Santacruz Shines in Q2 with Record Silver and Zinc Production
Santacruz, a leading mining company, has announced impressive results for its second quarter of 2026. During the conference call on August 20, CEO Arturo Préstamo Elizondo and CFO Andrés Bedregal provided an update on the company's operating performance.
According to Arturo, Q2 was a strong quarter for Santacruz, with consolidated silver production increasing by 17% and zinc production by 7% compared to the previous quarter. The Bolivar mine, in particular, delivered a very strong quarter, with silver production increasing by 84,000 ounces. This was driven by an 11% increase in tons milled and a 17% improvement in silver head grades.
The dewatering process at Bolivar is progressing on budget and on time, which is expected to lead to a full recovery of the mine by Q4. Additionally, Santacruz saw meaningful progress across its entire portfolio, with improvements in silver recoveries at Zimapan (10%), Caballo Blanco (6% increase in silver production), Porco (15% increase in tons processed and 21% improvement in silver head grades), and San Lucas (22% increase in tons processed and 20% increase in silver production).
The zinc side also saw an increase, mainly driven by Zimapan, with zinc head grades improving by 9% and recoveries increasing by 9%. San Lucas continued to show progress, with a more than 20% increase in processed tons. Looking ahead, Santacruz sees additional opportunities throughout the balance of 2026, particularly as Bolivar continues its recovery.
The company's operating performance was described as broad-based, with each operation becoming more efficient, translating directly into higher production and stronger operating performance. Arturo highlighted that the improvements at Bolivar, San Lucas, Zimapan, Porco, and Caballo Blanco have given Santacruz confidence to continue building on this momentum throughout 2026.
The CEO's comments were met with optimism, as the company looks to capitalize on its growth prospects. With a strong recovery underway and multiple operations showing improvement, Santacruz is poised for continued success in the second half of 2026.
