Largo Reports Q1 2025 Production and Sales Results; Provides Update on Operational Turnaround Plans
All dollar amounts expressed are in thousands of
Q1 2025 Highlights
- V2O5 production of 1,297 tonnes (2.8 million lbs1) in Q1 2025 vs. 1,729 tonnes produced in Q1 2024
- Total waste moved (dry basis) was 3.5 million tonnes in Q1 2025, a 32% increase over Q1 2024 and total mined material (dry basis) was 3.9 million tonnes in Q1 2025, a 21% increase over Q1 2024 as the Company prioritizes the optimization of pit access, including critical stripping activities and mine pushbacks as part of its previously announced operational turnaround plans
- V2O5 equivalent sales of 2,046 tonnes (inclusive of 154 tonnes of purchased material) in Q1 2025 vs. 2,765 equivalent tonnes sold (inclusive of 156 tonnes of purchased material) in Q1 2024
- Ilmenite concentrate production of 6,162 tonnes in Q1 2025 vs. 9,563 tonnes Q1 2024 with sales totaling 8,647 tonnes vs. 513 tonnes in Q1 2024
- The Company has revised its 2025 V2O5 equivalent production and sales guidance ranges to 8,500 - 10,500 tonnes from 9,500 - 11,500 tonnes and 6,500 – 8,500 tonnes from 7,500 – 9,500 tonnes, respectively; Cash operating cost excluding royalties2 guidance maintained; Ilmenite production and sales guidance maintained
Maracás Menchen Mine Operational and Sales Results
Q1 2025 |
Q1 2024 |
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|
|
|
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Total Mined – Dry Basis (tonnes) |
3,933,242 |
3,243,492 |
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Total Waste Moved – Dry Basis (tonnes) |
3,486,628 |
2,639,261 |
||
Total Ore Mined (tonnes) |
446,614 |
604,231 |
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Ore Grade Mined - Effective Grade (%) 3 |
0.41 |
0.53 |
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|
|
|
||
Concentrate Produced (tonnes) |
53,245 |
74,986 |
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Grade of Concentrate (%) |
2.86 |
2.90 |
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Global Recovery (%) 4 |
77.8 |
70.5 |
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|
|
|
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V2O5 produced (Flake + Powder) (tonnes) |
1,297 |
1,729 |
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V2O5 produced (equivalent pounds) 1 |
2,852,778 |
3,811,788 |
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Total V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) |
2,046 |
2,765 |
||
Produced V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) |
1,892 |
2,609 |
||
Purchased V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) |
154 |
156 |
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|
|
|
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Ilmenite concentrate produced (tonnes) |
6,162 |
9,563 |
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Ilmenite concentrate sold (tonnes) |
8,647 |
513 |
Q1 2025 Production and Sales Overview
- V2O5 production totaled 1,297 tonnes in Q1 2025, with monthly production of 392 tonnes in January, 503 tonnes in February, and 402 tonnes in March. Production was impacted by the mining of lower-grade ore zones, reduced equipment availability, and operational adjustments following the kiln refractory replacement completed in Q4 2024. Despite these impacts, global recoveries4 averaged 77.8% in Q1 2025, representing a notable improvement over 70.5% in Q1 2024 and remaining consistent with the 77.9% achieved in Q4 2024.
- As part of its operational turnaround plans, the Company ramped up total mined material by 21% year-over-year to 3.93 million tonnes (dry basis), while mined ore totaled 446,614 tonnes at an effective V2O5 grade3 of 0.41%, compared to 604,231 tonnes at 0.53% in Q1 2024. Total wasted moved increased by 32% in Q1 2025 to 3.5 million tonnes, as compared to 2.6 million tonnes in Q1 2024.
- V2O5 equivalent sales totaled 2,046 tonnes in Q1 2025, including 154 tonnes of purchased material. While this represents a 26% decrease from the 2,765 tonnes sold in Q1 2024, it exceeded the upper end of the Company’s quarterly guidance.
Revised 2025 V2O5 Equivalent Production and Sales Guidance
In Q1 2025, the Company continued executing its previously announced operational turnaround plans (see press release dated
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Previous 2025 |
Revised 2025 |
||
|
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Production (tonnes) |
9,500 |
11,500 |
8,500 |
10,500 |
Sales (tonnes)i |
7,500 |
9,500 |
6,500 |
8,500 |
i. |
The annual 2025 sales guidance does not include purchased material, or any sold material related to the Company’s previously announced vanadium inventory supply agreement. |
|
Cash Operating Costs Excluding Royalties Guidance – Maintained
|
2025 |
|
|
Low |
High |
Adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties ($ / lb V2O5 sold)2 |
4.50 |
5.50 |
Ilmenite Concentrate Production and Sales Guidance – Maintained
|
2025 |
|
|
Low |
High |
Production (tonnes) |
25,000 |
35,000 |
Sales (tonnes) |
20,000 |
30,000 |
Liquidity and Financial Position
The Company continues to be actively engaged in negotiations for new working capital facilities and the refinancing of its long-term debt facilities to support its current and future financial position. These efforts are ongoing with the goal of improving liquidity and capital resources amid current vanadium market conditions and near-term operational and sales challenges. In parallel, the Company continues to assess additional measures to manage its costs and optimize cash flows as it works to stabilize operations as outlined in its operational turnaround plans. For further information, see disclosure under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the Year Ended
About Largo
Largo is a globally recognized supplier of high-quality vanadium and ilmenite products, sourced from its world-class Maracás
Largo is also strategically invested in the long-duration energy storage sector through its 50% ownership of Storion Energy, a joint venture with Stryten Energy focused on scalable domestic electrolyte production for utility-scale vanadium flow battery long-duration energy storage solutions in the
Largo’s common shares trade on the
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information:
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price of V2O5 and other vanadium products, ilmenite and titanium dioxide pigment; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company’s operations at the Maracás
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”, although not all forward-looking statements include those words or phrases. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections, guidance, potential or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts nor assurances of future performance but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such information is stated, subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Largo to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Largo and in its public documents filed on www.sedarplus.ca and available on www.sec.gov from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Largo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Largo does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Largo’s annual and interim MD&A which also apply.
Trademarks are owned by
Future Oriented Financial Information:
Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information contained in this press release, as such term is defined by applicable securities laws, has been approved by management of Largo as of the date hereof and is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the Company's 2024 guidance. Readers are cautioned that any such future oriented financial information contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. The Company and its management believe that the prospective financial information as to the Company's anticipated 2024 guidance has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results.
Non-GAAP5 Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial performance measures in this press release, which are described in the following section.
Adjusted Cash Operating Costs Excluding Royalties
The Company’s press release refers to adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound, which are non-GAAP ratios based on cash operating costs, cash operating costs excluding royalties, which are non-GAAP financial measures, in order to provide investors with information about a key measure used by management to monitor performance. This information is used to assess how well the Maracás
Cash operating costs includes mine site operating costs such as mining costs, plant and maintenance costs, sustainability costs, mine and plant administration costs, royalties and sales, general and administrative costs (all for the Mine properties segment), but excludes depreciation and amortization, share-based payments, foreign exchange gains or losses, commissions, reclamation, capital expenditures and exploration and evaluation costs. Operating costs not attributable to the Mine properties segment are also excluded, including conversion costs, product acquisition costs, distribution costs and inventory write-downs.
Cash operating costs excluding royalties is calculated as cash operating costs less royalties.
Adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties is calculated as cash operating costs excluding royalties less write-downs of produced products.
Cash operating costs per pound, cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound and adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound are obtained by dividing cash operating costs, cash operating costs excluding royalties and adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties, respectively, by the pounds of vanadium equivalent sold that were produced by the Maracás
Cash operating costs, cash operating costs excluding royalties, adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties, cash operating costs per pound, cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound and adjusted cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound, along with revenues, are considered to be key indicators of the Company’s ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its Maracás
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1 |
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Conversion of tonnes to pounds, 1 tonne = 2,204.62 pounds or lbs. |
2 |
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Adjusted cash operating costs per pound excluding royalties is a non-GAAP ratio with no standard meaning under IFRS, and may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Measures” section of this press release. |
3 |
Effective grade represents the percentage of magnetic material mined multiplied by the percentage of V2O5 in the magnetic concentrate. |
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4 |
Global recovery is the product of crushing recovery, milling recovery, kiln recovery, leaching recovery and chemical plant recovery. |
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5 |
GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
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For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Director, Investor Relations
+1.416.861.9778
aguthrie@largoinc.com
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