(all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise noted) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ero Copper Corp. (TSX: ERO, NYSE: ERO) ("Ero" or the “Company”) is pleased to announce record 2025 copper production and provide 2026 guidance and an updated three-year production outlook. HIGHLIGHTS Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results Optimization initiatives across the Company's operating portfolio in 2025 contributed to record quarterly copper production of 19,706 tonnes and quarterly ...

Core Insights - Ero Copper Corp. reported record copper production of 15,513 tonnes in Q2 2025, driven by the ramp-up of the Tucumã Operation and improved performance at the Caraíba Operations [2][3] - The company achieved commercial production at Tucumã effective July 1, 2025, with a 25% increase in copper production from Q1 2025 [2][3] - Financial results showed a net income of $70.5 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $82.7 million, reflecting strong operational performance and higher metal prices [2][14] Production Highlights - Caraíba Operations produced 9,162 tonnes of copper in concentrate at an average C1 cash cost of $2.07 per pound, marking a 25% quarter-on-quarter production growth [2][9] - Tucumã Operation produced 6,351 tonnes of copper in concentrate, a 25% increase from Q1 2025, with sustained plant throughput exceeding 75% of design capacity [2][9] - Gold production reached 7,743 ounces at an average C1 cash cost of $1,115 per ounce, representing a 17% increase in production quarter-on-quarter [2][9] Financial Performance - Revenues for Q2 2025 were $163.5 million, up from $125.1 million in Q1 2025, with gross profit increasing to $67.3 million [14] - Adjusted net income attributable to owners was $48.1 million, with a diluted earnings per share of $0.46 [14][32] - Available liquidity at quarter-end was $113.3 million, including $68.3 million in cash and cash equivalents [2][14] Guidance Updates - Full-year copper production guidance has been updated to 67,500 to 80,000 tonnes, reflecting slower-than-expected ramp-up at Tucumã [15] - Updated guidance for Tucumã is set at 30,000 to 37,500 tonnes with C1 cash costs of $1.10 to $1.30 per pound [15][17] - Gold production guidance for Xavantina Operations has been revised to 40,000 to 50,000 ounces, with C1 cash costs of $850 to $1,000 per ounce [16][17] Operational Initiatives - Ongoing initiatives at Caraíba include enhancing operational efficiency and cost control, focusing on upper levels of the Pilar Mine to reduce haul distances [2][4] - Investments in mine modernization and mechanization at Xavantina are expected to drive higher production rates in H2 2025 [2][4] - The company completed 18,000 meters of drilling at the Furnas Project, with a focus on extending known mineralization [2][3]

Financial Results - For the first quarter ended February 28, 2025, the company reported a comprehensive loss of $3.6 million, consistent with the loss of $3.6 million for the same period in 2024 [3] - Total expenses for the quarter were $3.2 million, an increase from $2.8 million in the previous year, primarily due to higher professional fees [3] - Basic and diluted loss per common share remained at $(0.02) for both periods [3] Corporate and Project Activities - The company announced positive results from the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Bornite copper project, indicating a potential underground mining operation with a capacity of 6,000 tonnes per day and a mine life of 17 years [4] - The Bornite PEA estimates a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $552 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 23.6% [5] - The company has a fiscal year 2025 cash budget of $3.1 million, with $0.8 million used in operating activities during the first quarter [5][6] Ambler Metals LLC - Ambler Metals LLC has a 2025 fiscal year budget of $5.8 million, with expenditures of $1.2 million in the first quarter for various operational costs [7] - The company is involved in the Ambler Mining District, which is known for its rich copper deposits and is supported by a joint venture with South32 [16] Regulatory Developments - Recent executive orders signed by President Trump aim to expedite resource development in Alaska, including the reinstatement of permits for the Ambler Road project [8][9] - The Department of Interior has initiated actions to facilitate the permitting process for mineral production projects, which is expected to benefit the Ambler Road project [10][11] Liquidity and Capital Resources - As of February 28, 2025, the company had $25.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, sufficient to fund its approved budget for the fiscal year [13] - Ambler Metals had $6.5 million in cash and equivalents, adequate to support its budget of $5.8 million for the year [14]