Uralchem revenue up 19% in Q1

Uralchem Holding PLC, a Cypriot holding company of the URALCHEM Group, one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia, announced its unaudited IFRS financial results for the first quarter of 2012 ending 31 March 2012.

Revenue increased to US $673 million. Operating profit increased to US $178 million. Adjusted EBITDA grew to US $207 million. Net profit amounted to US $354 million.

Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of URALCHEM, OJSC (part of the Group), commented on the first quarter of 2012 results, "I am pleased with the Company’s results in the first quarter of this year. We are moving ahead as planned. Net profit in the first quarter of 2012 more than doubled compared to the same period last year. This happened due to the acquisition of Minudobrenia in Perm, as well as the reassessment of our share in the enterprise. Besides, the net profit figure was influenced by a considerable reduction in interest expenses on loans which became possible after we refinanced the loan portfolio last year."

Financial Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2012 grew 19% to US $673 million, compared to US $566 million in the first quarter of 2011. Operating profit amounted to US $178 million, or 26% of the revenue, compared with the operating profit of US $160 million, or 28% of the revenue in the first quarter of 2011.

Net profit for the first quarter of 2012 more than doubled, amounting to US $354 million, compared to US $174 million in the first quarter of 2011. Without the reassessment of the Company’s share in Minudobrenia, Perm the net profit growth comprised 15%.

During the first quarter of 2012, adjusted EBITDA reached US $207 million, compared to US $186 million the year before, a rise of 11%. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter of 2012 comprised 31% of revenue compared with 33% of revenue for the first quarter of 2011.

Markets

In the first quarter of 2012 the prices of fertilizers and intermediates showed significantly different dynamics. Prices for ammonia at the Yuzhny port fell to $70 / t due to low demand, both in agriculture and industry, which coincided with the launch of Qafco V. Market recovery began only in late March.

During January to early February the urea market repeated its dynamics in 2011. However, in mid-February a rapid increase in the price of urea started due to high demand in the U.S. The late Q1/early Q2 price level approached peak figures of 2011 even surpassing them at certain markets. Prospects for market development in the second quarter remain optimistic for market participants.

Prices for ammonium nitrate were stable during the first quarter due to high volumes of domestic market shipments.

The global market of phosphate fertilizers in the first quarter of 2012 was characterized by low activity, with prices going down slightly. European demand was limited due to severe weather conditions and financial instability. Moderate recovery in prices occurred in late Q1 due to higher demand in Latin America and the U.S. domestic market.

Sales

In the first quarter of 2012 the Group’s product sales amounted to 1.7 million tons, up 20% compared to the first quarter of 2011. Through the acquisition of OJSC Minudobrenia, Perm in January 2012, sales of urea and of ammonia increased significantly.

Financial Situation

Cash generated from operating activities grew by 4%, from US $167 million in the first quarter of 2011 to US $174 million in the first quarter of 2012.

On 31 March 2012, the Company’s net debt amounted to US $1,076 million. The weighted average interest rate in the loan portfolio for the first quarter 2012 decreased to 5.85% compared to annual 8.0% for the same period last year.