |
|
0.1 |
|
Adjusted earnings before income taxes |
93.3 |
|
133.6 |
|
12.1 |
|
Tax expense |
(49.3 |
) |
(47.5 |
) |
(12.0 |
) |
Tax impact on adjusting items |
13.6 |
|
(14.8 |
) |
— |
|
Adjusted net earnings |
57.6 |
|
71.3 |
|
0.1 |
|
Adjusted net earnings ($/share) |
0.16 |
|
0.20 |
|
0.00 |
|
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding
(millions) |
350.8 |
|
349.1 |
|
262.0 |
|
1 Includes changes in fair value of the gold prepayment liability,
Canadian junior mining investments, other financial assets and
liabilities at fair value through net earnings or loss and
share-based compensation expenses. |
2 Changes from movements to environmental reclamation provisions
are primarily related to the Flin Flon operations, which were fully
depreciated as of June 30, 2022, as well as other Manitoba
non-operating sites. |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
|
Three Months Ended |
(in $ millions) |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Net earnings for the period |
18.5 |
|
33.5 |
|
5.4 |
|
Add back: |
|
|
|
Tax expense |
49.3 |
|
47.5 |
|
12.0 |
|
Net finance expense |
44.0 |
|
48.9 |
|
35.0 |
|
Other expenses |
16.3 |
|
10.6 |
|
5.0 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
109.3 |
|
121.9 |
|
67.4 |
|
Amortization of deferred revenue and variable consideration
adjustment |
(23.2 |
) |
(26.5 |
) |
(15.9 |
) |
Adjusting items (pre-tax): |
|
|
|
Re-evaluation adjustment - environmental provision |
(5.3 |
) |
34.0 |
|
(8.2 |
) |
Inventory adjustments |
— |
|
1.4 |
|
— |
|
Option agreement proceeds |
(0.4 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
Share-based compensation expense1 |
5.7 |
|
3.1 |
|
1.2 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
214.2 |
|
274.4 |
|
101.9 |
|
1 Share-based compensation expenses reflected in cost of sales and
selling and administrative expenses. |
|
Net Debt Reconciliation
(in $ thousands) |
|
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Total long-term debt |
1,278,587 |
|
1,287,536 |
|
1,225,023 |
|
Less: Cash and cash equivalents |
284,385 |
|
249,794 |
|
255,563 |
|
Net debt |
994,202 |
|
1,037,742 |
|
969,460 |
|
(in $ millions, except net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio) |
|
|
|
|
|
Net debt |
994.2 |
|
1,037.7 |
|
969.5 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA (12 month period) |
760.5 |
|
647.8 |
|
467.3 |
|
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA |
1.3 |
|
1.6 |
|
2.1 |
|
Trailing Adjusted EBITDA |
Three Months Ended |
LTM1 |
|
(in $ millions) |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Sept. 30, 2023 |
|
Jun. 30, 2023 |
|
|
Net earnings (loss) for the period |
18.5 |
|
33.5 |
|
45.5 |
|
(14.9 |
) |
82.6 |
|
Add back: |
|
|
|
|
|
Tax expense (recovery) |
49.3 |
|
47.5 |
|
38.7 |
|
(15.8 |
) |
119.7 |
|
Net finance expense |
44.0 |
|
48.9 |
|
30.9 |
|
30.5 |
|
154.3 |
|
Other expenses |
16.3 |
|
10.6 |
|
8.9 |
|
13.9 |
|
49.7 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
109.3 |
|
121.9 |
|
113.8 |
|
88.7 |
|
433.7 |
|
Amortization of deferred revenue and variable consideration
adjustment |
(23.2 |
) |
(26.5 |
) |
(16.8 |
) |
(18.1 |
) |
(84.6 |
) |
Adjusting items (pre-tax): |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-evaluation adjustment - environmental provision |
(5.3 |
) |
34.0 |
|
(32.4 |
) |
(4.7 |
) |
(8.4 |
) |
Inventory adjustments |
— |
|
1.4 |
|
— |
|
0.9 |
|
2.3 |
|
Option agreement proceeds |
(0.4 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(0.4 |
) |
Share-based compensation expenses2 |
5.7 |
|
3.1 |
|
2.1 |
|
0.7 |
|
11.6 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
214.2 |
|
274.4 |
|
190.7 |
|
81.2 |
|
760.5 |
|
1 LTM (last twelve months) as of March 31, 2024. |
2 Share-based compensation expense reflected in cost of sales and
administrative expenses. |
|
Copper Cash Cost Reconciliation
Consolidated |
Three Months Ended |
Net pounds of copper produced1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Peru |
54,181 |
|
73,209 |
|
45,233 |
|
British Columbia2 |
15,485 |
|
18,755 |
|
— |
|
Manitoba |
6,942 |
|
8,234 |
|
4,508 |
|
Net pounds of copper produced |
76,608 |
|
100,198 |
|
49,741 |
|
1 Contained copper in concentrate. |
2 Includes 100% of Copper Mountain mine production, Hudbay owns 75%
of Copper Mountain mine. As Copper Mountain was acquired on June
20, 2023, there were no comparative figures for the period ended
March 31, 2023. |
Consolidated |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Cash cost per pound of copper produced |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
Mining |
102,133 |
|
1.33 |
|
89,587 |
|
0.89 |
|
64,538 |
|
1.30 |
|
Milling |
83,474 |
|
1.09 |
|
90,763 |
|
0.91 |
|
61,039 |
|
1.23 |
|
G&A |
38,335 |
|
0.50 |
|
38,937 |
|
0.39 |
|
26,555 |
|
0.53 |
|
Onsite costs |
223,942 |
|
2.92 |
|
219,287 |
|
2.19 |
|
152,132 |
|
3.06 |
|
Treatment & refining |
27,664 |
|
0.36 |
|
35,665 |
|
0.36 |
|
18,495 |
|
0.37 |
|
Freight & other |
27,062 |
|
0.36 |
|
32,273 |
|
0.32 |
|
17,776 |
|
0.36 |
|
Cash cost, before by-product credits |
278,668 |
|
3.64 |
|
287,225 |
|
2.87 |
|
188,403 |
|
3.79 |
|
By-product credits |
(266,686 |
) |
(3.48 |
) |
(271,738 |
) |
(2.71 |
) |
(146,111 |
) |
(2.94 |
) |
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
11,982 |
|
0.16 |
|
15,487 |
|
0.16 |
|
42,292 |
|
0.85 |
|
Consolidated |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Supplementary cash cost information |
$000s |
|
$/lb1 |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb1 |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb1 |
|
By-product credits2: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zinc |
14,589 |
|
0.19 |
|
18,474 |
|
0.18 |
|
17,374 |
|
0.35 |
|
Gold3 |
209,812 |
|
2.74 |
|
216,178 |
|
2.16 |
|
93,479 |
|
1.88 |
|
Silver3 |
23,039 |
|
0.30 |
|
22,698 |
|
0.23 |
|
11,998 |
|
0.24 |
|
Molybdenum & other |
19,246 |
|
0.25 |
|
14,388 |
|
0.14 |
|
23,260 |
|
0.47 |
|
Total by-product credits |
266,686 |
|
3.48 |
|
271,738 |
|
2.71 |
|
146,111 |
|
2.94 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
11,982 |
|
|
|
15,487 |
|
|
|
42,292 |
|
|
|
By-product credits |
266,686 |
|
|
|
271,738 |
|
|
|
146,111 |
|
|
|
Treatment and refining charges |
(27,664 |
) |
|
|
(35,665 |
) |
|
|
(18,495 |
) |
|
|
Share-based compensation expense |
355 |
|
|
|
301 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
|
|
Inventory adjustments |
(24 |
) |
|
|
1,402 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Change in product inventory |
9,554 |
|
|
|
29,326 |
|
|
|
(9,409 |
) |
|
|
Royalties |
2,873 |
|
|
|
1,032 |
|
|
|
706 |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization4 |
109,273 |
|
|
|
121,812 |
|
|
|
67,422 |
|
|
|
Cost of sales |
373,035 |
|
|
|
405,433 |
|
|
|
228,706 |
|
|
|
1 Per pound of copper produced. |
2 By-product credits are computed as revenue per consolidated
financial statements, amortization of deferred revenue and pricing
and volume adjustments. |
3 Gold and silver by-product credits do not include variable
consideration adjustments with respect to stream arrangements.
Variable consideration adjustments are cumulative adjustments to
gold and silver stream deferred revenue primarily associated with
the net change in mineral reserves and resources or amendments to
the mine plan that would change the total expected deliverable
ounces under the precious metal streaming arrangement. For the
three months ended March 31, 2024 the variable consideration
adjustments amounted to an expense of $3,849, the three months
ended December 31, 2023 $nil, and for the three months ended March
31, 2023 income of $4,885. |
4 Depreciation is based on concentrate sold. |
Peru |
Three Months Ended |
(in thousands) |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Net pounds of copper produced1 |
54,181 |
|
73,209 |
|
45,233 |
|
1 Contained copper in concentrate. |
Peru |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Cash cost per pound of copper produced |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
Mining |
29,220 |
|
0.54 |
|
30,336 |
|
0.41 |
|
26,786 |
|
0.59 |
|
Milling |
43,624 |
|
0.80 |
|
50,199 |
|
0.69 |
|
46,191 |
|
1.03 |
|
G&A |
23,092 |
|
0.43 |
|
24,909 |
|
0.34 |
|
16,466 |
|
0.36 |
|
Onsite costs |
95,936 |
|
1.77 |
|
105,444 |
|
1.44 |
|
89,443 |
|
1.98 |
|
Treatment & refining |
14,975 |
|
0.28 |
|
19,626 |
|
0.27 |
|
10,603 |
|
0.24 |
|
Freight & other |
16,580 |
|
0.30 |
|
20,854 |
|
0.28 |
|
12,427 |
|
0.27 |
|
Cash cost, before by-product credits |
127,491 |
|
2.35 |
|
145,924 |
|
1.99 |
|
112,473 |
|
2.49 |
|
By-product credits |
(104,329 |
) |
(1.92 |
) |
(106,227 |
) |
(1.45 |
) |
(50,899 |
) |
(1.13 |
) |
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
23,162 |
|
0.43 |
|
39,697 |
|
0.54 |
|
61,574 |
|
1.36 |
|
Peru |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb1 |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb1 |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb1 |
|
By-product credits2: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold3 |
69,533 |
|
1.28 |
|
77,517 |
|
1.05 |
|
19,301 |
|
0.43 |
|
Silver3 |
15,550 |
|
0.29 |
|
14,322 |
|
0.20 |
|
8,577 |
|
0.19 |
|
Molybdenum |
19,246 |
|
0.35 |
|
14,388 |
|
0.20 |
|
23,021 |
|
0.51 |
|
Total by-product credits |
104,329 |
|
1.92 |
|
106,227 |
|
1.45 |
|
50,899 |
|
1.13 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
23,162 |
|
|
|
39,697 |
|
|
|
61,574 |
|
|
|
By-product credits |
104,329 |
|
|
|
106,227 |
|
|
|
50,899 |
|
|
|
Treatment and refining charges |
(14,975 |
) |
|
|
(19,626 |
) |
|
|
(10,603 |
) |
|
|
Share-based compensation expenses |
116 |
|
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
Change in product inventory |
14,077 |
|
|
|
8,048 |
|
|
|
(11,135 |
) |
|
|
Royalties |
2,118 |
|
|
|
1,456 |
|
|
|
665 |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization4 |
71,030 |
|
|
|
85,722 |
|
|
|
41,960 |
|
|
|
Cost of sales5 |
199,857 |
|
|
|
221,609 |
|
|
|
133,346 |
|
|
|
1 Per pound of copper produced. |
2 By-product credits are computed as revenue per consolidated
financial statements, including amortization of deferred revenue
and pricing and volume adjustments. |
3 Gold and silver by-product credits do not include variable
consideration adjustments with respect to stream arrangements. |
4 Depreciation is based on concentrate sold. |
5 As per IFRS consolidated interim financial statements. |
British Columbia |
|
Three Months Ended |
(in thousands) |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Net pounds of copper produced1 |
|
15,485 |
18,755 |
1 Contained copper in concentrate. |
British Columbia |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Cash cost per pound of copper produced |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
Mining |
28,553 |
|
1.85 |
|
19,015 |
|
1.01 |
|
Milling |
23,374 |
|
1.51 |
|
25,218 |
|
1.35 |
|
G&A |
3,897 |
|
0.25 |
|
5,643 |
|
0.30 |
|
Onsite costs |
55,824 |
|
3.61 |
|
49,876 |
|
2.66 |
|
Treatment & refining |
3,476 |
|
0.22 |
|
4,850 |
|
0.26 |
|
Freight & other |
4,293 |
|
0.28 |
|
4,654 |
|
0.25 |
|
Cash cost, before by-product credits |
63,593 |
|
4.11 |
|
59,380 |
|
3.17 |
|
By-product credits |
(9,543 |
) |
(0.62 |
) |
(9,286 |
) |
(0.50 |
) |
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
54,050 |
|
3.49 |
|
50,094 |
|
2.67 |
|
British Columbia |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Supplementary cash cost information |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
By-product credits2: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold |
7,564 |
|
0.49 |
|
6,876 |
|
0.37 |
|
Silver |
1,979 |
|
0.13 |
|
2,410 |
|
0.13 |
|
Total by-product credits |
9,543 |
|
0.62 |
|
9,286 |
|
0.50 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
54,050 |
|
|
|
50,094 |
|
|
|
By-product credits |
9,543 |
|
|
|
9,286 |
|
|
|
Treatment and refining charges |
(3,476 |
) |
|
|
(4,850 |
) |
|
|
Share-based compensation expenses |
5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Change in product inventory |
(3,965 |
) |
|
|
8,469 |
|
|
|
Royalties |
755 |
|
|
|
(424 |
) |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization3 |
11,649 |
|
|
|
5,489 |
|
|
|
Cost of sales4 |
68,561 |
|
|
|
68,064 |
|
|
|
1 Per pound of copper produced. |
2 By-product credits are computed as revenue per consolidated
financial statements, including pricing and volume
adjustments. |
3 Depreciation is based on concentrate sold. |
4 As per consolidated interim financial statements. |
|
Sustaining and All-in Sustaining Cash Cost
Reconciliation
Consolidated |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
All-in sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
11,982 |
|
0.16 |
|
15,487 |
|
0.16 |
|
42,292 |
|
0.85 |
|
Cash sustaining capital expenditures |
62,314 |
|
0.80 |
|
87,609 |
|
0.87 |
|
47,869 |
|
0.96 |
|
Capitalized exploration |
2,100 |
|
0.03 |
|
5,150 |
|
0.05 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Royalties |
2,873 |
|
0.04 |
|
1,032 |
|
0.01 |
|
706 |
|
0.02 |
|
Sustaining cash cost, net of by-product
credits |
79,269 |
|
1.03 |
|
109,278 |
|
1.09 |
|
90,867 |
|
1.83 |
|
Corporate selling and administrative expenses & regional
costs |
18,094 |
|
0.24 |
|
12,727 |
|
0.13 |
|
10,215 |
|
0.20 |
|
Accretion and amortization of decommissioning and community
agreements1 |
4,007 |
|
0.05 |
|
8,967 |
|
0.09 |
|
1,958 |
|
0.04 |
|
All-in sustaining cash cost, net of by-product
credits |
101,370 |
|
1.32 |
|
130,972 |
|
1.31 |
|
103,040 |
|
2.07 |
|
Reconciliation to property, plant and equipment
additions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment additions |
46,220 |
|
|
|
54,040 |
|
|
|
33,554 |
|
|
|
Capitalized stripping net additions |
31,983 |
|
|
|
40,861 |
|
|
|
26,984 |
|
|
|
Total accrued capital additions |
78,203 |
|
|
|
94,901 |
|
|
|
60,538 |
|
|
|
Less other non-sustaining capital costs2 |
26,982 |
|
|
|
19,945 |
|
|
|
19,850 |
|
|
|
Total sustaining capital costs |
51,221 |
|
|
|
74,956 |
|
|
|
40,688 |
|
|
|
Capitalized lease an equipment financing payments |
8,274 |
|
|
|
8,708 |
|
|
|
4,702 |
|
|
|
Community agreement cash payments |
800 |
|
|
|
2,274 |
|
|
|
1,189 |
|
|
|
Accretion and amortization of decommissioning and restoration
obligations3 |
2,019 |
|
|
|
1,671 |
|
|
|
1,290 |
|
|
|
Cash sustaining capital expenditures |
62,314 |
|
|
|
87,609 |
|
|
|
47,869 |
|
|
|
1 Includes accretion of decommissioning relating to non-productive
sites, and accretion and amortization of current community
agreements capitalized to Other assets. |
2 Other non-sustaining capital costs include Arizona capitalized
costs, capitalized interest, capitalized exploration, right-of-use
lease asset additions, equipment financing asset additions and
growth capital expenditures. |
3 Includes amortization of decommissioning and restoration PP&E
assets and accretion of decommissioning and restoration liabilities
related to producing sites. |
Peru |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
23,162 |
|
0.43 |
|
39,697 |
|
0.54 |
|
61,574 |
|
1.36 |
|
Cash sustaining capital expenditures |
29,779 |
|
0.55 |
|
42,351 |
|
0.58 |
|
33,564 |
|
0.74 |
|
Capitalized exploration1 |
2,100 |
|
0.04 |
|
5,150 |
|
0.07 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Royalties |
2,118 |
|
0.04 |
|
1,456 |
|
0.02 |
|
665 |
|
0.02 |
|
Sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced |
57,159 |
|
1.06 |
|
88,654 |
|
1.21 |
|
95,803 |
|
2.12 |
|
1 Only includes exploration costs incurred for locations near to
existing mine operations. |
British Columbia |
Three Months Ended1 |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced |
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
$000s |
|
$/lb |
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
54,050 |
|
3.49 |
|
50,094 |
|
2.67 |
|
Royalties |
20,361 |
|
1.31 |
|
24,063 |
|
1.28 |
|
Cash sustaining capital expenditures |
755 |
|
0.05 |
|
(424 |
) |
(0.02 |
) |
Sustaining cash cost per pound of copper
produced |
75,166 |
|
4.85 |
|
73,733 |
|
3.93 |
|
1 As Copper Mountain was acquired on June 20, 2023, there were no
comparative figures for the three months ended March 31, 2023. |
|
Gold Cash Cost and Sustaining Cash Cost Reconciliation
Manitoba |
Three Months Ended |
(in thousands) |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Net ounces of gold produced1 |
56,831 |
59,683 |
36,034 |
1 Contained gold in concentrate and doré. |
Manitoba |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Cash cost per ounce of gold produced |
$000s |
|
$/oz |
|
$000s |
|
$/oz |
|
$000s |
|
$/oz |
|
Mining |
44,360 |
|
780 |
|
40,236 |
|
673 |
|
37,752 |
|
1,048 |
|
Milling |
16,476 |
|
290 |
|
15,346 |
|
256 |
|
14,848 |
|
412 |
|
G&A |
11,346 |
|
200 |
|
8,385 |
|
140 |
|
10,089 |
|
280 |
|
Onsite costs |
72,182 |
|
1,270 |
|
63,967 |
|
1,069 |
|
62,689 |
|
1,740 |
|
Treatment & refining |
9,213 |
|
162 |
|
11,189 |
|
186 |
|
7,892 |
|
219 |
|
Freight & other |
6,189 |
|
109 |
|
6,765 |
|
113 |
|
5,349 |
|
148 |
|
Cash cost, before by-product credits |
87,584 |
|
1,541 |
|
81,921 |
|
1,368 |
|
75,930 |
|
2,107 |
|
By-product credits |
(45,734 |
) |
(805 |
) |
(55,928 |
) |
(934 |
) |
(42,131 |
) |
(1,169 |
) |
Gold cash cost, net of by-product credits |
41,850 |
|
736 |
|
25,993 |
|
434 |
|
33,799 |
|
938 |
|
Manitoba |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Supplementary cash cost information |
$000s |
|
$/oz1 |
|
$000s |
|
$/oz1 |
|
$000s |
|
$/oz1 |
|
By-product credits2: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
25,635 |
|
451 |
|
31,489 |
|
526 |
|
21,097 |
|
585 |
|
Zinc |
14,588 |
|
257 |
|
18,473 |
|
308 |
|
17,374 |
|
482 |
|
Silver3 |
5,510 |
|
97 |
|
5,966 |
|
100 |
|
3,421 |
|
95 |
|
Other |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
239 |
|
7 |
|
Total by-product credits |
45,734 |
|
805 |
|
55,928 |
|
934 |
|
42,131 |
|
1,169 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash cost, net of by-product credits |
41,850 |
|
|
|
25,993 |
|
|
|
33,799 |
|
|
|
By-product credits |
45,734 |
|
|
|
55,928 |
|
|
|
42,131 |
|
|
|
Treatment and refining charges |
(9,213 |
) |
|
|
(11,189 |
) |
|
|
(7,892 |
) |
|
|
Inventory adjustments |
(24 |
) |
|
|
1,402 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expenses |
234 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
|
|
93 |
|
|
|
Change in product inventory |
(558 |
) |
|
|
12,809 |
|
|
|
1,726 |
|
|
|
Royalties |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization4 |
26,594 |
|
|
|
30,601 |
|
|
|
25,462 |
|
|
|
Cost of sales5 |
104,617 |
|
|
|
115,760 |
|
|
|
95,360 |
|
|
|
1 Per ounce of gold produced. |
2 By-product credits are computed as revenue per consolidated
interim financial statements, amortization of deferred revenue and
pricing and volume adjustments. |
3 Silver by-product credits do not include variable consideration
adjustments with respect to stream arrangements. |
4 Depreciation is based on concentrate sold. |
5 As per IFRS consolidated interim financial statements. |
Manitoba |
Three Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Sustaining cash cost per pound of gold
produced |
$000s |
|
$/oz |
|
$000s |
|
$/oz |
|
$000s |
|
$/oz |
|
Gold cash cost, net of by-product credits |
41,850 |
|
736 |
|
25,993 |
|
434 |
|
33,799 |
|
938 |
|
Cash sustaining capital expenditures |
12,173 |
|
214 |
|
21,195 |
|
354 |
|
14,304 |
|
397 |
|
Royalties |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
41 |
|
1 |
|
Sustaining cash cost per pound of gold
produced |
54,023 |
|
950 |
|
47,188 |
|
788 |
|
48,144 |
|
1,336 |
|
Combined Unit Cost Reconciliation
Peru |
Three Months Ended |
(in thousands except ore tonnes milled and unit cost per
tonne) |
Combined unit cost per tonne processed |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Mining |
29,220 |
|
30,336 |
|
26,786 |
|
Milling |
43,624 |
|
50,199 |
|
46,191 |
|
G&A1 |
23,092 |
|
24,909 |
|
16,466 |
|
Other G&A2 |
(7,688 |
) |
(8,303 |
) |
(1,539 |
) |
Unit Cost |
88,248 |
|
97,141 |
|
87,904 |
|
Tonnes ore milled |
8,078 |
|
7,939 |
|
7,664 |
|
Combined unit cost per tonne |
10.92 |
|
12.24 |
|
11.47 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
Unit cost |
88,248 |
|
97,141 |
|
87,904 |
|
Freight & other |
16,580 |
|
20,854 |
|
12,427 |
|
Other G&A |
7,688 |
|
8,303 |
|
1,539 |
|
Share-based compensation expenses |
116 |
|
85 |
|
(14 |
) |
Change in product inventory |
14,077 |
|
8,048 |
|
(11,135 |
) |
Royalties |
2,118 |
|
1,456 |
|
665 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
71,030 |
|
85,722 |
|
41,960 |
|
Cost of sales3 |
199,857 |
|
221,609 |
|
133,346 |
|
1 G&A as per cash cost reconciliation above. |
2 Other G&A primarily includes profit sharing costs. |
3 As per IFRS consolidated interim financial statements. |
Manitoba |
Three Months Ended |
(in thousands except tonnes ore milled and unit cost per
tonne) |
Combined unit cost per tonne processed |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
Mining |
44,360 |
|
40,236 |
|
37,752 |
|
Milling |
16,476 |
|
15,346 |
|
14,848 |
|
G&A1 |
11,346 |
|
8,385 |
|
10,089 |
|
Less: Other G&A related to profit sharing costs |
(4,131 |
) |
(1,522 |
) |
(1,139 |
) |
Unit cost |
68,051 |
|
62,445 |
|
61,550 |
|
USD/CAD implicit exchange rate |
1.35 |
|
1.36 |
|
1.35 |
|
Unit cost - C$ |
91,748 |
|
85,013 |
|
83,193 |
|
Tonnes ore milled |
389,767 |
|
393,837 |
|
385,661 |
|
Combined unit cost per tonne - C$ |
235 |
|
216 |
|
216 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
Unit cost |
68,051 |
|
62,445 |
|
61,550 |
|
Freight & other |
6,189 |
|
6,765 |
|
5,349 |
|
Other G&A related to profit sharing |
4,131 |
|
1,522 |
|
1,139 |
|
Share-based compensation expenses |
234 |
|
216 |
|
93 |
|
Inventory adjustments |
(24 |
) |
1,402 |
|
— |
|
Change in product inventory |
(558 |
) |
12,809 |
|
1,726 |
|
Royalties |
— |
|
— |
|
41 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
26,594 |
|
30,601 |
|
25,462 |
|
Cost of sales2 |
104,617 |
|
115,760 |
|
95,360 |
|
1 G&A as per cash cost reconciliation above. |
2 As per IFRS consolidated interim financial statements. |
British Columbia |
Three Months Ended |
Combined unit cost per tonne processed |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Mining |
28,553 |
|
19,015 |
|
Milling |
23,374 |
|
25,218 |
|
G&A1 |
3,897 |
|
5,643 |
|
Unit cost |
55,824 |
|
49,876 |
|
USD/CAD implicit exchange rate |
1.35 |
|
1.37 |
|
Unit cost - C$ |
75,282 |
|
68,168 |
|
Tonnes ore milled |
3,180 |
|
3,262 |
|
Combined unit cost per tonne - C$ |
23.67 |
|
20.90 |
|
Reconciliation to IFRS: |
|
|
|
Unit cost |
55,824 |
|
49,876 |
|
Freight & other |
4,293 |
|
4,654 |
|
Share-based compensation expenses |
5 |
|
— |
|
Change in product inventory |
(3,965 |
) |
8,469 |
|
Royalties |
755 |
|
(424 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
11,649 |
|
5,489 |
|
Cost of sales2 |
68,561 |
|
68,064 |
|
1 G&A as per cash cost reconciliation above |
2 Other G&A primarily includes profit sharing costs. |
3 As per consolidated financial statements. |
4 As Copper Mountain was acquired on June 20 2023, there were no
comparative figures for the three months ended March 31, 2023. |
|
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking
information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United
States securities legislation. All information contained in this
news release, other than statements of current and historical fact,
is forward-looking information. Often, but not always,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words
such as “plans”, “expects”, “budget”, “guidance”, “scheduled”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “strategy”, “target”, “intends”,
“objective”, “goal”, “understands”, “anticipates” and “believes”
(and variations of these or similar words) and statements that
certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”,
“should”, “might” “occur” or “be achieved” or “will be taken” (and
variations of these or similar expressions). All of the
forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by
this cautionary note.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to the company’s production,
cost and capital and exploration expenditure guidance, expectations
regarding reductions in discretionary spending and capital
expenditures, the ability of the company to stabilize and optimize
the Copper Mountain mine operation and achieve operating synergies,
the fleet production ramp up plan and the accelerated stripping
strategies at the Copper Mountain site, the ability of the company
to complete business integration activities at the Copper Mountain
mine, the estimated timelines and pre-requisites for sanctioning
the Copper World project and the pursuit of a potential minority
joint venture partner, expectations regarding the permitting
requirements for the Copper World project (including expected
timing for receipt of such applicable permits), the expected
benefits of Manitoba growth initiatives, including the advancement
of and timeline for the development and exploration drift at the
1901 deposit, the benefits and results of the option agreement
entered into with Marubeni Corporation, the company’s future
deleveraging strategies and the company’s ability to deleverage and
repay debt as needed, expectations regarding the company’s cash
balance and liquidity, the company’s ability to increase the mining
rate at Lalor, the anticipated benefits from completing the Stall
recovery improvement program, expectations regarding the ability to
conduct exploration work and execute on exploration programs on its
properties and to advance related drill plans, including the
advancement of the exploration program at Maria Reyna and Caballito
and the status of the related drill permit application process, the
ability to continue mining higher-grade ore in the Pampacancha pit
and the company’s expectations resulting therefrom, expectations
regarding the ability for the company to further reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, the company’s evaluation and assessment of
opportunities to reprocess tailings using various metallurgical
technologies, expectations regarding the prospective nature of the
Maria Reyna and Caballito properties, the anticipated impact of
brownfield and greenfield growth projects on the company’s
performance, anticipated expansion opportunities and extension of
mine life in Snow Lake and the ability for Hudbay to find a new
anchor deposit near the company’s Snow Lake operations, anticipated
future drill programs and exploration activities and any results
expected therefrom, anticipated mine plans, anticipated metals
prices and the anticipated sensitivity of the company’s financial
performance to metals prices, events that may affect its operations
and development projects, anticipated cash flows from operations
and related liquidity requirements, the anticipated effect of
external factors on revenue, such as commodity prices, estimation
of mineral reserves and resources, mine life projections,
reclamation costs, economic outlook, government regulation of
mining operations, and business and acquisition strategies.
Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of
future results or events. Forward-looking information is based on,
among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses
that, while considered reasonable by the company at the date the
forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to
significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors
that may cause actual results and events to be materially different
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
information.
The material factors or assumptions that Hudbay
has identified and were applied in drawing conclusions or making
forecasts or projections set out in the forward-looking information
include, but are not limited to:
- the ability to achieve production,
cost and capital and exploration expenditure guidance;
- the ability to achieve
discretionary spending reductions without impacting
operations;
- no significant interruptions to
operations due to social or political unrest in the regions Hudbay
operates, including the navigation of the complex political and
social environment in Peru;
- no interruptions to the company’s
plans for advancing the Copper World project, including with
respect to timely receipt of applicable permits and the pursuit of
a potential joint venture partner;
- the ability for the company to
successfully complete the integration and optimization of the
Copper Mountain operations, achieve operating synergies and develop
and maintain good relations with key stakeholders;
- the ability to execute on its
exploration plans and to advance related drill plans;
- the ability to advance the
exploration program at Maria Reyna and Caballito;
- the success of mining, processing,
exploration and development activities;
- the scheduled maintenance and
availability of the company’s processing facilities;
- the accuracy of geological, mining
and metallurgical estimates;
- anticipated metals prices and the
costs of production;
- the supply and demand for metals
the company produces;
- the supply and availability of all
forms of energy and fuels at reasonable prices;
- no significant unanticipated
operational or technical difficulties;
- no significant interruptions to
operations due to adverse effects from extreme weather events,
including the current forest fire in the Flin Flon region and
potential seasonal forest fires that may affect the regions in
which the company operates;
- the execution of the company’s
business and growth strategies, including the success of its
strategic investments and initiatives;
- the availability of additional
financing, if needed;
- the company’s ability to deleverage
and repay debt as needed;
- the ability to complete project
targets on time and on budget and other events that may affect the
company’s ability to develop its projects;
- the timing and receipt of various
regulatory and governmental approvals;
- the availability of personnel for
the company’s exploration, development and operational projects and
ongoing employee relations;
- maintaining good relations with the
employees at the company’s operations;
- maintaining good relations with the
labour unions that represent certain of the company’s employees in
Manitoba and Peru;
- maintaining good relations with the
communities in which the company operates, including the
neighbouring Indigenous communities and local governments;
- no significant unanticipated
challenges with stakeholders at the company’s various
projects;
- no significant unanticipated events
or changes relating to regulatory, environmental, health and safety
matters;
- no contests over title to the
company’s properties, including as a result of rights or claimed
rights of Indigenous peoples or challenges to the validity of the
company’s unpatented mining claims;
- the timing and possible outcome of
pending litigation and no significant unanticipated
litigation;
- certain tax matters, including, but
not limited to current tax laws and regulations, changes in
taxation policies and the refund of certain value added taxes from
the Canadian and Peruvian governments; and
- no significant and continuing
adverse changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the
financial markets (including commodity prices and foreign exchange
rates).
The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and
other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information
may include, but are not limited to, risks related to the ongoing
business integration of Copper Mountain and the process for
designing, implementing and maintaining effective internal controls
for Copper Mountain, the failure to effectively complete the
integration and optimization of the Copper Mountain operations or
to achieve anticipated operating synergies, political and social
risks in the regions Hudbay operates, including the navigation of
the complex political and social environment in Peru, risks
generally associated with the mining industry and the current
geopolitical environment, including future commodity prices,
currency and interest rate fluctuations, energy and consumable
prices, supply chain constraints and general cost escalation in the
current inflationary environment, risks related to the
renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements with the labour
unions representing certain of the company’s employees in Manitoba
and Peru, uncertainties related to the development and operation of
the company’s projects, the risk of an indicator of impairment or
impairment reversal relating to a material mineral property, risks
related to the Copper World project, including in relation to
permitting, project delivery and financing risks, risks related to
the Lalor mine plan, including the ability to convert inferred
mineral resource estimates to higher confidence categories,
dependence on key personnel and employee and union relations, risks
related to political or social instability, unrest or change, risks
in respect of Indigenous and community relations, rights and title
claims, risks related to extreme weather events, including risks
arising from the current forest fire in the Flin Flon region,
potential seasonal forest fires that may affect the regions in
which the company operates and other severe storms, operational
risks and hazards, including the cost of maintaining and upgrading
the company's tailings management facilities and any unanticipated
environmental, industrial and geological events and developments
and the inability to insure against all risks, failure of plant,
equipment, processes, transportation and other infrastructure to
operate as anticipated, compliance with government and
environmental regulations, including permitting requirements and
anti-bribery legislation, depletion of the company’s reserves,
volatile financial markets and interest rates that may affect the
company’s ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable
terms, the failure to obtain required approvals or clearances from
government authorities on a timely basis, uncertainties related to
the geology, continuity, grade and estimates of mineral reserves
and resources, and the potential for variations in grade and
recovery rates, uncertain costs of reclamation activities, the
company’s ability to comply with its pension and other
post-retirement obligations, the company’s ability to abide by the
covenants in its debt instruments and other material contracts, tax
refunds, hedging transactions, as well as the risks discussed under
the heading “Risk Factors” in the company’s most recent Annual
Information Form and under the heading “Financial Risk Management”
in the company’s most recent management’s discussion and analysis,
each of which is available on the company’s SEDAR+ profile at
www.sedarplus.ca and the company’s EDGAR profile at
www.sec.gov.
Should one or more risk, uncertainty,
contingency or other factor materialize or should any factor or
assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information.
Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. Hudbay does not assume any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news
release or to explain any material difference between subsequent
actual events and any forward-looking information, except as
required by applicable law.
Note to United States
Investors
This news release has been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect
in Canada, which may differ materially from the requirements of
United States securities laws applicable to U.S. issuers.
About Hudbay
Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a copper-focused
mining company with three long-life operations and a world-class
pipeline of copper growth projects in tier-one mining-friendly
jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States.
Hudbay’s operating portfolio includes the
Constancia mine in Cusco (Peru), the Snow Lake operations in
Manitoba (Canada) and the Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia
(Canada). Copper is the primary metal produced by the company,
which is complemented by meaningful gold production. Hudbay’s
growth pipeline includes the Copper World project in Arizona
(United States), the Mason project in Nevada (United States), the
Llaguen project in La Libertad (Peru) and several expansion and
exploration opportunities near its existing operations.
The value Hudbay creates and the impact it has
is embodied in its purpose statement: “We care about our people,
our communities and our planet. Hudbay provides the metals the
world needs. We work sustainably, transform lives and create better
futures for communities.” Hudbay’s mission is to create sustainable
value and strong returns by leveraging its core strengths in
community relations, focused exploration, mine development and
efficient operations.
For further information, please contact:
Candace BrûléVice President, Investor Relations(416)
814-4387investor.relations@hudbay.com
____________________i Adjusted net earnings (loss)
and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share; adjusted EBITDA; cash
cost, sustaining cash cost and all-in sustaining cash cost per
pound of copper produced, net of by-product credits; cash cost and
sustaining cash cost per ounce of gold produced, net of by-product
credits; combined unit costs, net debt and any ratios based on
these measures are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no
standardized definition under IFRS. For further information and a
detailed reconciliation, please see the “Non-IFRS Financial
Performance Measures” section of this news release.ii Calculated
using the mid-point of the guidance range.iii Sourced from S&P
Global, August 2023.
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