Amerigo Reports Q3-2025 Operational Results
ca.finance.yahoo.com
Amerigo Resources Ltd
Wed, October 8, 2025 at 4:30 a.m. PDT 15 min read ARG.TO
+5.87%
HG=F
+0.09%
- Q3-2025 copper production of 14.6 million pounds
- 2025 copper production estimated to be 2% to 5% below guidance. Cash cost1 guidance remains in place
- Positioned to eliminate remaining debt in Q4-2025
- $3.5 million returned through Dividends in Q3-2025
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amerigo Resources Ltd. (TSX: ARG; OTCQX: ARREF) (“Amerigo” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce operational results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 (“Q3-2025”) from Minera Valle Central (“MVC”), the Company’s 100% owned operation located near Rancagua, Chile. Dollar amounts in this news release are in U.S. dollars (“USD”) unless indicated otherwise.
Operational results during Q3-2025 were impacted by lower fresh tailings throughput following an accident at the El Teniente mine, as reported in the Company’s news releases of August 6 and August 13, 2025. MVC did not receive fresh tailings for ten days in August while El Teniente’s mine operations were fully suspended. El Teniente’s operations continue to ramp up under the Safe and Progressive Restart of Operations Plan, but fresh tailings throughput has not yet returned to pre-accident levels. Despite this dynamic situation, MVC’s daily production has remained stable since the last week of August.
“Utilizing the tremendous flexibility of MVC’s processing plant, our team has done an exceptional job increasing the processing of historic tailings and adjusting plant performance to minimize the continued impact from lower fresh tailings throughput. MVC’s production results were heavily impacted in August, but MVC’s September output was closely aligned with its original monthly production budget,” said Aurora Davidson, Amerigo’s President and CEO.
“Notwithstanding MVC’s agile response, the August production shortfall will likely prevent Amerigo from meeting its original annual production guidance of 62.9 million pounds of copper. We currently expect to produce between 60 and 61.5 million pounds of copper in 2025, which is 2% to 5% lower than our original guidance. Amerigo’s molybdenum production and cash cost1 guidance remain in place,” she added.
In Q3-2025, MVC produced 14.6 million pounds (“M lbs”) of copper and 0.35 M lbs of molybdenum. During the quarter, MVC’s plant availability was 98.3%, and there were no lost-time accidents involving MVC employees.
Copper production during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 (“YTD-2025”) was 43.3 M lbs, representing 69% of Amerigo’s annual copper production guidance of 62.9 M lbs. YTD-2025 molybdenum production of 0.97 M lbs represents 75% of Amerigo’s original annual molybdenum production guidance of 1.3 M lbs.
Amerigo’s cash cost1 in Q3-2025 was $1.80 per pound (“/lb”), and YTD-2025 cash cost1 was $1.93/lb. Based on the operational and cost projections for the remainder of 2025, Amerigo’s annual cash cost guidance of $1.93/lb (excluding MVC’s collective agreement signing bonuses) remains valid.
Average London Metal Exchange (“LME”) copper prices retracted 1% and 2% in July and August 2025, respectively, compared to the June 2025 average price of $4.46/lb. The average price in September increased to $4.51/lb, and as of this news release, the average price to date in October has increased further to $4.70/lb. Amerigo remains well-positioned to eliminate its debt by year-end 2025, while continuing to fully deploy its Capital Return Strategy.
Amerigo’s average provisional copper price in Q3-2025 was $4.54/lb, compared to $4.42/lb in Q2-2025. Q2-2025 copper deliveries were marked to market on June 30, 2025, at $4.42/lb and settled at the LME average monthly prices for July 2025 ($4.44/lb), August 2025 ($4.38/lb), and September 2025 ($4.51/lb).
The Company’s average molybdenum price was $24.11/lb, up from $20.44/lb in Q2-2025.
In Q3-2025, Amerigo returned $3.5 million to shareholders through its quarterly dividend. YTD-2025 capital returned to shareholders totals $15.6 million ($10.5 million in quarterly dividends and $5.1 million in share buybacks).
On September 30, 2025, Amerigo’s cash position was $28.0 million ($7.9 million lower than December 31, 2024), and restricted cash was $3.1 million ($1.3 million lower than December 31, 2024). Outstanding bank debt was $7.5 million ($4.0 million lower than December 31, 2024).
| Q3-2025
|
| Q2-2025
|
| Q1-2025
|
| Q4-2024
|
| Q3-2024
|
| Fresh tailings
|
|
|
|
|
| Tonnes per day
| 92,607
|
| 129,387
|
| 131,015
|
| 134,545
|
| 129,339
|
| Operating days
| 82
|
| 90
|
| 77
|
| 91
|
| 92
|
| Million tonnes processed
| 7.81
|
| 11.67
|
| 10.15
|
| 12.28
|
| 11.90
|
| Copper grade
| 0.180%
|
| 0.161%
|
| 0.165%
|
| 0.182%
|
| 0.184%
|
| Copper recovery
| 22.2%
|
| 21.7%
|
| 21.5%
|
| 25.9%
|
| 23.6%
|
| Copper produced (M lbs)
| 6.78
|
| 9.01
|
| 7.97
|
| 12.78
|
| 11.38
|
| Historic tailings
|
|
|
|
|
| Tonnes per day
| 50,883
|
| 45,642
|
| 39,733
|
| 32,930
|
| 32,815
|
| Operating days
| 89
|
| 87
|
| 81
|
| 92
|
| 88
|
| Million tonnes processed
| 4.51
|
| 3.98
|
| 3.25
|
| 3.01
|
| 2.90
|
| Copper grade
| 0.252%
|
| 0.238%
|
| 0.238%
|
| 0.241%
|
| 0.239%
|
| Copper recovery
| 30.9%
|
| 31.3%
|
| 30.9%
|
| 34.6%
|
| 32.1%
|
| Copper produced (M lbs)
| 7.77
|
| 6.51
|
| 5.26
|
| 5.53
|
| 4.89
|
| Copper produced (M lbs)
| 14.55
|
| 15.52
|
| 13.23
|
| 18.31
|
| 16.27
|
| Copper delivered (M lbs)
| 15.02
|
| 15.57
|
| 12.92
|
| 18.23
|
| 16.48
|
| Cash cost1 ($/lb)
| 1.80
|
| 1.82
|
| 2.22
|
| 1.73
|
| 1.93
|
| Molybdenum produced (M lbs)
| 0.35
|
| 0.39
|
| 0.24
|
| 0.33
|
| 0.33
|
| Molybdenum sold (M lbs)
| 0.35
|
| 0.39
|
| 0.24
|
| 0.33
|
| 0.33
|
|
Capital Return Strategy (“CRS”)
Since implementing its CRS in October 2021, Amerigo has returned $93.7 million to shareholders, $63.0 million through quarterly and performance dividends and $30.7 million through share buybacks, reducing by 14% the number of common shares outstanding at the inception of the CRS.
Amerigo’s CRS consists of three mechanisms: quarterly dividends, performance dividends, and share buybacks. These mechanisms provide shareholders with a consistent return on invested capital and quickly transfer the benefits of rising copper prices to Amerigo’s shareholders.
Release of Q3-2025 financial results on October 29, 2025
Amerigo will release its Q3-2025 financial results at the market open on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
Investor conference call on October 30, 2025
Amerigo’s quarterly investor conference call will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time/2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Participants can join by visiting globenewswire.com and entering their name and phone number. The conference system will then call the participants and place them instantly into the call. Alternatively, participants can dial directly to be entered into the call by an Operator. Dial 1-888-510-2154 (Toll-Free North America) and state they wish to participate in the Amerigo Resources Q3-2025 Earnings Call.
Interactive Analyst Center
Amerigo’s public financial and operational information is available for download in Excel format through Virtua’s Interactive Analyst Center (“IAC”). You can access the IAC by visiting www.amerigoresources.com under Investors > Interactive Analyst Center.
About Amerigo and MVC
Amerigo is an innovative copper producer with a long-term relationship with Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (“Codelco”), the world’s largest copper producer.
Amerigo produces copper concentrate and molybdenum concentrate as a by-product at the MVC operation in Chile by processing fresh and historic tailings from Codelco’s El Teniente mine, the world's largest underground copper mine. Tel: (604) 681-2802; Web: www.amerigoresources.com; ARG: TSX; OTCQX: ARREF.
Contact Information
| Aurora Davidson
President and CEO
(604) 697-6207
ad@amerigoresources.com
| Graham Farrell
Investor Relations
(416) 842-9003
graham@northstarir.ca
|
1 Non-IFRS Measures
This news release references two non-IFRS measures: cash cost and normalized cash cost.
These non-IFRS performance measures are included in this news release because they provide key performance measures used by management to monitor operating performance, assess corporate performance, and plan and assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of Amerigo’s operations. These performance measures are not standardized financial measures under International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS Accounting Standards”), and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for performance measures in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
Cash cost is a performance measure commonly used in the mining industry that is not defined under IFRS. Cash cost is the aggregate of smelting and refining charges, tolling/production costs net of inventory adjustments and administration costs, net of by-product credits. Cash cost per pound produced is based on pounds of copper produced and is calculated by dividing cash cost by the number of pounds of copper produced.
Normalized cash cost excludes the cost per pound paid to MVC’s workers as signing bonuses of 3-year collective labour agreements.
The Company reconciles these performance measures against IFRS measures every quarter when financial results are reported. Reconciliations are included in the Company’s quarterly earnings release and Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). This information relates to future events or the Company’s future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning:
- forecasted production, operating and cash costs and Capex expenditures for 2025;
- our strategies and objectives;
- our estimates of the availability and quantity of tailings and the quality of our mine plan estimates;
- prices and price volatility for copper, molybdenum and other commodities and materials we use in our operations;
- the demand for and supply of copper, molybdenum and other commodities and materials that we produce, sell and use;
- sensitivity of our financial results and share price to changes in commodity prices;
- our financial resources and financial condition and our expected ability to fully deploy all tools of our CRS;
- our expectation to be debt-free as of the end of 2025;
- the expected negotiation and payment of signing bonuses to MVC’s operators;
- interest and other expenses;
- domestic and foreign laws affecting our operations;
- our tax position and the tax rates applicable to us;
- our ability to comply with our loan covenants;
- the production capacity of our operations, our planned production levels and future production;
- potential impact of production and transportation disruptions;
- hazards inherent in the mining industry, causing personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, pollution or environmental damage, claims by third parties and suspension of operations
- estimates of asset retirement obligations and other costs related to environmental protection;
- our future capital and production costs, including the costs and potential impact of complying with existing and proposed environmental laws and regulations in the operation and closure of our operations;
- repudiation, nullification, modification or renegotiation of contracts;
- our financial and operating objectives;
- our environmental, health and safety initiatives;
- the outcome of legal proceedings and other disputes in which we may be involved;
- the outcome of negotiations concerning metal sales, treatment charges and royalties;
- disruptions to the Company's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity;
- our dividend policy; and
- general business and economic conditions, including, but not limited to, our assessment of strong market fundamentals supporting copper prices.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Inherent in forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties beyond our ability to predict or control, including risks that may affect our operating or capital plans; risks generally encountered in the operation, permitting and development of mineral projects such as unusual or unexpected geological formations, negotiations with government and other third parties, unanticipated metallurgical difficulties, delays associated with permits, approvals and permit appeals, ground control problems, adverse weather conditions (including, but not limited, to heavy rains), process upsets and equipment malfunctions; risks associated with labour disturbances and availability of skilled labour and management; risks related to the potential impact of global or national health concerns; government or regulatory actions or inactions; fluctuations in the market prices of our principal commodities, which are cyclical and subject to substantial price fluctuations; risks created through competition for mining projects and properties; risks associated with lack of access to markets; risks related to availability of and our ability to obtain both tailings DET current production and historic tailings from tailings deposit; the availability of and ability of the Company to obtain adequate funding on reasonable terms for expansions and acquisitions; mine plan estimates; risks posed by fluctuations in exchange rates and interest rates, as well as general economic conditions; risks associated with environmental compliance and changes in environmental legislation and regulation; risks related to our dependence on third parties for the provision of critical services; risks associated with non-performance by contractual counterparties; risks related to supply chain disruptions; title risks; social and political risks associated with operations in foreign countries; risks of changes in laws affecting our operations or their interpretation, including foreign exchange controls; and risks associated with tax reassessments and legal proceedings. Many of these risks and uncertainties apply to the Company and its operations, as well as DET and its operations. DET’s ongoing mining operations provide a significant portion of the materials the Company processes and its resulting metals production. Therefore, these risks and uncertainties may also affect the Company's operations and have a material effect.
Actual results and developments are likely to differ and may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such statements are based on several assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about:
- general business and economic conditions;
- interest and currency exchange rates;
- changes in commodity and power prices;
- acts of foreign governments and the outcome of legal proceedings;
- the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of copper, molybdenum and other commodities and products used in our operations;
- the ongoing supply of material for processing from Codelco’s current mining operations, including a resumption of supply of tailings pursuant to the ramp-up of El Teniente’s operations under the Safe and Progressive Restart of Operations plan following the tunnel collapse at the El Teniente mine;
- the grade and projected recoveries of tailings processed by MVC;
- the ability of the Company to profitably extract and process material from the historic tailings deposit;
- the timing of the receipt of and retention of permits and other regulatory and governmental approvals;
- our costs of production and our production and productivity levels, as well as those of our competitors;
- changes in credit market conditions and conditions in financial markets generally;
- our ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis;
- the availability of qualified employees and contractors for our operations;
- our ability to attract and retain skilled staff;
- the satisfactory negotiation of collective agreements with unionized employees;
- the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates and capital repatriation on our costs and results;
- engineering and construction timetables and capital costs for our expansion projects;
- costs of closure of various operations;
- market competition;
- tax benefits and tax rates;
- the outcome of our copper concentrate sales and treatment and refining charge negotiations;
- the resolution of environmental and other proceedings or disputes;
- the future supply of reasonably priced power;
- rainfall in the vicinity of MVC continuing to trend towards normal levels;
- average recoveries for fresh and historic tailings;
- our ability to obtain, comply with and renew permits and licenses in a timely manner; and
- our ongoing relations with our employees and entities we do business with.
Future production levels and cost estimates assume no additional adverse mining or other events affecting budgeted production levels.
Climate change is a global issue that could pose challenges that could affect the Company's future operations. This could include more frequent and intense droughts followed by intense rainfall. Central Chile has experienced drought conditions and significant rainfall episodes in recent years. The Company’s operations are sensitive to water availability and the reserves required to process projected historic tailings tonnage.
Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company’s control, the Company cannot assure that it will achieve or accomplish the expectations, beliefs or projections described in the forward-looking statements.
The preceding list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause our results to differ materially from those estimated, projected, and expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements. You should also consider the matters discussed under Risk Factors in the Company`s Annual Information Form. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements or the preceding list of factors, whether due publicly or otherwise, to new information or future events.
Future-oriented financial information (“FOFI”) or financial outlooks included in this news release are based on the assumptions contained in the Company’s 2025 Budget, which was prepared consistently with the Company’s accounting policies. FOFI has been included in this news release to provide context to the Company’s 2025 guidance and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
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