SOUTHERN COPPER CO. FOURTH QUARTER AND
YEAR 2015
Investor Relations:
Raul Jacob (602) 264-1375
southerncopper@southernperu.com.pe www.southerncoppercorp.com
February 10, 2016 - Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE and BVL: SCCO)
Even though the prices of the Company main products decreased significantly, Southern Copper has managed to mitigate this downward trend by increasing volume sales of copper (+12.3%), zinc (+10.3%) and reducing unitary costs. During 2015, the Company positioned itself as the lowest cash cost producer worldwide. Simultaneously, Southern Copper has maintained a sound capital structure and a strong balance sheet.
Year 2015 ("Y2015") net sales were $5,045.9 million, 12.8% lower than 2014 net sales of $5,787.7 million due to lower metal prices. Of the $741.8 million contraction in sales, $1,384 million were due to lower metal prices partially offset by a $688 million positive impact due to higher production volume coming mainly from our Buenavista mine expansions.
EBITDAi in 2015 was $1,944.8 million, 28.7% lower than the
$2,728.3 million in 2014. The margin decreased from 47.1% to 38.5%.
Y2015 net income was $736.4 million (14.6% of net sales), 44.8% lower than 2014 net income of $1,333.0 million (23.0% of net sales). This decrease was mainly due to lower metal prices.
Annual copper production in 2015 was 742,993 tons, an increase of 9.8% from the 676,599 tons produced in 2014. This allowed the Company to increase last year's copper sales volume by 12.3%. The additional copper units have a very low cost per pound, improving the overall Company cash cost and competitiveness.
For 2016, the Company expects to increase its copper production to 903,300 tons (+21.6%) with the full production from Buenavista´s SX-EW III plant and new concentrator, already in operation. In 2015-16 Southern Copper will increase its copper production by 225,000 tons.
Copper mine production increased 12.4% in 4Q15 to 206,400 tons from 183,612 tons in 4Q14, mainly as a result of higher production at the Buenavista mine, which increased production by 23,150 tons (34.4%). Smelted and refined production increased by 31.8% and 15.7%, respectively, when comparing the 4Q15 to same period of 2014.
By-product production: Molybdenum production increased by 5.0% to 5,993 tons in 4Q15 from 5,710 tons in 4Q14 due to higher production at the Cuajone mine (+10.3%), Toquepala mine (+6.9%) and La Caridad (+3.0%). Mined silver production increased by 4.7% in 4Q15 compared with 4Q14 mainly due to higher production at the Buenavista mine. Refined zinc production was 29,089 tons in the 4Q15, 7.8% higher than 4Q14 production.
For 2016, we will have more by-product production for zinc and silver. Zinc production will increase by 41% while the silver one by 21%.
Operating cash costii per pound of copper before by-products credits was $1.66 in 2015, a reduction of 11.8% when compared to the $1.89 per pound in 2014. Operating cash cost per pound, net of by-product credits, was $1.12 in 2015, an increase of 4.6% compared to $1.07 in 2014 mainly due to lower prices of all our by-products.
Capital investments in 2015, including the $100.4 million for El Pilar acquisition, were $1,250.0 million, 18.3% lower than in 2014, and represented 169.7% of net income. The Buenavista expansion program is completed. For 2016, the Board of Directors approved a capital investment program of $1,577.8 million to do the final payments of the Buenavista projects, the Tia Maria project and to initiate the construction of a new concentrator in Toquepala, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of copper and 3,100 tons of molybdenum. With these projects we are continuing our investment program to increase copper production capacity by 90% from our 2013 production level of 617,000 tons to 1.2 million tons.
Southern Copper has a very strong balance sheet position and a relaxed payment schedule of its investment grade debt. We have no significant principal payments due until 2035. So during this low price environment we are making our company much more cost competitive while maintaining a very solid financial condition. Consequently, Southern Copper is very well positioned to take advantage of the current market conditions.
Peru Labor Negotiations: We have been conducting negotiations with our Peruvian labor unions whose collective bargaining agreements expired in late 2015. Through January 2016, we signed three-year agreements with the five unions which include, among other things, annual salary increases of 5% for each of the three years.
Dividends: On January 28, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a dividend of $0.03 per share payable on March 1, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 16, 2016.
Fourth Quarter | Twelve Months | ||||||
2015 | 2014 | Variance | 2015 | 2014 | Variance | ||
$ | % | $ | % | ||||
(in millions except per share amounts and %s) | |||||||
Commenting on the Company's results and outlook, Mr. German Larrea, Chairman of the Board, said "We are pleased to note that our $3.5 billion expansion program at our Buenavista operation is being completed under budget, meeting our forecasted production goals and operating costs. As of December of 2015, we have spent almost 90% of the capital budget of the Buenavista expansion. Last September we started commercial operations at this unit and we expect to have it operating at full capacity by the second quarter of this year. We are confident that the positive results from our investment program, as well as our prudent financial policies, are enhancing our cost competitiveness with great benefit to all our stakeholders."
Sales | $1,254.6 | $1,471.3 | $(216.7) | (14.7)% | $5,045.9 | $5,787.7 | $(741.8) | (12.8)% |
Cost of sales | 870.2 | 752.9 | 117.3 | 15.6% | 2,927.6 | 2.840.5 | 87.1 | 3.1% |
Operating income | 187.4 | 525.6 | (338.2) | (64.3)% | 1,414.4 | 2,232.7 | (818.3) | (36.7)% |
Environmental | ||||||||
remediation | 21.5 | 43.8 | (22.3) | (50.9)% | 45.0 | 91.4 | (46.4) | (50.8)% |
EBITDA1 | 330.1 | 664.0 | (333.9) | (50.3)% | 1,944.8 | 2,728.3 | (783.5) | (28.7)% |
EBITDA margin | 26.3% | 45.1% | (18.8)% | (41.7)pp | 38.5% | 47.1% | (8.6)% | (18.3)pp |
Net income | $ 60.8 | $348.0 | $(287.2) | (82.5)% | $ 736.4 | $1,333.0 | $(596.6) | (44.8)% |
Net income margin | 4.8% | 23.7% | (18.9)% | (79.7)pp | 14.6% | 23.0% | (8.4)% | (36.6)pp |
Income per share | $ 0.08 | $ 0.43 | $ (0.35) | (81.4)% | $ 0.93 | $ 1.61 | $ (0.68) | (42.2)% |
Capital investments | $303.7 | $422.3 | $(118.6) | (28.1)% | $1,149.6 | $1,529.8 | $(380.2) | (24.9)% |
Acquisition of El Pilar | - | - | - | - | $ 100.4 | - | $ 100.4 | 100.0% |
Capital Investments
Mexican Projects
Buenavista Projects: Of the $3.5 billion of this investment program, the Company has already invested $3.0 billion. Excluding the Quebalix project and some infrastructure facilities, all the other facilities of this program are currently operating and we are expecting to produce 460,000 tons of copper in 2016 and 500,000 tons in 2017. The Buenavista program is being finish under budget and with not foreseen execution risk.
Mine Expansion: to date we have received sixty-one 400-ton capacity trucks, seven shovels and eight drills required for the mine expansion; with an investment of $510.9 million. All these assets are currently in operation.
The new Copper-Molybdenum Concentrator has an annual production capacity of 188,000 tons of copper and 2,600 tons of molybdenum. The project will also produce 2.3 million ounces of silver and 21,000 ounces of gold per year. The new concentrator is in its ramping-up phase with 5 out of the 6 mills already in operation and the other one in commissioning process. In September 2015, we obtained the first copper concentrate lot and the plant is now running at 90% capacity. Due to the promising initial results, it is expected to gradually increase production until the plant reaches full capacity by the 2Q16. The project has a 99% progress with an investment of $1,162 million out of the approved capital budget of
$1,384 million.
SX-EW III Plant: In July the Mexican authorities approved the initiation of activities in the Tinajas 1 leaching pad. This will allow the Company to achieve the designed annual production capacity of low cost 120,000 tons of copper cathodes by the first quarter of 2016. As of December 31, 2015, we have invested $526.4 million in this project.
Crushing, Conveying and Spreading System for Leachable Ore (Quebalix IV): This project's main objective is to reduce processing time as well as mining and hauling costs. It will also increase production by improving SX-EW copper recovery. It has a crushing and conveying capacity of 80 million tons per year and is expected to be completed by the 2Q16. As of December 31, 2015, the project has an 87% progress with an investment of $209 million out of the approved capital budget of $340 million.
The remaining projects to complete the $3.5 billion budgeted program include important investments in infrastructure (power lines and substations, water supply, tailings dam, mine equipment shops, internal roads, etc.).
Peruvian Projects
Toquepala Projects: Through December 31, 2015, we have invested $392.0 million in Toquepala projects. On April 14, 2015 the construction permit for the Toquepala expansion project was approved, allowing us to continue its development. We had previously received the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment confirming that our project complies with the highest environmental standards of the Peruvian authorities, which corroborates our position as a sustainable company. Once in operation, the Toquepala expansion will increase annual production capacity by 100,000 tons of copper to 235,000 tons in 2018, and will also increase molybdenum production by 3,100 tons at an estimated capital cost of $1.2 billion. This investment is estimated to generate 2,200 jobs during the construction phase and 300 additional jobs once finished, which will add to current 1,500 permanent employees at Toquepala. The project is expected to be completed by the 1Q18.
The project to improve the Toquepala crushing process with the installation of a High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) system is moving forward. The main objective is to ensure that the concentrator will operate at its maximum capacity of 60,000 tons per day, even with an increase of the ore material hardness index. Additionally, recoveries will be improved with a better ore crushing. During the 4Q15, we initiated the project engineering and the procurement process. Meanwhile,
we will start the planning process for the dismantling of certain structures to provide adequate plant space. The budget for this project is $40 million and we have invested $5.5 million as of December 31, 2015. It is expected to be completed by the 4Q17.
Cuajone Projects: The In-Pit Crushing and Conveyor (IPCC) Project consists of installing a primary crusher at the Cuajone mine pit with a conveyor system for moving the ore to the concentrator. The project aims to optimize the hauling process by replacing rail haulage, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs as well as the environmental impact of the Cuajone mine. The crusher will have a processing capacity of 43.8 million tons per year. We are completing the detailed engineering. The main components, including the crusher and the overland belt, have been acquired and we have started the preparation of the land and civil works. As of December 31, 2015, we have invested $80.1 million in this project out of the approved capital budget of $165.5 million. The project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2017.
Tia Maria project: While we have received approval of Tia Maria´s Environmental Impact Assessment, the issuance of the project´s construction permit has been delayed by the Peruvian authorities due to certain pressures from anti-mining groups. The Peruvian government has recommended a dialogue roundtable for the resolution of these differences.
The Company has established a multi-faceted encounter plan to explain the merits of the Tia Maria project. A national media campaign was launched in May and, after it, the Company has conducted a door-to-door campaign in the neighboring district of Cocachacra. This campaign had the purpose of explaining the relevant environmental topics of the project that concerned the local community, as the anti-mining groups had wrongfully confused the community with respect to the project's water source and consumption, as well as to the alleged emissions into the atmosphere.
Tia Maria, when completed, will represent an investment of approximately $1.4 billion to produce 120,000 tons of copper cathodes per year. This project will use state of the art SX-EW technology with the highest international environmental standards. SX-EW facilities are the most environmentally friendly in the industry due to their technical process and consequently, no emissions into the atmosphere are released. The project will only use seawater which will be transported more than 25 kilometers to an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level, constructing a desalinization plant at a cost of
$95 million. In this manner, the Company guarantees that the Tambo river water resources and the water resources from the wells of the areas will be used solely for farming and human consumption, as it has been done until today.
We expect the project to generate 3,500 jobs during the construction phase. When in operation, Tia Maria will directly employ 600 workers and indirectly another 2,000. Through its expected twenty-year life, the project related services will create significant business opportunities in the Arequipa region. Tia Maria has complied with all existing requirements and regulations and therefore the Company trusts that it will soon receive from government authorities the construction licenses and permits required in order to begin construction of this project
Conference Call
The Company's fourth quarter and twelve months earnings conference call will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, beginning at 11:30 AM - EST (11:30 AM Lima and 10:30 AM Mexico City time).
To participate:
Dial-in number: 888-771-4371 in the U.S.
847-585-4405 outside the U.S.
Raul Jacob, SCC Vice President of Finance & CFO
Conference ID: 41816356 and "Southern Copper Corporation Fourth Quarter 2015 Earnings Results"
Southern Copper Corporation issued this content on 10 February 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 11 February 2016 00:18:27 UTC
Original Document: http://www.southernperu.com/ENG/invrel/INFDLPressRelease/pr160210.pdf
