Wheaton Precious Metals Announces Record Revenue

VANCOUVER - "Wheaton Precious Metals exceeded production guidance for the year due to outperformances at Salobo in Brazil, and Constancia in Peru, and are proud to have returned a record level of dividends," said Randy Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer. "In 2024, Wheaton remained focused on accretive growth, delivering four new streams and royalties and further reinforcing our industry-leading growth profile.  This impressive growth is readily apparent in our five-year production forecast, where we estimate annual production increasing by 40% to 870,000 gold equivalent ounces. As we entered 2025, we are focused on building off our accomplishments from 2024, delivering on a consistent growth profile, and ultimately creating lasting value for all stakeholders."

The Company had attributable gold equivalent production (GEOs) of 187,500 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 635,000 for the full year of 2024, with quarterly production increasing 14% relative to the comparable period of the prior year as a result of higher production from Salobo, and Peñasquito in Mexico, with gold production achieving record quarterly production. Exceeded the upper limits of the 2024 annual production guidance of 550,000 to 620,000 GEOs3, primarily resulting from stronger than expected production at Salobo due to higher gold grades and recoveries, and higher grades at Constancia from the mining of the Pampacancha deposit.

Further de-risked forecast growth profile as construction activities advanced at a number of projects, including Blackwater and Goose, in Canada, Platreef, in South Africa, and Mineral Park, in the United States, projects which are expected to be producing by the end of 2025. The Company entered into agreements with Montage Gold Corp. and Allied Gold Corporation, plus amended agreement with Artemis Gold Inc.

Salobo produced 84,300 ounces of attributable gold in the fourth quarter, representing record quarterly production and an increase of approximately 17% relative to the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to higher throughput, grades and recovery. On January 28, 2025, Vale S.A. announced the completion of the Salobo III ramp-up and improved performance at Salobo I and II. On March 4, 2025, Vale informed the Company that it had achieved a sustained throughput capacity of over 35 Mtpa over a 90-day period, indicating completion of the second phase of the Salobo III expansion project. Pending review of the final completion test by the Company, Wheaton anticipates advancing the remaining balance of the expansion payment to Vale, in the amount of $144 million within thirty days of the date of receipt.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Antamina produced 0.9 million ounces of attributable silver, a decrease of approximately 8% relative to the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to lower throughput, partially offset by higher recoveries.

Peñasquito produced 2.5 million ounces of attributable silver in the fourth quarter, an increase of approximately 138% relative to the fourth quarter of 2023, as prior year operations were impacted by a labour strike which began on June 7, 2023 and ended on October 13, 2023 with the safe ramp-up of operations beginning after the end of the strike. On February 20, 2025, Newmont Corporation announced that co-product production in 2025 is expected to decline as mining moves back into the Peñasco pit which contains lower silver grades relative to the Chile Colorado pit.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Constancia produced 1.0 million ounces of attributable silver and 18,200 ounces of attributable gold, an increase of approximately 16% for silver production and a decrease of approximately 18% for gold production relative to the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in silver production, which represented a quarterly record, was primarily due to higher grades. The decrease in gold production was primarily the result of lower gold grades as more material was mined from Constancia and reclaimed from the stockpile compared with the prior year. On February 19, 2025, Hudbay Minerals Inc.  announced that gold production in 2025 is expected to be lower than 2024 levels as additional high grade gold benches were mined in late 2024, ahead of schedule, resulting in gold production exceeding 2024 guidance levels. The Pampacancha deposit is now expected to be depleted in early December 2025 as opposed to October 2025, as the mine plan has smoothed Pampacancha production throughout the year. Total mill ore feed from Pampacancha is expected to be approximately 25% in 2025, lower than the typical one-third in prior years as Pampacancha approaches depletion.

Vale's Sudbury mines, in Canada, produced 5,000 ounces of attributable gold in the fourth quarter, a decrease of approximately 14% relative to the fourth quarter of 2023, due to lower recoveries.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Stillwater mines, in the USA, produced 2,200 ounces of attributable gold and 2,800 ounces of attributable palladium, a decrease of approximately 7% for gold and 34% for palladium relative to the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to lower throughput as Stillwater West operations were put into care and maintenance on September 12, 2024.

Voisey's Bay mine produced 393,000 pounds of attributable cobalt in the fourth quarter, an increase of approximately 83% relative to the fourth quarter of 2023, as the transitional period between the depletion of the Ovoid open-pit and ramp-up to full production of the Voisey's Bay underground mine nears completion. On December 3, 2024, Vale reported that it has completed construction and commissioning of the Voisey's Bay underground mine extension. The expansion transitioned Voisey's Bay from open pit to underground mining. The project involved the development of two underground mines, Reid Brook and Eastern Deeps, which will deliver ore for processing at Vale's Long Harbour refinery. The full ramp-up is expected by the second half of 2026.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, total Other Silver attributable production was 1.4 million ounces, an increase of approximately 4% relative to the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to higher production at Zinkgruvan in Sweden, partially offset by lower production at Neves-Corvo in Portugal.

Rio2 Limited reported that its Chilean subsidiary has received the principal Sectorial Permits it requires to begin construction at the Fenix project, in Chile. These Sectorial Permits represent the last governmental authorization required to enable the start of the construction phase and subsequent operation of the Fenix mine. On January 13, 2025, Rio2 reported that construction activities recommenced in October 2024 and construction is expected to be completed in November 2025. Bulk earthworks at the plant side have been completed and concrete bases for the footings of the processing plant have been poured. Earthworks have commenced on the leach pad stability platform, which forms the base of the Phase 1 leach pad. First gold production is currently expected in January 2026.

On March 13, 2025, Aris announced an enhanced Marmato expansion in Colombia, whereby the design of the carbon-in-pulp processing facility will be upgraded by 25% from 4,000 tpd to 5,000 tpd. Aris reports that construction remains on track, and production is expected to start ramping up in the second half of 2026.

At the Kurmuk Project in Ethiopia, Allied reported that earthworks at the plant terrace advanced during the quarter to near completion, while civil works and structural, mechanical, plate, and piping contractor mobilizations are in progress. Main camp construction, along with engineering and procurement activities, progressed during the quarter, with the project remaining on track and on budget. On February 20, 2025, Allied reported that the Kurmuk project is expected to start production by mid-2026.

During the second quarter of 2024, Silvercorp Metals Inc. announced that an Ecuadorian court rejected a constitutional protective action filed by third parties against Ministry of Environment, Water and Energy Transition of the Government of Ecuador (MAATE) and concluded that the consultative process followed by MAATE in issuing the various permits relative to the El Domo project complied with applicable legal requirements. An appeal was granted and a hearing took place at the Superior Court of Bolivar on October 17, 2024. On November 15, 2024, Silvercorp announced that the Superior Court rejected the appeal.

On January 7, 2025, Silvercorp reported it is targeting to bring the project into production in the second half of 2026 and have recently awarded the earthworks contract to a large international mining contractor with over ten years of experience working in Ecuador. The Koné Project in Cote d’Ivoire, has launched the construction with first gold production scheduled for the second quarter of 2027. Significant progress is being made to rapidly advance and de-risk the project as early works are well underway and major construction works are set to commence in the coming weeks, once further construction equipment arrives to site. The Koné project is fully permitted.

In Arizona - USA, the Copper World Project has received an Air Quality Permit for the Copper World project from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The issuance of this permit is a significant milestone in the advancement of the project as it is the final major permit required for the development and operation of Copper World. Hudbay commenced a minority joint venture partner process early in 2025, and it is anticipated that any minority joint venture partner would participate in the funding of definitive feasibility study activities in 2025 as well as in the final project design and construction for Copper World. The sanctioning of Copper World is not expected until 2026 based on current estimated timelines.

Regarding the Santo Domingo Project in Chile, Capstone Copper Corporation announced plans to progress partnership discussions and its financing strategy throughout 2025. A potential project sanctioning decision is not anticipated prior to 2026. On February 19, 2025, Capstone reported the Mantoverde exploration drill program commenced in Q4 2024.

Lumina Gold Corp., announced significant progress regarding power infrastructure required for the Cangrejos Project in Ecuador. Lumina received approval of the definitive feasibility level designs for connection to the national grid for the future energy demand of the Cangrejos project from Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador on January 15, 2025. The lead engineering contractor for the feasibility study has completed 92% of the estimated work. The feasibility study remains on schedule for completion during Q2 2025. Work for the Environmental Impact Study is progressing on schedule which will allow for its submission to the Government of Ecuador in mid-2025. Lumina is targeting receiving its environmental license by early 2026.

In 2025, Wheaton provides 2025 production guidance between 600,000 and 670,000 GEOs4. The midpoint of the 2024 guidance range compared to the midpoint of the 2025 guidance range suggests year-over-year production growth of approximately 10%, in alignment with the Company's previously stated long-term growth forecast. This forecast growth is driven by stronger attributable production from Antamina, the start-up of several development projects, and a stable forecast for Salobo production. This increase is expected to be partially offset by lower production from Peñasquito and Constancia.

Attributable production is forecast to increase at Antamina in 2025 due to expected higher silver grades, as a result of a higher ratio of copper-zinc ore versus copper-only ore being mined in 2025. Wheaton's 2025 forecast also includes inaugural production from four projects currently in development; Blackwater, Goose, Mineral Park and Platreef, all of which are expected to commence production in 2025. In addition, the Aljustrel mine is anticipated to re-start production in the third quarter of 2025, following the announcement made on September 12, 2023, that as a result of low zinc prices, the production of zinc and lead concentrates would be temporarily halted from September 24, 2023 onward. Increased production from the forementioned assets is anticipated to be offset by lower production at Peñasquito, as mining transitions from the Chile Colorado to the main Peñasco pit, which contains lower relative silver grades. In addition, lower production levels are anticipated at Constancia, predominantly due to additional gold benches being mined in late 2024 that were brought forward from the 2025 plan, coupled with the expectation that total mill ore feed from Pampacancha will be approximately 25% in 2025, lower than the typical one-third in prior years as Pampacancha approaches depletion. After a record-breaking quarter to end 2024, production levels at Salobo are expected to remain consistent, with higher throughput levels attributable to the Salobo III expansion project anticipated to be offset by lower gold grades.

Production is forecast to increase by approximately 40% over the next five years to 870,000 GEOs by 2029, due to growth from multiple Operating assets including Antamina, Aljustrel and Marmato; Development assets that are in construction, including the Blackwater, Mineral Park, Goose, Platreef, Fenix, Kurmuk, and Koné projects; and Pre-development assets including the El Domo and Copper World projects.

From 2030 to 2034, attributable production is forecast to average over 950,000 GEOs4 annually and incorporates additional incremental production from Pre-development assets including the Santo Domingo, Cangrejos, Kudz ze Kayah, Marathon and Kutcho projects, in addition to the Mt. Todd, Black Pine and DeLamar royalties. Not included in Wheaton's long-term forecast and instead classified as 'optionality', is potential future production from nine other assets, including Pascua-Lama and Navidad, in addition to expansions at Salobo outside of the Salobo III mine expansion project.