SOUTHERN COPPER CO. FOURTH QUARTER AND
YEAR 2016
Investor Relations: Raul Jacob (602) 264-1375 southerncopper@southernperu.com.pe www.southerncoppercorp.com | January 31st , 2017 Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE and BVL: SCCO)
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4Q16 EBITDA was $629.3 million, 90.6% higher than 4Q15 EBITDA of $330.1 million. EBITDA margin was 45%.
4Q16 net income was $171.9 million, 182.7% higher than 4Q15 net income of $60.8 million. This increase was due to higher sales and lower operating costs.
- Annual copper production in 2016 was 900k MT, a new Company record. This increase of 21.1% from the 743k MT produced in Y2015 results from the higher production coming from our Buenavista mine expansion.
- Operating cash costi per pound of copper was $0.95 in Y2016 an improvement of 14.2% compared to $1.11 in Y2015. This cost decrease is mainly due to efficiencies and the lower unit cost of new production.
- Zinc & Silver production: Zinc production increased 19.5% to 73,984 tons in Y2016 due to the re-start of our underground mine in Mexico, Santa Eulalia. Mined silver production increased 21.7% in Y2016, mainly due to higher production at the Buenavista mine.
- Capital investments in Y2016 were $1,118.5 million in accordance with our continuing growth program.
- Dividends: On January 26, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized a dividend of $0.08 per share payable on February 28, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 14, 2017.
We are extremely pleased with our growth initiatives, particularly the $3.5 billion brownfield expansion of Buenavista in Mexico, swiftly and efficiently executed amidst a highly volatile and challenging commodities market environment, and which has become today a world-class copper mine with leading production, the largest reserves and one of the lowest cash cost.
Concurrently, a keen and continued focus on operating efficiency and optimization have reduced our cash costs to achieve
$0.95 in Y2016, positioning us as the highest margin major copper producer globally.
We remain equally excited for the future, as Southern Copper is uniquely positioned to continue delivering enhanced performance, sustainable growth and superior value. Our best-in-class low cost operations, coupled with a large, high- quality reserve base in investment grade jurisdictions, continues to offer highly attractive growth opportunities; our robust capital structure and strong cash-flow generation provide the financial and strategic flexibility required for its execution.
The year 2017 will be the starting point of a new strategic plan: we will grow copper production capacity to exceed the 1 million ton milestone by mid-2018, and by 2023 we expect to reach 1.5 million copper tons. We can achieve this because of the many strengths of our Company."
Southern Copper Key Strengths- #1 Copper Reserves Worldwide: 70 Million Tons of Contained Copper, 59-years mine life
- #1 Lowest Cost Producer Globally: $0.95 per pound of Copper
- Great World Class Assets all in Investment Grade Countries
- Company's Record Production of 900k MT Copper in 2016 to Consolidate as #3 Integrated Copper Producer
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Great Organic Growth Execution
Increased copper production from 479k MT in 2010 to 900k MT in 2016 and aims to produce 1.5 million by 2023.
- Best in Class Cash Flow Generation even through the low part of the Copper Price Cycle
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Strong Balance Sheet Provides Financial Flexibility for Continuing Growth
Debt duration exceeds 20 years, with no maturities before 2020.
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Best Pipeline of Profitable Growth Projects: Copper production from 900k MT to 1.5 million MT (+66%)
For the next seven years we expect to grow production organically:
Toquepala (Peru) increase annual copper production by 100k MT to 217k MT in 2018 and 260k in 2019 and 3,100 tons of Moly per year
Tia Maria (Arequipa, Peru) open-pit mine 120k MT per year SX-EW copper production
Pilares (Sonora, Mexico) open-pit mine, 35k MT per year, production leveraging on La Caridad infrastructure
El Pilar (Sonora, Mexico) open-pit mine, 35k MT per year SX-EW copper production
El Arco (Baja California, Mexico) open-pit mine, combined SX-EW and concentrator operation: 200k MT of copper per year and significant gold by-product of 105,000 gold ounces per year
Los Chancas (Apurimac, Peru) open-pit mine, combined SX-EW and concentrator operation 100k MT of copper and 4,500 tons of molybdenum
Fourth Quarter
Twelve Months
2016
2015
Variance
2016
2015
Variance
$
%
$
%
Buenavista Zinc (Sonora, Mexico - Buenavista mine complex) zinc open-pit mine 60k MT of zinc per year
Sales | $1,398.9 | $1,254.6 | $144.3 | 11.5% | $5,379.8 | $5,045.9 | $333.9 | 6.6% |
Cost of sales | 724.2 | 870.2 | (146.0) | (16.8)% | 3,034.1 | 2,927.6 | 106.5 | 3.6% |
Operating income | 470.5 | 187.4 | 283.1 | 151.1% | 1,564.2 | 1,414.4 | 149.8 | 10.6% |
EBITDA | 629.3 | 330.1 | 299.2 | 90.6% | 2,212.3 | 1,944.8 | 267.5 | 13.8% |
EBITDA margin | 45.0% | 26.3% | 18.7pp | 71.1% | 41.1% | 38.5% | 2.6pp | 6.8% |
Net income | $171.9 | $ 60.8 | $111.1 | 182.7% | $ 776.5 | $ 736.4 | $40.1 | 5.4% |
Net income margin | 12.3% | 4.8% | 7.5pp | 156.3% | 14.4% | 14.6% | (0.2)pp | (1.1)% |
Income per share | $ 0.22 | $ 0.08 | $ 0.14 | 175.0% | $ 1.00 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.07 | 7.5% |
Capital investments | $277.9 | $303.7 | $(25.8) | (8.5)% | $1,118.5 | $1,149.6 | $ (31.1) | (2.7)% |
El Pilar acquisition | - | - | - | - | - | $ 100.4 | $(100.4) | (100.0)% |
Mexican Projects
We have concluded our $3.5 billion investment program in Mexico and all of the projects of this program will be in full operation in 2017.
Buenavista Projects - Sonora: The Buenavista program is being completed on time and $100 million below our budget, including the Crushing, Conveying and Spreading System for Leachable Ore (Quebalix IV). This project will reduce processing time as well as mining and hauling costs increasing production by improving SX-EW copper recovery. The installed conveyor system is operating steadily. The project has reached 99% progress and $285.7 million has been invested from a budget of $444.2 million.Peruvian Projects
We are currently working on five copper projects in Peru with a total capital investment for these projects of $ 2,900 million.
Toquepala Expansion Project - Tacna: This $1.2 billion project includes a new-state-of-the-art concentrator which will increase annual copper production by 100k MT to 217k MT in 2018 and 260k MT in 2019, and will also increase annual molybdenum production by 3,100 tons. Through December 31, 2016, we have invested $550.4 million in the project. The project has reached 53% progress and is expected to be completed by the 2Q18. Toquepala High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) system: The main objective of this project is to ensure that our existing concentrator will operate at its maximum milling capacity of 60,000 tons per day, even with an increase of the ore material hardness index. Additionally, recoveries will be improved and production enhanced with improved ore crushing. The budget for this project is $40 million and we have invested $21.9 million as of December 31, 2016. This project is expected to be completed by the 4Q17. Cuajone´s Heavy Mineral Management Optimizing Project - Moquegua: The 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. The main components, including the crusher and the 7 kilometer overland conveyor belt, have been acquired and we are well underway with electromechanical assembly. As of December 31, 2016, we have invested $150.9 million in this project out of the approved capital budget of $215.5 million. The project has reached 80% progress and is expected to be completed in the 2Q17. The Cuajone tailing thickeners project at the concentrator will replace two of the three existing thickeners with a new hi-rate thickener. The purpose is to streamline the concentrator flotation process and improve water recovery efficiency, increasing the tailings solids content from 54% to 61%, thereby reducing fresh water consumption and replacing it with recovered water. As of December 31, 2016, we have almost completed the engineering and procurement process and have started the excavation and civil works. We have invested $14.4 million in this project out of the approved capital budget of $30 million. The project has reached 62% progress and we expect it to be completed in the 2Q17. Tia Maria: We have completed all engineering and have successfully obtained the environmental impact assessment. We are currently working to obtain the construction license for this 120k MT of copper per year SX-EW greenfield project with a total capital budget of $1,400 million. Conference CallThe Company's fourth quarter and twelve months earnings conference call will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2017, beginning at 12:00 M - EST (12:00 M Lima and 11:00 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: 44280322 and "Southern Copper Corporation Fourth Quarter 2016 Earnings Results"
Southern Copper Corporation published this content on 31 January 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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