First Quantum Minerals Announces Preliminary 2018 Production and Sales

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company", TSX Symbol "FM") today announced its preliminary production and sales for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, including record total copper production and sales for the year, exceeding the prior year by approximately 6% and 3%, respectively, and exceeding production guidance.

Amounts are preliminary and subject to final adjustment. The final amounts and the 2019 to 2021 market guidance will be published in the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year 2018.

Total		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper production (tonnes)1		158,304	151,241	154,319	605,853	573,963
Copper sales (tonnes) 2		156,212	149,877	151,905	596,513	580,130
Gold production (ounces) 3		48,039	44,979	51,904	185,414	199,736
Gold sales (ounces) 3		53,221	42,864	50,723	193,072	201,376
Zinc production (tonnes)		7,687	7,348	3,556	26,807	20,723
Zinc sales (tonnes)		8,268	6,178	3,282	26,112	21,851
Nickel production (contained tonnes)		-	-	-	-	17,837
Nickel sales (contained tonnes)		-	-	865	-	18,683
Kansanshi		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper production (tonnes)1		61,780	63,687	64,800	251,522	250,801
Copper sales (tonnes)2, 4		56,330	64,818	74,974	229,832	267,700
Gold production (ounces)		33,465	30,938	36,363	130,019	140,595
Gold sales (ounces)		35,150	32,706	35,910	134,424	139,735
Sentinel		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper production (tonnes)		60,840	56,426	57,190	223,656	190,683
Copper sales (tonnes)		60,257	59,069	44,767	238,211	177,360
Las Cruces		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper cathode production (tonnes)		18,470	15,181	18,700	70,738	73,664
Copper cathode sales (tonnes)		18,345	15,138	17,903	71,523	74,664
Guelb Moghrein		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper production (tonnes)		8,319	7,902	7,155	28,137	28,791
Copper sales (tonnes)		9,099	5,108	6,811	27,366	28,999
Gold production (ounces)		12,236	11,644	13,270	45,974	49,213
Gold sales (ounces)		14,224	8,100	12,384	48,195	50,453
Çayeli		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper production (tonnes)		5,931	5,056	3,284	19,896	16,523
Copper sales (tonnes)		9,153	2,753	4,266	17,397	17,716
Zinc production (tonnes)		1,034	1,305	379	4,091	3,326
Zinc sales (tonnes)		2,154	-	-	4,313	4,435
Pyhäsalmi		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Copper production (tonnes)		2,964	2,989	3,190	11,904	13,501
Copper sales (tonnes)		3,028	2,991	3,184	12,184	13,691
Zinc production (tonnes)		6,653	6,043	3,177	22,716	17,397
Zinc sales (tonnes)		6,114	6,178	3,282	21,799	17,416
Pyrite production (tonnes)		168,881	171,355	154,855	645,885	692,124
Pyrite sales (tonnes)		97,859	100,894	114,712	418,931	418,743
Ravensthorpe		Q4	Q3	Q4	Year	Year
		2018	2018	2017	2018	2017
Nickel production (contained tonnes)		-	-	-	-	17,837
Nickel sales (contained tonnes)		-	-	865	-	18,683

1	Production presented on a copper concentrate basis, i.e. mine production only. Production does not include output from the Kansanshi smelter.
2	Excludes copper anode sales attributable to anode produced from third party purchases of concentrate.
3	Includes gold production and sales attributable to other operations not disclosed separately.
4	Sales include third-party sales of concentrate, cathode and anode attributable to Kansanshi (excluding copper anode sales attributable to Sentinel).

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
G. Clive Newall
President

Visit our website at www.first-quantum.com; North American contact: Lisa Doddridge, Director, Investor Relations, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], Toll Free: 1 [phone], E-Mail: [e-mail]; United Kingdom contact: Clive Newall, President, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-Mail: [e-mail]