Earnings Release • May 20, 2015
Earnings Release
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Trading Update – First Quarter 2015 Amsterdam, the Netherlands / 20 May, 2015 8:30 AM
First quarter 2015 revenue was lower than in the same period last year, mainly due to a decrease in product volumes sold. However, consolidated underlying EBITDA in the first quarter of 2015 was at a similar level to the same period last year, as margins have improved as a result of lower natural gas prices, a solid nitrate market in Europe and a higher utilization rate at Sorfert in Algeria.
The demerger of the Engineering & Construction Group was successfully completed in March 2015. OCI N.V. is entitled to the results of the demerged entity until the date of the demerger. For accounting purposes, the demerged entity's results have been treated as discontinued operations. Operational numbers in this trading update exclude the discontinued operations and any potential accounting effects of the demerger.
Total product volume produced by OCI sold in the first quarter of 2015 decreased 23.7% compared to the first quarter of 2014 and 6.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Volumes were down mainly due to the shutdown of our ammonia and methanol plant in the United States, OCI Beaumont, during February and March to complete its planned turnaround and facility upgrade, and significantly lower production in Egypt compared to the first quarter last year. In Europe, first quarter 2015 fertilizer volumes decreased from an unusually strong first quarter 2014, when an early spring moved sales from the second to the first quarter.
Ammonia and nitrate prices improved, but methanol and urea prices were lower compared to the first quarter of 2014.
OCI Beaumont successfully completed its debottlenecking and turnaround activities in April 2015, increasing OCI N.V.'s total sellable capacity to 7.9 million metric tons. Iowa Fertilizer Company (88% complete as of 31 March 2015) and Natgasoline LLC are progressing well. These projects will increase our total sellable capacity to exceed 12 million metric tons by 2017.
Our net debt as at 31 March 2015 was US\$ 4.0 billion, about 4% lower than US\$ 4.2 billion as at 31 December 2014, as a result of operational cash flow, a EUR 151 million a private placement in January 2015 and positive currency effects.
1 Quarterly figures are based on unaudited results
| '000 metric tons | Q1 2015 | Q1 2014 | % change | Q4 2014 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Own Product | |||||
| Ammonia | 312.2 | 313.0 | -0.3% | 269.2 | 16.0% |
| Urea | 310.7 | 430.1 | -27.8% | 329.9 | -5.8% |
| Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) | 284.3 | 383.0 | -25.8% | 280.0 | 1.5% |
| Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN) | 86.4 | 104.9 | -17.6% | 78.5 | 10.1% |
| Total Fertilizer | 993.6 | 1,231.0 | -19.3% | 957.6 | 3.8% |
| Methanol | 53.0 | 144.4 | -63.3% | 151.2 | -64.9% |
| Melamine | 34.9 | 41.8 | -16.5% | 41.7 | -16.3% |
| Total Industrial Chemicals | 87.9 | 186.2 | -52.8% | 192.9 | -54.4% |
| Total Own Product | 1,081.5 | 1,417.2 | -23.7% | 1,150.5 | -6.0% |
| Traded Third Party | |||||
| Ammonia | 33.1 | 112.0 | -70.4% | 113.0 | -70.7% |
| Urea | 10.5 | 25.6 | -59.0% | 24.5 | -57.1% |
| UAN | 12.8 | 36.3 | -64.7% | 8.9 | 43.8% |
| Ammonium Sulphate (AS) | 429.5 | 475.4 | -9.7% | 426.6 | 0.7% |
| Total Traded Third Party Product | 485.9 | 649.3 | -25.2% | 573.0 | -15.2% |
| Total Own Product and Traded Third Party | 1,567.4 | 2,066.5 | -24.2% | 1,723.5 | -9.1% |
| Q1 2015 | Q1 2014 | % Δ | Q4 2014 | % Δ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granular Urea | Egypt, FOB | US\$/t | 336 | 414 | -18.8% | 353 | -4.8% |
| Ammonia | North West Europe, FOB | US\$/t | 506 | 528 | -4.2% | 685 | -26.1% |
| Ammonia | US Gulf Tampa | US\$/t | 498 | 456 | 9.2% | 629 | -20.8% |
| CAN | Germany, CIF | EUR/t | 267 | 253 | 5.5% | 248 | 7.7% |
| UAN | France, FOT | EUR/t | 231 | 215 | 7.4% | 207 | 11.6% |
| Melamine | Europe contract | EUR/t | 1,340 | 1,353 | -1.0% | 1,340 | 0.0% |
| Methanol | US Gulf Coast Contract, FOB | US\$/t | 426 | 629 | -32.3% | 483 | -11.8% |
| Methanol | US Gulf Coast Spot, FOB | US\$/t | 349 | 537 | -35.0% | 408 | -14.5% |
* % Change versus the same period last year. Note that AS is traded volume only
The main factors impacting performance in the first quarter of 2015 were:
OCI N.V. is a global producer and distributor of natural gas-based fertilizers & industrial chemicals based in the Netherlands. We produce nitrogen fertilizers, methanol and other natural gas based products, serving agricultural and industrial customers from the Americas to Asia. We rank among the world's largest nitrogen fertilizer producers, and can produce more than 7.9 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizers and industrial chemicals at production facilities in the Netherlands, the United States, Egypt and Algeria. We expect total production capacity to reach 12 million metric tons by 2017. OCI N.V. is listed on the NYSE Euronext in Amsterdam.
| OCI Investor Relations Department: | For additional information on OCI N.V.: |
|---|---|
| Hans Zayed | www.oci.nl |
| Director | |
| Email: [email protected] | OCI N.V. stock symbols: OCI / OCI.NA / OCI.AS / OCINY |
| Erika Wakid | Honthorststraat 19 |
| Email: [email protected] | 1071 DC Amsterdam |
| The Netherlands | |
| Tel: +31 (0) 6 18 251 367 |
Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements relating to OCI N.V. (the "Company"), its business, markets and/or industry. These statements are generally identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "will," "may," "should" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control and are difficult to predict, that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied from the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the Company's current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections. Various factors could cause actual future results, performance or events to differ materially from those described in these statements. The Company does not make any representation as to the future accuracy of the assumptions underlying any of the statements contained herein. The information contained herein is expressed as of the date hereof and may be subject to change. Neither the Company nor any of its controlling shareholders, directors or executive officers or anyone else has any duty or obligation to supplement, amend, update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document.
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