Mon, May 28, 2012, 5:19 PM EDT - U.S. Markets closed for Memorial Day

Silvercorp Reports Revenue of $61.9 Million and Operating Cash Flow of $31.6 Million in the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal 2012

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire -02/08/12)- Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") (TSX: SVM.TO - News)(NYSE: SVM.TO - News) today reported its unaudited financial and operating results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2011 ("Q3 2012"). The following financial results are expressed in US dollars (US$) unless stated otherwise.

The Company reported revenue of $61.9 million, operating cash flow of $31.6 million and net income attributable to shareholders of $20.0 million, or $0.12 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The average net realized silver selling price, after smelter charges and value added taxes, was $25.10 per ounce.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded revenue of $193.7 million, a 55% increase from $124.9 million in the same period last year. Net income attributable to the shareholders for the same period is $64.1 million, or $0.37 per share, an increase of 15% over net income of $55.6 million, or $0.34 per share a year ago.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

 

--  Revenue of $61.9 million, up 19% from $51.8 million in the third quarter
    of fiscal year 2011 ("Q3 2011");
--  Silver production of 1.55 million ounces, a 2% increase compared to Q3
    2011, gold production of 2,879 ounces, a 256% increase compared to Q3
    2011. Silver and gold sales accounted for 69% of the total sales in the
    quarter, compared to 61% a year ago;
--  Cash flow from operations of $31.6 million, or $0.18 per share, compared
    to $32.2 million, or $0.19 per share in Q3 2011;
--  Income from operations increased 2% to $35.0 million from $34.3 million
    in Q3 2011.
--  Net income attributable to shareholders of $20.0 million, or $0.12 per
    share, compared to $29.1 million, or $0.17 per share, in Q3 2011;
--  Completed the acquisition of the high grade XHP silver-gold-lead-zinc
    mine in Henan Province, China;
--  Continued to maintain low cost producer status with a cash production
    cost per ounce of silver of negative $4.56; and
--  Increased quarterly dividends by 25%, from CAD$0.02 per share to
    CAD$0.025 per share.

FINANCIALS

In Q3 2012, net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company was $20.0 million, or $0.12 per share, a decrease of 31%, compared to $29.1 million, or $0.17 per share, in Q3 2011. Income from operations increased by 2% to $35.0 million, compared to $34.3 million in the same quarter last year.

Net income for the quarter decreased compared to Q3 2011 due to the following reasons: (1) lower production at the Ying mine of 75,710 tonnes of ore compared to 85,711 tonnes in Q3 2011 in part due to the Company's management and employees being distracted by the "Short and Distort" attack; (2) income tax rate increased from 12.5% to 25% at our main operating subsidiary Henan Found Mining Co. Ltd.; (3) $1 million of additional costs were incurred fighting the "Short and Distort" scheme. The Company expects that it will continue to incur legal and other costs associated with its litigation efforts; (4) $2.8 million of dilution gain from the Company's investment in New Pacific Metals Corp. was recognized in Q3 2011, which did not occur in Q3 2012; and (5) a $4.0 million unrealized gain on investments was recorded in Q3 2011, compared to a $1.5 million unrealized gain in Q3 2012.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $64.1 million, or $0.37 per share, an increase of 15% over net income of $55.6 million, or $0.34 per share from the same period last year. Net income for the nine months period improved mainly as a result of higher realized selling prices due to increases in commodity prices as well as the higher quantity of precious metal sold.

In Q3 2012, the Company achieved sales of $61.9 million, a 19% increase from $51.8 million in the same quarter last year. The increase in sales was mainly as a result of higher realized selling prices due to increases in commodity prices as well as the higher quantity of precious metal sold.

Realized selling prices for lead and zinc are determined by Shanghai Metal Exchange ("SME") and by Shanghai Gold Exchange ("SGE") for silver and gold, (less: smelter charges (including all the deductions by smelters, such as smelter fees, recovery, etc.) and 17% value added taxes (exempted for gold)), as shown in Table 1 below:

 

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Table 1:        Silver)          Gold            Lead            Zinc
             (in US$/ounce) (in US$/ounce)  (in US$/pound)  (in US$/pound)
            Q3 2012 Q3 2011 Q3 2012 Q3 2011 Q3 2012 Q3 2011 Q3 2012 Q3 2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SME or SGE
 quarterly
 average     $33.01  $27.21  $1,690  $1,374   $1.08   $1.18   $1.07   $1.24
Less: Value
 added
 taxes        (4.27)  (3.46)      -       -   (0.14)  (0.15)  (0.11)  (0.12)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SME or SGE
 price, net
 of VAT      $28.74  $23.75  $1,690  $1,374   $0.94   $1.03   $0.96   $1.12
Less:
 Smelter
 charges      (3.64)  (3.39)   (414)   (427)  (0.13)  (0.14)  (0.32)  (0.42)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized
 selling
 prices      $25.10  $20.36  $1,276    $947   $0.81   $0.89   $0.64   $0.70
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LME
 quarterly
 average     $31.80  $26.43  $1,684  $1,370   $0.90   $1.08   $0.86   $1.05
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Q3 2012, gross profit margin decreased to 70.4% from 77.3% in Q3 2011. Gross profit did not increase in line with metal prices increases, mainly due to the change in production mix compared to the same quarter last year. The Company increased production at its HPG, LM, TLP and XBG mines which have lower head grades relative to the Ying mine. In Q3 2012, 27% of the Company's silver production was from the mines other than the Ying mine, compared with 19% in Q3 2011. The increase in non-cash production costs also negatively impacted the gross profit margin.

In Q3 2012, cost of sales was $18.3 million, a 55% increase compared to a year ago. The increase was mainly due to higher depreciation, amortization and depletion, increased labour costs, and the impact of the US dollar depreciation versus the Chinese RMB.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Company achieved sales of $193.7 million, a 55% increase from $124.9 million in the same period last year. Gross profit margin for the period improved to 75.8% from 74.6%. Cost of sales for the period was $46.8 million, a 48% increase compared to the same period a year ago.

In Q3 2012, general and administrative expenses increased by $3.4 million to $7.6 million, compared to the same quarter last year of $4.2 million. For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, general administrative expenses increased by $9.5 million to $22.2 million, compared to $12.7 million in the same period last year. Significant increases were due to: (i) additional professional fees incurred for fighting the "Short and Distort" scheme; (ii) VAT surtax payments, which have been levied since December 1, 2010; (iii) increases in general office operation costs; and (iv) increases in salaries and benefits due to increased manpower as the Company is now managing four active projects in China this year, compared to two projects a year ago.

In Q3 2012, income tax expenses increased to $11.6 million from $5.1 million in the same quarter last year. For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, income tax expenses increased to $38 million from $13.7 million in the same period last year. The increases of income tax expense were mainly due to higher taxable income and a higher tax rate compared to last year. The Chinese tax holiday, which allowed the Company's most profitable Chinese subsidiary, Henan Found Mining Co. Ltd. (Ying and TLP mines) to have a preferential 12.5% income tax rate, expired on December 31, 2010, increasing the income tax rate to 25%. The Company's other Chinese subsidiary, Henan Huawei Mining Co. Ltd. (HPG and LM mines), was subject to the preferential tax rate of 12.5% until December 31, 2011, after which it is 25%. In addition, $1.5 million of dividend withholding taxes in China was recorded this quarter as Silvercorp's 77.5% subsidiary, Henan Found Mining Co. Ltd., declared its annual dividend during the quarter.

In Q3 2012, the Company reported cash flow from operations of $31.6 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to $32.2 million in the same quarter last year. In Q3 2012, the Company paid $3.4 million in dividends and $27.0 million in capital expenditures. The Company also spent $12.3 million to acquire Zhongxing Mining Co. Ltd. ("Zhongxing"), Chuanxin Mining Co. Ltd. ("Chuanxin") and Songxian Gold Mining Co., Ltd. ("SX Gold"). In addition, $16.1 million was paid to settle debts assumed from these acquisitions.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, cash flow from operations was $100.7 million, an increase from $70.0 million in the same period last year.

The Company ended the quarter with $168.8 million in cash and short term investments.

OPERATIONS

In Q3 2012, the Company achieved silver production of 1.55 million ounces, a 2% increase compared to 1.52 million ounces in Q3 2011. Gold production increased 256% to 2,879 ounces compared to Q3 2011 primarily as a result of added gold production from the BYP mine. The silver-equivalent production (includes only silver and gold converted to silver at a 50:1 ratio) was about 1.7 million ounces. Silver and gold sales accounted for 69% of the total sales in the quarter, compared to 61% a year ago. In addition, 24.5 million pounds of lead and zinc were produced, 4% more than the 23.6 million pounds in the same quarter last year. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Company produced 4.5 million ounces of silver, 6,785 ounces of gold, 69.0 million pounds of lead and zinc, compared to 4.3 million ounces of silver, 2,126 ounces of gold and 67.7 million pounds of lead and zinc in the same period last year.

In Q3 2012, a total of 215,274 tonnes of ore were mined, a 29% increase compared to 167,213 tonnes in Q3 2011. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Company mined 601,688 tonnes of ore, a 29% increase compared to 466,639 tonnes during the same period last year. The increased mine production was achieved through increased production from the TLP, HPG, and LM mines along with new production from the BYP mine.

In Q3 2012, ore production at the Ying mine was 75,710 tonnes, up from 72,162 tonnes in Q2, but 12% less than the 85,741 tonnes in the same quarter last year. The decrease was due to: (1) the distraction caused by "Short and Distort" attack: and, (2) labour shortages which impacted our mining contractors at the Ying mine throughout October and November. The Company has been actively working with its mining contractors to introduce new measures to maintain a stable mining labour force and it is also in the process of establishing its own mining crews to carry out mining operations at the Ying mine. As a result the labour shortages were mostly resolved by December. The average daily mining capacity at the Ying mine is expected to continue to improve over the next few quarters.

In Q3 2012, a total of 219,469 tonnes of ore were milled, a 36% increase compared to 161,528 tonnes in Q3 2011. From the BYP mine 32,408 tonnes of gold ore were milled as production continued to ramp up in this quarter. In addition, 11,667 tonnes of existing ore was milled at the newly-acquired XBG mine. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, a total of 602,337 tonnes of ore were milled, a 31% increase compared to 461,270 tonnes in the same period of the prior year. The BYP mine contributed a total of 60,185 tonnes of ore milled and the recently acquired XBG mine milled 11,667 tonnes of ore.

The milling capacity increased in the quarter as the Company expanded the capacity at the second mill at the Ying Mining District to 2,200 t/d by adding a new 1,100 t/d line. The total milling capacity is 3,200 t/d, at the Ying Mining District, or about 1 million tonnes per year. In addition, we have 500 t/d milling capacity at the BYP mine, which is now operational. In addition to that, the newly acquired 350 t/d mill at XBG and 500 t/d mill at XHP will further strengthen the Company's milling capacity for future operations.

In Q3 2012, total cash mining costs increased 1% to $48.92 per tonne from $48.30 per tonne in the same quarter last year. For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, total cash mining costs increased to $45.84 per tonne from $43.20 per tonne in the same period last year. The increase in cash mining cost per tonne was mainly due to (i) the impact of US dollar depreciation versus the Chinese RMB and (ii) the impact of higher labour costs both for contractors and the Company's own employees, offset by lower per tonne mining costs at the BYP mine, acquired in January 2011.

In Q3 2012, total cash milling costs increased 25% to $15.12 per tonne from $12.11 per tonne in the same quarter last year. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, total cash milling costs increased to $13.70 per tonne from $11.62 per tonne in the same period last year. The increase is mainly due to the impact of the US dollar depreciation versus the Chinese RMB and increased labour costs. In addition, the milling costs at the XBG mine, which only operated in mid-November and December, were higher.

Including by-product credits, in Q3 2012, total production cost per ounce of silver was negative $2.58 and the cash cost per ounce of silver was negative $4.56, compared to the total production costs and cash production costs per ounce of silver of negative $5.93 and negative $7.13, respectively, in the same quarter last year. The increase noted is due to relatively lower by-product grades and higher production costs. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, total production cost per ounce of silver was negative $3.49 and the cash cost per ounce of silver was negative $5.25, compared to the total production costs and cash production costs per ounce of silver of negative $5.46 and negative $6.60, respectively, in the same period last year.

Silvercorp's consolidated operational results for the past five quarters are summarized in Table 2 below:

 

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Table 2: Consolidated Operational Results
                        Q3 2012    Q2 2012    Q1 2012    Q4 2011    Q3 2011
                      31-Dec-11  30-Sep-11  30-Jun-11  31-Mar-11  31-Dec-10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore Mined (tonne)
Direct Smelting Ore
 (tonne)                  4,151      2,579      3,108      2,740      3,711
Stockpiled Ore
 (tonne)                211,123    204,717    176,011    122,951    163,502
                    -------------------------------------------------------
                        215,274    207,296    179,119    125,691    167,213
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run of Mine Ore
 (tonne)
Direct Smelting Ore
 (tonne)                  4,151      2,579      3,108      2,740      3,711
Ore Milled (tonne)      215,318    207,146    179,782    132,924    157,817
                    -------------------------------------------------------
                        219,469    209,725    182,890    135,464    161,528
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metal Sales
 Silver (in
  thousands of
  ounce)                  1,548      1,396      1,592      1,047      1,523
 Gold (in thousands
  of ounce)                 2.9        2.5        1.4        1.1        0.8
 Lead (in thousands
  of pound)              20,995     16,520     20,621     14,385     18,795
 Zinc (in thousands
  of pound)               3,525      3,236      4,102      3,253      4,791
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Grade of Run of
 Mine Ore
 Silver (gram/tonne)        296        271        303        290        330
 Gold (gram/tonne) -
  BYP mine                  2.3        3.3          -          -          -
 Lead (%)                   5.5        4.6        5.5        5.6        5.7
 Zinc (%)                   1.4        1.2        1.5        1.8        1.8
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery Rate of Run
 of Mine Ore
 Silver (%)                93.3       92.1       91.3       91.8         92
 Gold (%) - BYP mine       91.2       89.1          -          -          -
 Lead (%)                  96.4       94.7       94.7       95.6       95.3
 Zinc (%)                  67.7       75.1       72.8       67.8       70.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Mining Cost ($
 per tonne)               48.92       42.3      48.66      45.54       48.3
Total Mining Costs($
 per tonne)                64.5      55.66      60.07      56.55      58.28
Cash Milling Cost ($
 per tonne)               15.12       12.7      12.42      15.31      12.11
Total Milling Cost
 ($ per tonne)            16.64      14.09      13.94      17.26      13.69
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Production
 Cost per Ounce of
 Silver ($)               (2.58)     (2.74)     (4.63)     (6.06)     (5.93)
Total Cash Cost per
 Ounce of Silver ($)      (4.56)     (4.55)     (6.12)     (7.61)     (7.13)
BYP Production Cost
 per Ounce of Gold
 ($)                     943.21     598.94     277.02        n/a        n/a
BYP Cash Cost per
 Ounce of Gold($)        547.26      275.7     271.16        n/a        n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ying mine continued to be the primary focus and most profitable project of the Company. The operational results for the past five quarters at the Ying mine are summarized in Table 3 below:

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 3: Ying Mine Operational Results
                        Q3 2012    Q2 2012    Q1 2011    Q4 2011    Q3 2011
                      31-Dec-11  30-Sep-11  30-Jun-11  31-Mar-11  31-Dec-10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore Mined (tonne)
Direct Smelting Ore
 (tonne)                  4,114      2,463      3,062      2,715      3,640
Stockpiled Ore
 (tonne)                 71,596     69,699     78,276     59,650     82,101
                    -------------------------------------------------------
                         75,710     72,162     81,338     62,365     85,741
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run of Mine Ore
 (tonne)
Direct Smelting Ore
 (tonne)                  4,114      2,463      3,062      2,715      3,640
Ore Milled (tonne)       72,288     68,793     79,974     61,173     81,700
                    -------------------------------------------------------
                         76,402     71,256     83,036     63,888     85,340
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metal Sales
 Silver (in
  thousands of ounce)     1,136        939       1146        765      1,241
 Lead (in thousands
  of pound)              15,171     10,857     15,419     10,359     14,862
 Zinc (in thousands
  of pound)               2,753      2,311      3,594      2,536      3,954
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Grade of Run of
 Mine Ore
 Silver (gram/tonne)        464        437        444        441        499
 Lead (%)                   8.9        7.6        8.6        8.4        8.3
 Zinc (%)                   2.4        2.2        2.5        2.9        2.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery Rate of Run
 of Mine Ore
 Silver (%)                94.6       92.8       92.1       93.0       92.9
 Lead (%)                  98.0       96.2       96.1       97.0       96.6
 Zinc (%)                  67.6       74.9       74.9       67.7       70.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Mining Cost ($
 per tonne)               53.01      47.76      48.27      48.35      49.85
Total Mining Costs($
 per tonne)               74.57      65.44      63.27      63.56      64.12
Cash Milling Cost ($
 per tonne)               13.92      14.31      11.74      15.43      12.22
Total Milling Cost
 ($ per tonne)            15.48         16      13.31      17.39      13.89
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Production
 Cost per Ounce of        (5.66)     (5.65)     (7.81)     (8.88)     (7.67)
 Silver ($)
Total Cash Cost per
 Ounce of Silver ($)      (7.46)     (7.14)     (9.05)    (10.25)     (8.76)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACQUISITION, EXPLORATION AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Ying Mining District, Henan Province, China

In Q3 2012, the Company concluded its 2011 Ying Mining District drilling program, completing 431 drill holes, totalling 157,825 metres (m) of surface and underground drilling. The goal of this extensive drilling program is to upgrade current Inferred resource to Measured and Indicated category, and to expand Inferred resources. During the quarter, the Company retained AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. to prepare updated NI 43-101 Technical Reports for the four mines at the Ying Mining District. The new Technical Reports will take into account the additional exploration and development work completed in 2011.

In Q3 2012, the Company continued the development of a 5,200 m access ramp, with dimensions of 4 m by 4.5 m, at the Ying mine starting from the 580 m elevation and going down to the zero metre elevation. The access ramp will provide access to the S7-1 vein in which mineralization was encountered by the recent drilling, and provide access to future mining operations below zero metre elevation. The access ramp is expected to be completed in two and half years.

In Q3 2012, the Company also continued the development of a 4,800 m access ramp with dimensions of 4 m by 4.5 m at the southwest corner of the TLP Mining Permit, adjacent to the LM Mining Permit, from about 980 m elevation to 500 m elevation. The access ramp will provide access to a swarm of recently discovered mineralized veins. Currently, the Company is producing approximately 60,000 tonnes per year from the LM mine. Once the access ramp is completed in two and half years, the mining capacity at the LM mine is expected to increase to approximately 200,000 tonnes per year.

In Q3 2012, the Ying Mining District incurred $10.5 million (Q3 2011 - $6.2 million) in exploration and development expenditures. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Ying Mining District incurred $22.8 million (nine months ended December 31, 2010 - $16.8 million) in exploration and development expenditures.

GC Project, Guangdong Province, China

The Company has been rapidly advancing the GC Project development. Up to December 31, 2011, GC incurred approximately $12.5 million in capital expenditures, of which $4.8 million was incurred during this quarter. Mine construction contractors moved into the GC mine site in August 2011 and are on track with the mine construction. As of December 31, 2011, 564 m of a 2,224 m main access ramp and 22 m of the planned 618 m main shaft were completed.

The construction of a 1,600 t/d floatation mill that is capable of producing silver, lead, zinc and pyrite floatation concentrates and an optional tin gravity concentrate is well underway. Milling equipment was sourced and the final purchase contract was signed. In accordance with plans, the mill should be completed by July 2012 with an estimated cost of approximately RMB 100 million, or US$17 million (including 25% contingency). The Company is using the same mill contractor for GC as was used for the two mills at the Ying Mining District.

The 2011 surface drilling program at GC was completed in the quarter. The drilling program has discovered four new high grade silver, lead, zinc veins and a number of vein structures and isolated mineralized pockets, increasing the total number of mineralized veins at the GC property to 33. The program also successfully extended the existing veins further to down dip and striking directions.

Subsequent to the quarter end, a NI 43-101 report prepared by AMC Consultants of Vancouver was filed, establishing mineral reserves at GC for the first time. (See press release of January 31, 2012). The NI 43-101 report did not include the results from the 2011 surface drilling program.

BYP Mine, Hunan Province, China

In Q3 2012, the BYP mine incurred approximately $0.9 million in exploration and development expenditures. In the nine months ended December 31, 2011, exploration and development expenditures were $2.7 million.

The construction of an 800 t/d backfill facility to fill up gold mineralization stopes is underway, which will cost around $1.5 million and is expected to be completed in July 2012. The Company also started to sink a 180 m deep, 3.5 m diameter, shaft from 380 m to 200 m elevations. The shaft will mainly be utilized to mine the #3 gold mineralization body. The shaft is expected to be completed in October 2012 at a cost of approximately $1 million.

XBG Project, Henan Province, China

In August 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of a 90% equity interest in Zhongxing Mining Co. Ltd. ("Zhongxing") and Chuanxin Mining Co. Ltd. ("Chuanxin") through its 77.5% owned subsidiary, Henan Found Mining Co. Ltd. ("Henan Found"). The main assets acquired are the XBG silver-gold-lead-zinc mine with a mining permit covering 26.36 square kilometres and the adjacent NTM gold exploration permit covering 2.54 square kilometres along with a 350 t/d floatation mill and the environment permit to construct a 1,000 t/d floatation mill.

Exploration, mine development and small scale tunnelling mining have been on-going since the mining permit was issued in November 2010. The Company intends to commence a comprehensive exploration program that includes surface and underground mapping and sampling, and surface and underground diamond drilling to explore the existing veins and discover additional veins.

XHP Project, Henan Province, China

In December 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of a 100% equity interest in SX Gold Mining Company ("SX Gold") through its 77.5% owned subsidiary, Henan Found. The main assets acquired are the XHP silver-gold-lead-zinc mine which includes a 14 square kilometres mining permit and a 500 t/d floatation/CIL mill.

The Company intends to resume mining activities at the XHP mine to stockpile ore pending installation of a second flotation circuit to enable the mill to generate a gold-silver-lead concentrate and a zinc concentrate. The mill upgrade is expected to be completed and in operation next quarter.

The Company will also carry out an exploration program immediately, including tunneling and surface and underground diamond drilling, with a goal of defining a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource.

Silvertip Project, British Columbia, Canada

The Silvertip Project was acquired in February 2010. During the quarter, the Company continued its effort in completing a Small Mine Permit application which it expects to be in a position to submit within the next three months. At the same time, the Company conducted the 2011 exploration program to test the DM zone, a new zone of silver-lead-zinc mineralization approximately eight kilometres to the south of Silvertip Mountain. The 2011 exploration program is now substantially completed, with assay results pending. The Company has also retained Golder Associates Limited, who in January 2011 prepared an Economic Assessment on Silvertip, to update the Silvertip NI 43-101 technical report.

OUTLOOK FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2012

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2012, the Company produced 4.52 million ounces of silver, 2,800 ounces of gold, 58.1 million pounds of lead and 10.9 million pounds of zinc from the Ying Mining District. Silvercorp expects to meet or exceed its forecast to produce 5.6 million ounces of silver for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.

At the BYP mine, during the nine months ended December 31, 2012, 74,763 tonnes of ore were mined and 60,185 tonnes was milled, yielding 4,043 ounces of gold. For fiscal 2012, BYP mine is now expected to mine 95,000 tonnes and mill 85,000 tonnes of ore, yielding 6,000 ounces of gold, at an average grade of 2.5g/t. This is 11,000 ounces below the production guidance which was to mine and mill 95,000 tonnes of ore at a grade of 6 g/t gold, yielding approximately 17,000 ounces of gold. Lower production was because the gold head grade is significantly lower than projected.

Myles Gao, P.Geo., President and Chief Operating Officer of Silvercorp, is Qualified Person for Silvercorp under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and given consent to the technical information contained in this press release.

UPDATED CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

 

A conference call and live audio webcast to discuss these results is
scheduled as follows:
Date:                      Thursday, February 9, 2012
Time:                      8:00 am PT (11:00 am ET)
Dial-In Number:            1-612-332-0342
Live audio webcast:         www.silvercorp.ca (click on the link on
                           the home page)
Playback webcast can be accessed at:  www.silvercorp.ca

About Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Silvercorp Metals Inc. is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and mining of high-grade silver-related mineral properties in China and Canada. Silvercorp is the largest primary silver producer in China through the operation of the four silver-lead-zinc mines at the Ying Mining District in the Henan Province of China. Silvercorp recently acquired the XBG and XHP silver-gold-lead-zinc mines nearby the Ying Mining District in Henan Province, further consolidating the region. Silvercorp has commenced production at its second production foothold in China, the BYP gold-lead-zinc project in Hunan Province, and is currently constructing the mill and related facilities in preparation for mining at the GC silver-lead-zinc project in Guangdong Province. In Canada, Silvercorp is preparing an application for a Small Mine Permit for the Silvertip high grade silver-lead-zinc project in northern British Columbia. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SVM.TO - News) and Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: SVM.TO - News) and are included as a component of the S&P/TSX Composite and the S&P/TSX Global Mining Indexes.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER -- FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company's material properties; the sufficiency of the Company's capital to finance the Company's operations; estimates of the Company's revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company's mines in the Ying Mining District; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company's operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company's properties.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to: fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licences; title to properties; First Nations title claims and rights; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company's existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2011 under the heading "Risk Factors". Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

 

SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

                                   December 31,     March 31,      April 1,
                                          2011          2011          2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current Assets
 Cash and cash equivalents            $121,134      $147,224       $50,618
 Short-term investments                 47,649        59,037        43,773
 Trade and other receivables             9,107         1,051           510
 Inventories                             7,173         3,895         3,175
 Due from related parties                  634           203           138
 Prepaids and deposits                   3,532         2,743         1,964
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       189,229       214,153       100,178

Non-current Assets
 Long term prepaids and deposits         3,306           893           583
 Investment in an associate             15,075        15,822         6,103
 Other investments                      45,544        46,286         9,003
 Plant and equipment                    66,235        36,516        29,011
 Mineral rights and properties         247,143       191,799       114,261
 Deferred income tax assets                492         1,146         1,315
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS                          $567,024      $506,615      $260,454
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 Accounts payable and accrued
  liabilities                          $25,125       $12,770        $7,504
 Deposits received                       3,695        13,278         6,737
 Bank loan                                   -             -         1,465
 Current portion of
  environmental rehabilitation               -           323           292
 Dividends payable                       4,194         3,600         3,238
 Income tax payable                     13,290         3,047         1,658
 Due to a related party                      -         3,447             -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        46,304        36,465        20,894

Non-current Liabilities
 Deferred income tax liabilities        18,171        13,564             -
 Environmental rehabilitation            3,431         2,909         2,357
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities                       67,906        52,938        23,251
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equity
 Share capital                         232,198       266,081       145,722
 Contributed surplus                     5,016         3,131         4,620
 Reserves                               24,717        24,717        24,717
 Accumulated other comprehensive
  income                                24,918        19,362           319
 Retained earnings                     140,151        87,326        33,099
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total equity attributable to the
 equity holders of the Company         427,000       400,617       208,477

Non-controlling interests               72,118        53,060        28,726
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Equity                           499,118       453,677       237,203
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          $567,024      $506,615      $260,454
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per share figures)

                               Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                                      December 31,              December 31,
                       ----------------------------------------------------

                                2011         2010         2011         2010
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales                   $     61,876 $     51,838 $    193,650 $    124,905
Cost of sales                 18,326       11,779       46,820       31,712
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit                  43,550       40,059      146,830       93,193

General and
 administrative                7,634        4,171       22,212       12,717
General exploration and
 property investigation          449           58        3,450        2,493
Foreign exchange loss
 (gain)                          451        1,362         (309)       1,059
Loss (gain) on disposal
 of plant and equipment           (5)         201          248          650
Gain on disposal of
 mineral rights and
 properties                        -            -            -         (537)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from operations        35,021       34,267      121,229       76,811

Share of gain (loss) in
 an associate                   (137)       2,808          (45)       4,568
Gain (loss) on
 investments                   1,543        4,034         (286)       4,111
Other income                   1,316          135        1,617          331
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before finance
 items and income taxes       37,743       41,244      122,515       85,821

Finance income                   936          394        2,716          985
Finance costs                    (22)         (52)         (68)        (162)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income
 taxes                        38,657       41,586      125,163       86,644

Income tax expense            11,631        5,104       37,991       13,744
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income for the
 period                 $     27,026 $     36,482 $     87,172 $     72,900
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attributable to:
 Equity holders of the
  Company               $     20,025 $     29,081 $     64,138 $     55,636
 Non-controlling
  interests                    7,001        7,401       23,034       17,264
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        $     27,026 $     36,482 $     87,172 $     72,900
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share
 attributable to the
 equity holders of the
 Company
Basic earnings per
 share                  $       0.12 $       0.17 $       0.37 $       0.34
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per
 share                  $       0.12 $       0.17 $       0.37 $       0.34
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Average Number
 of Shares Outstanding -
 Basic                   170,612,865  166,965,680  173,095,228  165,541,533
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Average Number
 of Shares Outstanding -
 Diluted                 171,279,402  168,535,816  173,851,015  166,800,884
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

                               Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                                      December 31,              December 31,
                       ----------------------------------------------------
                                2011         2010         2011         2010
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by (used
 in)
Operating activities
 Net income for the
  period                $     27,026 $     36,482 $     87,172 $     72,900
 Add (deduct) items not
  affecting cash:
  Accretion of
   environmental
   rehabilitation                 24           42           70          122
  Depreciation,
   amortization and
   depletion                   4,065        1,958        9,946        5,295
  Share of loss (gain)
   in an associate               137       (2,808)          45       (4,568)
  Deferred income tax
   expense (recovery)         (2,739)        (731)       2,768          385
  Loss (gain) on
   investments                (1,543)      (4,034)         286       (4,111)
  Loss (gain) on
   disposal of plant
   and equipment                  (5)         201          248          650
  Gain on disposal of
   mineral rights and
   properties                      -            -            -         (537)
  Stock-based
   compensation                  767          578        2,386        1,809
 Changes in non-cash
  operating working
  capital                      3,835          468       (2,240)      (1,966)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by
 operating activities         31,567       32,156      100,681       69,979
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Investing activities
 Mineral rights and
  properties
  Acquisition and
   capital expenditures      (17,761)      (8,460)     (31,462)     (20,378)
  Proceeds on disposals            -            -            -          537
 Plant and equipment
  Acquisition                 (9,251)      (2,803)     (19,401)      (6,210)
  Proceeds on disposals            -            -            -            1
 Other investments
  Acquisition                      -       (8,319)      (1,020)     (10,338)
  Proceeds on disposals            -        1,113            -        1,113
 Net redemptions of
  short-term
  investments                  5,639       16,900       13,459       17,109
 Acquisition of
  Zhongxing/Chuanxin
  (net of cash
  acquired, $20)              (1,144)           -       (4,547)           -
 Acquisition of SX Gold
  (net of cash
  acquired, $554)            (11,112)           -      (11,112)           -
 Payment of debts
  assumed from
  acquisitions               (16,095)           -      (16,095)           -
 Prepayments to acquire
  mineral property,
  plant and equipment         18,342         (955)      (2,753)      (2,187)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in
 investing activities        (31,382)      (2,524)     (72,931)     (20,353)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Financing activities
 Net repayment from
  (advance to) related
  parties                      8,275            8       (4,015)         313
 Bank loan
  Repayments                       -            -            -       (1,473)
 Non-controlling
  interests
  Contribution                   361            -        5,519            -
  Distribution               (13,804)     (10,582)     (13,804)     (10,582)
 Cash dividends
  distributed                (3,381)      (3,233)     (10,686)      (9,607)
 Capital stock
  Proceeds from
   issuance of common
   shares                         45      111,934          996      113,951
  Normal course issuer
   bid                             -            -      (35,380)           -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by
 (used in) financing
 activities                   (8,504)      98,127      (57,370)      92,602
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effect of exchange rate
 changes on cash and
 cash equivalents              5,410        2,406        3,530        3,582
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Increase (decrease) in
 cash and cash
 equivalents                  (2,909)     130,165      (26,090)     145,810

Cash and cash
 equivalents, beginning
 of the period               124,043       66,263      147,224       50,618
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash and cash
 equivalents, end of
 the period             $    121,134 $    196,428 $    121,134 $    196,428
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Mining Data
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for mining data figures)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q3 Fiscal 2012               Three months ended December 31, 2011
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                         YING   HPG&LM      TLP      XBG      BYP    Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Production Data
 Mine Data
  Ore Mined (tonne)
   Direct Smelting
    Ore (tonne)         4,114       31        6        -        -    4,151
   Stockpiled Ore
    (tonne)            71,596   19,750   78,580        -   41,197  211,123
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                       75,710   19,781   78,586        -   41,197  215,274
                    ------------------------------------------------------
  Run of Mine Ore
   (tonne)
   Direct Smelting Ore
    (tonne)             4,114       31        6        -        -    4,151
   Ore Milled
    (tonne)            72,288   20,151   78,804   11,667   32,408  215,318
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                       76,402   20,182   78,810   11,667   32,408  219,469
                    ------------------------------------------------------

  Mining cost per
   tonne of ore
   mined ($)            74.57    88.60    61.43        -    40.27    64.50
   Cash mining cost
    per tonne of ore
    mined ($)           53.01    76.08    53.64        -    19.36    48.92
   Non cash mining
    cost per tonne
    of ore mined ($)    21.56    12.52     7.78        -    20.91    15.58

  Unit shipping
   costs($)              3.77     3.52     3.80        -        -     3.04

  Milling cost per
   tonne of ore
   milled ($)           15.48    18.25    16.85    29.65    13.21    16.64
   Cash milling cost
    per tonne of ore
    milled ($)          13.92    16.46    15.13    26.86    12.89    15.12
   Non cash milling
    cost per tonne
    of ore milled ($)    1.55     1.79     1.72     2.80     0.32     1.52

  Average Production
   Cost
   Silver ($ per
    ounce)               4.93    10.76    12.90    22.25        -     7.44
   Gold ($ per
    ounce)             225.93   518.13        - 1,392.07   943.00   377.87
   Lead ($ per
    pound)               0.16     0.35     0.42     0.81        -     0.24
   Zinc ($ per
    pound)               0.13     0.23     0.33        -        -     0.19
  Total production
   cost per ounce of
   Silver ($)           (5.66)    3.55     6.81    21.17             (2.58)
  Total cash cost
   per ounce of
   Silver ($)           (7.46)    1.64     4.09    17.20             (4.56)

  Total production
   cost per ounce of
   Gold ($)                                                943.21   943.21
  Total cash cost
   per ounce of Gold ($)                                   547.26   547.26

  Total Recovery of
   the Run of Mine
   Ore
   Silver (%)            94.6     90.2     90.5     50.0              93.3
   Gold (%)                                                  91.2     91.2
   Lead (%)              98.0     93.5     92.1     86.5              96.4
   Zinc (%)              67.6     56.0     70.0        -              67.7

  Head Grades of Run
   of Mine Ore
   Silver
    (gram/tonne)        464.0    230.0    149.0     35.0             296.0
   Gold (gram/tonne)                                          2.3      2.3
   Lead (%)               8.9      4.1      2.6      2.0               5.5
   Zinc (%)               2.4      0.5      0.7        -               1.4

Sales Data
 Metal Sales
  Silver (in
   thousands of
   ounce)               1,136      135      271        6             1,548
  Gold (in thousands
   of ounce)              0.8      0.2        -      0.1      1.8      2.9
  Lead (in thousands
   of pound)           15,171    1,769    3,611      444            20,995
  Zinc (in thousands
   of pound)            2,753      123      649        -             3,525

 Metal Sales
  Silver (in
   thousands of $)     28,562    3,315    6,857      121            38,855
  Gold (in thousands
   of $)                  848      227        -      155    2,444    3,674
  Lead (in thousands
   of $)               12,344    1,431    2,944      359            17,078
  Zinc (in thousands
   of $)                1,780       63      426        -             2,269
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                       43,534    5,036   10,227      635    2,444   61,876
                    ------------------------------------------------------
 Average Selling
  Price, Net of
  Value Added Tax
  and Smelter
  Charges
  Silver ($ per
   ounce)               25.13    24.62    25.29    22.04             25.10
  Gold ($ per ounce) 1,152.56 1,185.71        - 1,379.11 1,328.11 1,275.83
  Lead ($ per pound)     0.81     0.81     0.82     0.81              0.81
  Zinc ($ per pound)     0.65     0.52     0.66        -              0.64


SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Mining Data
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for mining data figures)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q3 Fiscal 2011                    Three months ended December 31, 2010
                              --------------------------------------------
                                     YING     HPG&LM        TLP      Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Production Data
 Mine Data
  Ore Mined (tonne)
   Direct Smelting Ore (tonne)      3,640         71          -      3,711
   Stockpiled Ore (tonne)          82,101     22,216     59,184    163,502
                              --------------------------------------------
                                   85,741     22,287     59,184    167,213
                              --------------------------------------------

  Run of Mine Ore (tonne)
   Direct Smelting Ore (tonne)      3,640         71          -      3,711
   Ore Milled (tonne)              81,700     19,644     56,473    157,817
                              --------------------------------------------
                                   85,340     19,715     56,473    161,528
                              --------------------------------------------

  Mining cost per tonne of ore
   mined ($)                        64.12      67.06      46.50      58.28
   Cash mining cost per tonne
    of ore mined ($)                49.85      58.15      42.33      48.30
   Non cash mining cost per
    tonne of ore mined ($)          14.27       8.91       4.17       9.98

  Unit shipping costs($)             3.59       3.02       3.26       3.40

  Milling cost per tonne of
   ore milled ($)                   13.89      13.21      13.56      13.69
   Cash milling cost per tonne
    of ore milled ($)               12.22      11.81      12.06      12.11
   Non cash milling cost per
    tonne of ore milled ($)          1.67       1.40       1.50       1.58

  Average Production Cost
   Silver ($per ounce)               3.37       8.48      10.74       4.63
   Gold ($per ounce)               145.84     407.64          -     211.60
   Lead ($per pound)                 0.15       0.36       0.47       0.20
   Zinc ($per pound)                 0.12       0.29       0.37       0.16

 Production Cost and Cash Cost
  Per Ounce of Silver,
  Adjusted for By-Product
  Credits
  Total production cost per
   ounce of Silver ($)              (7.67)     (2.13)      3.96      (5.93)
  Total cash cost per ounce of
   Silver ($)                       (8.76)     (3.90)      2.37      (7.13)

  Total Recovery of the Run of
   Mine Ore
   Silver (%)                        92.9       92.7       85.9       92.0
   Lead (%)                          96.6       95.4       88.4       95.3
   Zinc (%)                          70.1       67.1       71.1       70.1

  Head Grades of Run of Mine
   Ore
   Silver (gram/tonne)              499.0      186.0      125.0      330.0
   Lead (%)                           8.3        4.1        2.3        5.7
   Zinc (%)                           2.9        0.6        0.8        1.8

Sales Data
 Metal Sales
  Silver (in thousands of
   ounce)                           1,241        105        177      1,523
  Gold (in thousands of ounce)        0.4        0.4        0.0        0.8
  Lead (in thousands of pound)     14,862      1,618      2,314     18,795
  Zinc (in thousands of pound)      3,954        167        671      4,791

 Metal Sales
  Silver ($)                       25,248      2,142      3,610     31,000
  Gold ($)                            392        359          1        752
  Lead ($)                         13,263      1,418      2,071     16,752
  Zinc ($)                          2,750        117        467      3,334
                              --------------------------------------------
                                   41,653      4,036      6,149     51,838
                              --------------------------------------------
 Average Selling Price, Net of
  Value Added Tax and Smelter
  Charges
  Silver ($ per ounce)              20.34      20.49      20.39      20.36
  Gold ($ per ounce)               881.35     985.07          -     946.61
  Lead ($ per pound)                 0.89       0.88       0.89       0.89
  Zinc ($ per pound)                 0.70       0.70       0.70       0.70


SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Mining Data
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for mining data figures)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
YTD Q3 Fiscal 2012            Nine months ended December 31, 2011
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                         YING   HPG&LM      TLP      XBG      BYP    Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Production Data
 Mine Data
  Ore Mined (tonne)
   Direct Smelting
    Ore (tonne)         9,639      147       52        -        -    9,838
   Stockpiled Ore
    (tonne)           219,571   74,349  223,067        -   74,863  591,850
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                      229,210   74,496  223,119        -   74,863  601,688
                    ------------------------------------------------------
  Run of Mine Ore
   (tonne)
   Direct Smelting
    Ore (tonne)         9,639      147       52        -        -    9,838
   Ore Milled
    (tonne)           221,055   73,811  225,781   11,667   60,185  592,499
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                      230,694   73,958  225,833   11,667   60,185  602,337
                    ------------------------------------------------------

  Mining cost per
   tonne of ore
   mined ($)            67.69    72.68    53.59        -    36.87    59.24
   Cash mining cost
    per tonne of ore
    mined ($)           49.68    61.37    46.64        -    16.26    45.84
   Non cash mining
    cost per tonne
    of ore mined ($)    18.01    11.31     6.95        -    20.61    13.40

  Unit shipping
   costs ($)             3.92     3.53     3.73        -        -     3.31

  Milling cost per
   tonne of ore
   milled ($)           14.86    15.15    15.13    29.65    14.06    15.20
   Cash milling cost
    per tonne of ore
    milled ($)          13.26    13.62    13.55    26.86    13.56    13.70
   Non cash milling
    cost per tonne
    of ore milled ($)    1.60     1.53     1.59     2.80     0.50     1.50

  Average Production
   Cost
   Silver ($per
    ounce)               4.59     9.78    12.54    22.25              6.88
   Gold ($ per ounce)  181.81   405.72        - 1,392.07   708.55   303.13
   Lead ($ per pound)    0.14     0.29     0.37     0.81              0.20
   Zinc ($ per pound)    0.11     0.20     0.36        -              0.16

  Total production
   cost per ounce of
   Silver ($)           (6.64)    2.21     5.21    21.33             (3.49)
  Total cash cost
   per ounce of
   Silver ($)           (8.15)    0.49     2.50    17.27             (5.25)

  Total production
   cost per ounce of
   Gold ($)                                                708.44   708.44
  Total cash cost
   per ounce of Gold ($)                                   399.49   399.49

  Total Recovery of
   the Run of Mine
   Ore
   Silver (%)            93.9     91.6     89.9     50.0              92.8
   Gold (%)                                                  92.2     92.2
   Lead (%)              97.5     93.5     91.3     86.5              95.9
   Zinc (%)              69.0     57.2     71.1        -              68.9

  Head Grades of Run
   of Mine Ore
   Silver
    (gram/tonne)        449.0    228.0    147.0     35.0             290.0
   Gold (gram/tonne)                                          2.5      2.5
   Lead (%)               8.4      3.6      2.5      2.0               5.2
   Zinc (%)               2.3      0.5      0.7        -               1.4

Sales Data
 Metal Sales
  Silver (in
   thousands of
   ounce)               3,203      482      827        6             4,518
  Gold (in thousands
   of ounce)              1.8      0.9        -      0.1      4.0      6.8
  Lead (in thousands
   of pound)           41,445    5,311   10,935      444            58,135
  Zinc (in thousands
   of pound)            8,653      443    1,762        -            10,858

 Metal Sales
  Silver (in
   thousands of $)     91,164   13,579   23,724      121           128,588
  Gold (in thousands
   of $)                2,074      924        -      155    5,353    8,506
  Lead (in thousands
   of $)               35,112    4,407    9,279      359            49,157
  Zinc (in thousands
   of $)                5,672      255    1,472        -             7,399
                    ------------------------------------------------------
                      134,022   19,165   34,475      635    5,353  193,650
                    ------------------------------------------------------
 Average Selling
  Price, Net of
  Value Added Tax
  and Smelter
  Charges
  Silver ($per
   ounce)               28.46    28.17    28.70    22.04             28.46
  Gold ($ per ounce) 1,127.91 1,168.90        - 1,379.11 1,324.09 1,253.75
  Lead ($ per pound)     0.85     0.83     0.85     0.81              0.85
  Zinc ($ per pound)     0.66     0.57     0.84        -              0.68


SILVERCORP METALS INC.
Mining Data
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for mining data figures)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
YTD Q3 Fiscal 2011                 Nine months ended December 31, 2010
                              --------------------------------------------
                                     YING     HPG&LM        TLP      Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Production Data
 Mine Data
  Ore Mined (tonne)
   Direct Smelting Ore (tonne)      9,996        196         10     10,202
   Stockpiled Ore (tonne)         244,161     55,159    157,117    456,437
                              --------------------------------------------
                                  254,157     55,355    157,127    466,639
                              --------------------------------------------

  Run of Mine Ore (tonne)
   Direct Smelting Ore (tonne)      9,996        196         10     10,202
   Ore Milled (tonne)             243,593     53,568    153,907    451,068
                              --------------------------------------------
                                  253,589     53,764    153,917    461,270
                              --------------------------------------------

  Mining cost per tonne of ore
   mined ($)                        58.06      64.45      38.57      52.25
   Cash mining cost per tonne
    of ore mined ($)                45.49      57.07      34.63      43.20
   Non cash mining cost per
    tonne of ore mined ($)          12.57       7.38       3.94       9.05
  Unit shipping costs($)             3.57       3.23       3.24       3.42

  Milling cost per tonne of
   ore milled ($)                   13.30      12.84      13.30      13.25
   Cash milling cost per tonne
    of ore milled ($)               11.63      11.43      11.67      11.62
   Non cash milling cost per
    tonne of ore milled ($)          1.67       1.41       1.63       1.63

  Average Production Cost
   Silver ($ per ounce)              3.11       7.89       8.87       4.18
   Gold ($ per ounce)              160.08     436.66     447.24     222.62
   Lead ($ per pound)                0.15       0.38       0.44       0.21
   Zinc ($ per pound)                0.12       0.29       0.35       0.17

Production Cost and Cash Cost Per Ounce
 of Silver, Adjusted for By-Product
 Credits
  Total production cost per
   ounce of Silver ($)              (6.83)     (0.97)      1.74      (5.46)
  Total cash cost per ounce of
   Silver ($)                       (7.87)     (2.42)      0.03      (6.60)

  Total Recovery of the Run of
   Mine Ore
   Silver (%)                        92.3       87.3       87.9       91.2
   Lead (%)                          96.4       94.7       88.6       95.1
   Zinc (%)                          70.1       60.3       70.4       69.5

  Head Grades of Run of Mine
   Ore
   Silver (gram/tonne)              476.8      229.3      135.1      322.8
   Lead (%)                           8.1        1.8        2.1        5.8
   Zinc (%)                           2.8        0.6        1.8        1.9

Sales Data
 Metal Sales
  Silver (in thousands of
   ounce)                           3,484        275        494      4,253
  Gold (in thousands of ounce)        1.1        0.9        0.2        2.2
  Lead (in thousands of pound)     42,578      4,423      7,625     54,626
  Zinc (in thousands of pound)     10,834        435      1,822     13,091

 Metal Sales
  Silver ($)                       57,197      4,582      8,171     69,950
  Gold ($)                            901        803        158      1,862
  Lead ($)                         34,792      3,547      6,225     44,564
  Zinc ($)                          7,060        264      1,205      8,529
                              --------------------------------------------
                                   99,950      9,196     15,759    124,905
                              --------------------------------------------
 Average Selling Price, Net of
  Value Added Tax and Smelter
  Charges
  Silver ($ per ounce)              16.42      16.68      16.54      16.46
  Gold ($ per ounce)               844.03     923.83     834.28     889.71
  Lead ($ per pound)                 0.82       0.80       0.82       0.81
  Zinc ($ per pound)                 0.65       0.61       0.66       0.65

Contact:

Silvercorp Metals Inc.
Rui Feng
Chairman & CEO
(604) 669-9397 or or Toll Free: 1(888) 224-1881
Silvercorp Metals Inc.
Lorne Waldman
Corporate Secretary
(604) 669-9397 or or Toll Free: 1(888) 224-1881
(604) 669-9387 (FAX)
info@silvercorp.ca
www.silvercorp.ca

 

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