Earnings Release • Aug 31, 2018
Earnings Release
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Amsterdam, The Netherlands / 31 August 2018
"We delivered a strong improvement in operational and financial performance and generated healthy free cash flow of \$133 million resulting in a meaningful reduction in net debt of \$100 million during the quarter. These results reflect the continuing step-up in the volumes from new capacity additions and productivity improvements this year and again in 2019. Our volume growth comes at a time when our underlying end markets for all our products are on a positive trajectory for the second half of 2018 and beyond.
We have started the second half of 2018 on a strong note. Fertilizer prices started to improve in the third quarter despite market expectations of the usual seasonal weakness. Urea prices are now above \$300 per metric ton, or up almost 25% from the second quarter average of \$244 per ton, and have increased more than \$80 per ton from this year's low of c.\$220 per ton that was reached in May, supported by healthy supply and demand fundamentals. Other fertilizer products are witnessing similar momentum. We can efficiently capitalize on the upside of a rising price environment through our commercial strategy of limiting forward sales. In May, we also started a new marketing joint venture with Dakota Gasification Company, which has given us an enhanced sales platform and extended reach in North America.
Our new methanol capacity starting up this year is benefiting from a currently strong market that is expected to remain underpinned by limited capacity additions and robust demand. We achieved a major milestone in June, when Natgasoline successfully started commercial methanol production, marking the completion of OCI's second major greenfield facility in the United States. The facility reached full utilization shortly after initial start-up, has been running consistently above nameplate capacity in recent weeks and achieved Provisional Acceptance at the end of August. Natgasoline has shipped about 200 kt of methanol and has achieved gas consumption that has been better than design rate. We now have only one growth project remaining, our methanol expansion at BioMCN in the Netherlands, which we expect to start production around year-end. These two projects effectively double OCI's methanol capacity this year and will position OCI as one of the largest merchant methanol producers globally.
With no major turnarounds planned for the second half of 2018, except for maintenance work at EFC and BioMCN, OCI is well-placed to take advantage of the improvements in underlying markets."
With our growth capex effectively complete and our capital structure optimization plans finalized, we continue to believe that we will achieve significant EBITDA growth and free cash flow generation from this year onwards. The improvement comes on the back of reduced capital expenditures and our ramp-up to run-rate production volumes. We are well-positioned to achieve a healthy trajectory for deleveraging and achieve an investment grade profile.
| Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | % Δ | H1 2018 | H1 2017 | % Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 792.7 | 552.8 | 43% | 1,537.5 | 1,026.2 | 50% |
| Gross Profit | 160.3 | 91.6 | 75% | 330.0 | 195.9 | 68% |
| EBITDA2) | 215.2 | 111.9 | 92% | 467.3 | 241.5 | 93% |
| Adjusted EBITDA2) | 203.5 | 167.4 | 22% | 438.6 | 331.1 | 32% |
| Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders | (39.5) | 12.2 | NM | (15.0) | (35.1) | NM |
| Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders | 3.2 | 58.6 | (95%) | 14.5 | 56.8 | (74%) |
| Earnings / (loss) per share (\$) Basic earnings per share (reported) |
(0.189) | 0.058 | NM | (0.072) | (0.168) | NM |
| 30-Jun-18 | 31-Dec-17 | % Δ | ||||
| Total Assets | 7,187.1 | 7,143.6 | 1% | |||
| Total Equity | 1,520.0 | 1,442.0 | 5% | |||
| Gross Interest-Bearing Debt | 4,720.0 | 4,677.6 | 1% | |||
| Net Debt | 4,335.7 | 4,446.6 | (2%) | |||
| Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | % Δ | H1 2018 | H1 2017 | % Δ | |
| Free cash flow2) | 133.3 | 49.5 | 169% | 247.3 | 19.9 | 1143% |
| Capital Expenditure | 89.1 | 41.3 | 116% | 132.0 | 86.6 | 52% |
| Sales volumes ('000 metric tons)3) | ||||||
| OCI Product | 2,462.8 | 1,676.1 | 47% | 4,634.0 | 3,337.4 | 39% |
| Third Party Traded | 386.1 | 274.5 | 41% | 729.5 | 622.8 | 17% |
| Total Product Volumes | 2,848.9 | 1,950.6 | 46% | 5,363.5 | 3,960.2 | 35% |
1) Further details on the results can be found in the semi-annual 2018 condensed financial statements at our corporate website: www.oci.nl.
2) OCI N.V. uses Alternative Performance Measures ('APM') to provide a better understanding of the underlying developments of the performance of the business. The APMs are not defined in IFRS and should be used as supplementary information in conjunction with the most directly comparable IFRS measures. A detailed reconciliation between APM and the most directly comparable IFRS measure can be found in this report
3) Fully consolidated, not adjusted for OCI ownership stake in plant
On 4 June 2018, OCI N.V. commenced a tender offer to purchase all publicly held common units of OCI Partners LP not owned by OCI. At that time, OCI owned approximately 88.25% of the issued and outstanding OCIP common units. OCI successfully completed the transaction on 17 July 2018 and now owns all economic interests of the Partnership. On 26 July 2018, the Common Units were delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
OCI believes that this transaction was attractive for minority investors of OCIP to address concerns over the low trading liquidity of the units and the attractiveness of Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) as an asset class, particularly in light of the latest change in federal income tax law. For OCI N.V. shareholders, the proposed transaction allows for simplification of the group's corporate structure, including the elimination of public listing costs.
Natgasoline, a 1.8 million metric tons per annum greenfield methanol plant in Texas, was mechanically complete in April and started commercial production at the end of June. The facility passed the critical licensor performance tests in early August, has been running consistently above nameplate capacity in recent weeks and achieved the milestone of Provisional Acceptance at the end of August 2018. The world class facility is the largest methanol production facility in the United States.
Following the completion and ramp-up of Iowa Fertilizer Company and Natgasoline, OCI has one growth project remaining, BioMCN in the Netherlands. The refurbishment of the second methanol production line at BioMCN is progressing and the plant is expected to start production around year-end 2018. The expansion will almost double BioMCN's current maximum proven capacity to 952 thousand tons (kt) per annum.
During the second quarter of 2018, we continued to enhance our sales and marketing effort through the creation of the N-7 Joint Marketing Venture with Dakota Gasification Company in North America, which we expect to bring many benefits including an extended reach throughout North America, as well as an expanded product offering and customer base.
| Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | % Δ | H1 2018 | H1 2017 | % Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Own Product | ||||||
| Ammonia | 537.5 | 300.8 | 78.7% | 1,061.5 | 702.6 | 51.1% |
| Urea | 806.5 | 618.3 | 30.4% | 1,471.4 | 1,188.2 | 23.8% |
| Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) | 343.8 | 356.5 | (3.6%) | 566.8 | 663.3 | (14.5%) |
| Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN) | 372.3 | 79.8 | 366.5% | 714.1 | 105.4 | 577.5% |
| Total Fertilizer | 2,060.1 | 1,355.4 | 52.0% | 3,813.8 | 2,659.5 | 43.4% |
| Methanol | 307.8 | 275.3 | 11.8% | 650.1 | 594.1 | 9.4% |
| Melamine | 35.4 | 45.1 | (21.5%) | 69.7 | 83.5 | (16.5%) |
| Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)1) | 59.5 | 0.3 | nm | 100.4 | 0.3 | nm |
| Total Industrial Chemicals | 402.7 | 320.7 | 25.6% | 820.2 | 677.9 | 21.0% |
| Total Own Product Sold | 2,462.8 | 1,676.1 | 46.9% | 4,634.0 | 3,337.4 | 38.9% |
| Traded Third Party | ||||||
| Ammonia | 98.8 | 72.2 | 36.8% | 145.5 | 128.5 | 13.2% |
| Urea | 56.4 | 32.4 | 74.1% | 129.0 | 36.6 | 252.5% |
| UAN | 23.5 | 10.0 | 135.0% | 48.0 | 92.2 | (47.9%) |
| Methanol2) | 52.9 | - | nm | 84.5 | - | nm |
| Ammonium Sulphate (AS) | 154.5 | 159.9 | (3.4%) | 322.5 | 365.5 | (11.8%) |
| Total Traded Third Party | 386.1 | 274.5 | 40.7% | 729.5 | 622.8 | 17.1% |
| Total Own Product and Traded Third Party | 2,848.9 | 1,950.6 | 46.1% | 5,363.5 | 3,960.2 | 35.4% |
1) In 32.5% urea equivalent
2) OCI Methanol Marketing
Total own product volumes sold increased 47% to a record of 2.5 million metric tons during Q2 2018. Including third-party traded product, sales volumes increased 46% to 2.8 million metric ton.
OCI achieved higher realized selling prices on average in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the second quarter of 2017, with all products except ammonia at higher levels than during the same period a year ago. Selling prices in the second quarter were on average seasonally lower than in the first quarter of 2018.
OCI's fertilizer operations continued to ramp up production during Q2 2018 and total own-produced fertilizer volumes improved 52% during the quarter compared to the same period last year.
OCI's industrial chemicals portfolio continued its strong performance with an increase of 26% in own-produced volumes in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the second quarter of 2017, with strong growth of diesel exhaust fluid volumes.
• Methanol volumes improved 12% due to stable capacity utilization at OCI Beaumont and strong volumes at BioMCN. BioMCN started a planned maintenance shutdown at the end of June, which lasted until the end of August. Natgasoline started up at the end of June 2018 but did not contribute to methanol volumes in the second quarter.
| Q2 '18 | Q2 '17 | % Δ | Q1 '18 | % Δ | H1 '18 | H1 '17 | % Δ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | NW Europe, FOB | \$/mt | 278 | 318 | (13%) | 333 | (17%) | 306 | 338 | (9%) |
| Ammonia | US Gulf Tampa contract | \$/mt | 267 | 302 | (12%) | 333 | (20%) | 300 | 303 | (1%) |
| Granular Urea | Egypt, FOB | \$/mt | 244 | 201 | 21% | 260 | (6%) | 253 | 232 | 9% |
| CAN | Germany, CIF | €/mt | 175 | 177 | (1%) | 194 | (10%) | 184 | 198 | (7%) |
| UAN | France, FOT | €/mt | 153 | 150 | 2% | 160 | (4%) | 156 | 159 | (2%) |
| UAN | US Midwest, FOB | \$/mt | 231 | 214 | 8% | 223 | 4% | 227 | 224 | 1% |
| Melamine | Europe contract | €m/t | 1,655 | 1,500 | 10% | 1,625 | 2% | 1,640 | 1,475 | 11% |
| Methanol | USGC Contract, FOB | \$/mt | 495 | 405 | 22% | 490 | 1% | 493 | 426 | 16% |
| Methanol | Rotterdam FOB Contract | €/mt | 380 | 405 | (6%) | 380 | 0% | 380 | 380 | 0% |
Source: CRU, Argus
Price dynamics in the nitrogen fertilizer markets have been positive in the last few months, supported by strong demand, increased production costs for marginal producers in China and Europe due to high coal and natural gas costs, and continued low exports from China. After a seasonal decrease in urea prices during the second quarter of 2018, urea prices started to improve towards the end of that quarter. Ammonia prices were at low levels during the quarter and only recently have started to recover. We continue to see nitrogen fertilizer markets trending positively on the back of improving fundamentals:
OCI expects exports from China to stay at structurally lower levels. China exports amounted to 4.7 million metric tons in 2017, a drop of 66% from the peak of 13.7 million metric ton in 2015. In the period from January until the end of July 2018, gross urea exports from China dropped a further 74% compared to the same period last year, to c.0.8 million metric ton.
In addition, exports from Iran, one of the largest urea exporters globally, are at risk of significant curtailments. Sanctions on Iran by the United States will likely reduce Iranian exports of urea by locking the country out of global, dollarized banking and payments systems, whereas urea plants that are under construction in Iran may suffer as in many cases they are being built by international contractors.
OCI has an increasingly diversified portfolio of industrial chemicals, methanol, industrial ammonia, melamine and diesel exhaust fluid, with a favourable outlook for each.
Consolidated revenue increased 43% to \$792.7 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the second quarter of 2017, driven by higher product volumes sold and on average higher selling prices.
Natural gas prices were at high levels in Europe during Q2 2018, which affected the operations in the Netherlands negatively. However, natural gas prices decreased in the United States in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the second quarter of 2017, resulting on a relatively negligible overall negative impact on OCI's margins.
Cost of sales increased from \$461.2 million in the second quarter of 2017 to \$632.4 million in the second quarter of 2018, among other factors due to the higher production volumes and higher depreciation and amortisation following the start of revenue recognition of IFCo in Q4 2017. Cost of sales was also higher than the run-rate due to the planned turnarounds at EBIC and OCI Nitrogen.
As a result, gross profit increased 75% from \$91.6 million in Q2 2017 to \$160.3 million in Q2 2018, with gross profit margins of 16.6% and 20.2% respectively.
EBITDA increased by 92% from \$111.9 million in Q2 2017 to \$215.2 million in Q2 2018, implying EBITDA margins of 20.3% and 27.1% respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 22% from \$167.4 million in Q2 2017 to \$203.5 million in Q2 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA is an Alternative Performance Measure (APM) that intends to give a clear reflection of underlying performance of OCI's operations. The main APM adjustments in the second quarters of 2017 and 2018 relate to:
| \$ million | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | H1 2018 | H1 2017 | Adjustment in P&L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating profit as reported | 112.7 | 37.2 | 262.5 | 91.4 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 102.5 | 74.7 | 204.8 | 150.1 | |
| EBITDA | 215.2 | 111.9 | 467.3 | 241.5 | |
| APM adjustments for: | |||||
| Expenses related to expansion projects | 1.0 | 14.6 | 1.0 | 36.0 | SG&A / other expenses |
| Sorfert insurance claim / loss of revenue | (13.8) | 27.0 | (30.8) | 27.0 | Revenue / other income |
| EBIC impact of unavailability of export jetty | - | 2.6 | - | 15.4 | Revenue / COGS |
| Other adjustments | 1.1 | 11.3 | 1.1 | 11.3 | Other income and expenses |
| Total APM adjustments | (11.7) | 55.5 | (28.7) | 89.7 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | 203.5 | 167.4 | 438.6 | 331.2 |
The reported net loss (after non-controlling interest) stood at \$39.5 million in Q2 2018 and \$15 million in H1 2018, compared to a net loss of \$47.3 million in Q1 2017.
Adjusted net income (after non-controlling interest) stood at \$3.1 million in Q2 2018 and \$14.4 million in H1 2018, compared to \$58.7 million and \$56.9 million in Q2 and H1 2017 respectively.
| \$ million | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | H1 2018 | H1 2017 | Adjustment in P&L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported net income attributable to shareholders | (39.5) | 12.2 | (15.0) | (35.1) | |
| Adjustments for: | |||||
| Adjustments at EBITDA level | (11.7) | 55.5 | (28.7) | 89.7 | |
| Expenses related to expansion projects | 9.5 | 2.1 | 14.4 | 3.9 | Income from equity accounted investees |
| Expenses related to refinancing | 16.0 | - | 16.0 | - | Finance expenses |
| Forex gain/loss on USD exposure | 33.3 | 28.3 | 22.7 | 48.4 | Finance income & expense |
| Recognition of previously unused tax losses BioMCN | - | (31.4) | - | (31.4) | Income tax |
| Non-controlling interest adjustment | 9.0 | (0.2) | 18.5 | (5.5) | Minorities |
| Tax effect of adjustments | (13.5) | (7.8) | (13.5) | (13.1) | Income tax |
| Total adjustments at net income level | 42.6 | 46.5 | 29.4 | 92.0 | |
| Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders | 3.1 | 58.7 | 14.4 | 56.9 |
Free cash flow amounted to \$133.3 million during the second quarter of 2018 and \$247.3 million during the first half of 2018, compared to \$49.5 million and \$19.9 million in Q2 2017 and H1 2017 respectively.
Total capital expenditures stood at \$89.1 million in Q2 2018, compared to \$41.3 million in Q2 2017:
Net debt stood at \$4,335.7 million as at 30 June 2018, down approximately \$100 million from \$4,434.2 million as at 31 March 2018.
| Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | H1 2018 | H1 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBITDA | 215.2 | 111.9 | 467.3 | 241.5 |
| Working capital | 14.7 | (2.2) | (40.8) | (105.1) |
| Maintenance capital expenditure | (38.3) | (9.2) | (58.4) | (28.2) |
| Tax paid | (0.7) | (2.2) | (1.6) | (2.4) |
| Interest / net dividends paid/received | (89.3) | (48.6) | (140.3) | (91.4) |
| Insurance receivable / received Sorfert | 20.0 | - | - | - |
| Adjustment non-cash expenses | 11.7 | (0.2) | 21.1 | 5.5 |
| Free Cash Flow | 133.3 | 49.5 | 247.3 | 19.9 |
| Reconciliation to change in net debt: | ||||
| Growth capital expenditure | (50.8) | (32.1) | (73.6) | (58.4) |
| Non-operating working capital | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 23.8 |
| Other non-operating items | (43.9) | (35.3) | (61.3) | (37.9) |
| Net effect of movement in exchange rates on net debt | 73.1 | (109.3) | 35.3 | (127.6) |
| Other non-cash items | (15.3) | (7.6) | (37.4) | (11.5) |
| Net Cash Flow / Decrease (Increase) in Net Debt | 99.7 | (134.5) | 110.9 | (191.7) |
This report contains the semi-annual condensed consolidated financial statements of OCI N.V. ('OCI', 'the Group' or 'the Company'), a public limited liability company incorporated under Dutch law, with its head office located at Honthorststraat 19, 1071 DC Amsterdam, the Netherlands. OCI N.V. is registered in the Dutch commercial register under No. 56821166 dated 2 January 2013. The Group is primarily involved in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizers and industrial chemicals.
The semi-annual condensed consolidated financial statements for the six-month period ended 30 June 2018 have been authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 29 August 2018.
The semi-annual condensed consolidated financial statements for six-month period ended 30 June 2018 have not been audited or reviewed by an external auditor.
On 31 August 2018, at 16:30 CEST, OCI N.V. will host a conference call for investors and analysts. Details on how to access the call can be found on the OCI N.V. website.
OCI N.V. (Euronext: OCI) is a global producer and distributor of natural gas-based fertilizers & industrial chemicals based in the Netherlands. OCI produces nitrogen fertilizers, methanol and other natural gas based products, serving agricultural and industrial customers from the Americas to Asia. OCI is a leading global nitrogen fertilizer producer with over 9.6 million metric tons of capacity. OCI is also on track to become one of the world's largest methanol producers with almost 3.7 million tons of capacity. OCI is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam.
Hans Zayed Director Email: [email protected]
Tel: +31 (0) 6 18 251 367
For additional information on OCI:
OCI stock symbols: OCI / OCI.NA / OCI.AS / OCINY
Honthorststraat 19 1071 DC Amsterdam The Netherlands
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