Revenue for FY 2020 increased by 2.3% year-on-year to RUB 253.9 billion (USD 3.5 billion). The lower average sales prices for phosphate- and nitrogen-based fertilizers in 2020 were completely offset by a 5.3% increase in sales volumes and the 11.4% depreciation of the rouble against the US dollar.
Gross profit in 4Q 2020 increased by 35.9% year-on-year to RUB 29.3 billion (USD 384 million), with a gross profit margin of 49.7%. Gross profit in the phosphate- and nitrogen-based fertilizer segments saw the following changes: ? Gross profit for phosphate-based fertilizers increased by 35.6% to RUB 23.4 billion (USD 324 million). This
improvement was driven by the recovery in prices for phosphate-based fertilizers in tandem with low feedstock
prices and the depreciation of the rouble; ? Gross profit in the nitrogen-based fertilizer segment increased by 27.9% to RUB 5.6 billion
(USD 77 million).
PhosAgro's EBITDA for 4Q 2020 increased by 64.3% year-on-year and amounted to RUB 18.4 billion (USD 241 million). The main growth drivers were the recovery in global fertilizer prices and the completion of equipment upgrades and operational improvements at production facilities. Additional supporting factors were the weakening of the rouble against the US dollar and low prices for primary feedstocks.
Net profit adjusted for non-cash FX gain and other non-cash items for 4Q 2020 increased by almost three times year-on-year to RUB 7.5 billion (USD 98 million).
Free cash flow in 4Q 2020 was RUB 2.9 billion (USD 37 million), compared with a negative cash flow of RUB 4.3 billion (USD 67 million) in 4Q 2019. This considerable increase was possible because of the Company's high EBITDA margin, sales growth and efficient management of working capital.
Capital expenditure in 4Q 2020 amounted to RUB 13.5 billion (USD 177 million). In annual terms, capital expenditure amounted to RUB 40.9 billion (USD 567 million), which corresponds to 49% of EBITDA for the reporting period. The Company invested primarily in the development of its ore base in Kirovsk, upgrades to its fertilizer production assets and railway infrastructure in Cherepovets, the creation of a flexible ammonium sulphate production line in Balakovo and the construction of new capacities at its production site in Volkhov.
As of the end of the year, the net debt/EBITDA ratio was 1.86x. The increase compared to year-end 2019 was driven by the devaluation of the rouble against the US dollar, since a large part of the Company's loan portfolio is denominated in US dollars. Net debt as of 31 December 2020 amounted to RUB 156.9 billion (USD 2.1 billion).
Cost of Sales RUB million or % FY FY Change, % 4Q 4Q Change, % 2020 2019 2020 2019 D&A 23,743 21,368 11.1% 5,022 5,242 -4.2% Materials and services 40,973 41,221 -0.6% 9,272 9,964 -6.9% Phosphate rock transport 8,134 8,641 -5.9% 1,452 1,956 -25.8% Repair expenses 10,134 10,119 0.1% 2,754 2,363 16.5% Drilling and blasting 3,168 2,323 36.4% 788 678 16.2% Other materials and services 19,537 20,138 -3.0% 4,278 4,967 -13.9% Raw materials 35,514 43,155 -17.7% 7,643 9,450 -19.1% Ammonia 4,802 4,095 17.3% 1,322 1,173 12.7% Sulphur and sulph. acid 4,360 9,165 -52.4% 901 1,313 -31.4% Potassium 12,253 13,691 -10.5% 2,442 2,964 -17.6% Natural gas 12,342 12,627 -2.3% 2,467 2,972 -17.0% Ammonium sulphate 1,757 3,577 -50.9% 511 1,028 -50.3% Salaries and social contributions 13,807 12,744 8.3% 2,897 3,170 -8.6% Electricity 6,311 6,204 1.7% 1,392 1,439 -3.3% Fuel 3,885 4,849 -19.9% 915 1,119 -18.2% Products for resale 9,102 6,683 36.2% 2,472 1,216 103.3% Total 133,335 136,224 -2.1% 29,613 31,600 -6.3%
Cost of sales decreased in 2020 by 2.1% year-on-year to RUB 133.3 billion (USD 1.8 billion). This decrease on the back of higher sales was the result of improved efficiency stemming from upgrades to production assets, increased self-sufficiency in feedstocks and low prices for raw materials.
Cost of sales in 4Q 2020 decreased by 6.3% year-on-year (in connection with a decrease in fertilizer sales and low prices for raw materials) to RUB 29.6 billion (USD 389 million). ? The cost of materials and services decreased by 6.9% year-on-year to RUB 9.3 billion
(USD 122 million). This decrease was driven by savings in phosphate rock transport, as the Company used a higher
percentage of its own rail cars. ? Raw material costs decreased by 19.1% year-on-year to RUB 7.6 billion (USD 100 million) due to: ? A 31.4% reduction in sulphur and sulphuric acid costs to RUB 901 million (USD 12 million) due to a decrease in
sales of fertilizer brands with high sulphur content, as well as the launch of a new sulphuric acid plant in
Cherepovets in 1Q 2020. ? A 17.6% decrease in potash costs to RUB 2.4 billion (USD 32 million) amid falling global prices. ? A 17.0% drop in natural gas costs to RUB 2.5 billion (USD 32 million) due to lower sales of fertilizer brands with
high nitrogen content (DAP/MAP/urea). ? A 50.3% reduction in the cost of ammonium sulphate to RUB 0.5 billion (USD 7 million) following the full ramp-up of
the Company's own ammonium sulphate plant. ? Ammonia costs rose by 12.7% to RUB 1.3 billion (USD 17 million) due to higher consumption driven by the launch of
the Company's own ammonium sulphate production unit.
Administrative and selling expenses RUB million FY FY Change, % 4Q 4Q Change, % 2020 2019 2020 2019 Administrative expenses 17,828 16,476 8.2% 4,887 4,658 4.9% Salaries and social contributions 11,249 9,300 21.0% 2,873 2,365 21.5% Professional services 1,929 1,963 -1.7% 644 696 -7.5% D&A 1,368 1,378 -0.7% 349 342 2.0% Other 3,282 3,835 -14.4% 1,021 1,255 -18.6% Selling and marketing expenses 39,588 38,121 3.8% 10,610 10,324 2.8% Freight, port and stevedoring expenses 19,208 18,372 4.6% 5,259 5,458 -3.6% Russian Railways' tariffs and operators' fees 11,466 11,441 0.2% 2,725 2,614 4.2% Salaries and social contributions 3,484 2,662 30.9% 1,166 708 64.7% Material and services 2,431 2,563 -5.2% 621 692 -10.3% Customs duties 1,484 1,898 -21.8% 447 458 -2.4% D&A 1,515 1,185 27.8% 392 394 -0.5%
Administrative expenses increased by 4.9% year-on-year in 4Q 2020 to RUB 4.9 billion (USD 64 million). The main driver was a 21.5% increase in salaries and social security contributions to RUB 2.9 billion (USD 38 million) due to an increase in the number of employees and incentive payments.
In annual terms, administrative expenses increased by 8.2% year-on-year to RUB 17.8 billion (USD 247 million).
In 4Q 2020, selling expenses increased by 2.8% year-on-year to RUB 10.6 billion (USD 139 million). In annual terms, selling expenses increased by 3.8% year-on-year to RUB 39.6 billion (USD 54 million). The main factor behind this growth was an increase in incentive payments as a result of excellent operating performance.
Market outlook
The start of 2021 has shown a noticeable increase in prices for major agricultural crops, which, combined with the growth in seasonal demand in key sales markets (Europe, the US domestic market and China in particular), contributed to a significant increase in demand and prices for all major types of mineral fertilizers and raw materials for production.
The main benchmarks for phosphate-based fertilizers (DAP/MAP) and urea increased by more than USD 100 per tonne throughout January and in early February and continue to rise. Persistent demand in China's domestic market has limited exports from the region.
The Indian market is characterized by low carryover stocks, especially for phosphate-based fertilizers, implying an earlier start to major seasonal purchases. The US domestic market continues to face a shortage of DAP/MAP due to the lack of traditional imports from Morocco and Russia, which, at the height of the main spring demand, is acting as an additional driver pushing up prices to their highest levels in recent years.
Conference call and webcast:
PhosAgro will hold a conference call and webcast today at 14:00 London time (17:00 in Moscow; 09:00 in New York).
The call will be held in English, with simultaneous translation into Russian on a separate line.
Webcast link:
https://www.webcast-eqs.com/register/phosagro20210219/
Participant dial-in numbers:
Russian Federation Toll +7 495 213 1767 Russian Federation Toll-Free 8 800 500 9283 United Kingdom Toll +44 (0)330 336 9126 United Kingdom Toll-Free 0800 358 6377 United States Toll-Free +1 313-209-4906 United States Toll 888-254-3590
Conference ID numbers:
English conference ID: 5592368 Russian conference ID: 2118837
Contacts
PJSC PhosAgro
Andrey Serov, Head of the Investor Relations Department
+7 495 232 9689 ext. 2187
ir@phosagro.ru
Timur Belov, Press Officer
+7 495 232 9689 ext. 2652
EM
Sam VanDerlip
vanderlip@em-comms.com
+44 207 002 7859
About us
(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires
February 19, 2021 04:31 ET (09:31 GMT)