Switzerland-based iron ore miner Ferrexpo, whose main interests are in Ukrainian iron ore assets, has reported an improvement in iron ore production and demand, with Q1 2010 overall revenues up 34 percent year on year to $188.9 million.
Ferrexpo's Q1 EBITDA went up by 30 percent to $46 million, and its underlying profit increased by 28 percent to $26.2 million. However, on a reported basis, Ferrexpo's profit for the period declined to $11.6 million, due to an exceptional write down on VAT receivables of $15 million, arising out of the decision of the Ukraine government to convert overdue VAT balances to government bonds of 5.5 percent per annum interest.
Accordingly, renewed sales demand resulted in a 29 percent year-on-year increase in Ferrexpo's sales volumes, while, following a recovery in its traditional customers' end markets, the company witnessed an immediate and continued improvement of its sales profile with over 65 percent of its sales volume made to traditional customers as compared to 26 percent in Q1 2009. Over 90 percent of Ferrexpo's sales volumes were based on long-term volume framework agreements compared with 44 percent in Q1 2009.
Q1 2010 (million $) |
Q1 2009 (million$) |
||
Export sales: |
|||
62% iron content pellets |
92.0 |
70.0 |
|
65% iron content pellets |
95.3 |
67.5 |
|
Total |
187.4 |
137.8 |
|
Domestic sales: |
|||
62% pellets |
0.1 |
3.3 |
|
Non-pellet sales:1 |
1.5 |
0.2 |
|
Total revenue |
188.9 |
141.3 |
The company's Q1 2010 average pellet prices on DAF/FOB basis increased by 4.6 percent to $80.2/mt compared with Q1 2009 ($76.7/mt) and by 12.5 percent compared to the average achieved price for the 2009 full year ($61.37/mt ).
Looking forward, Ferrexpo said that due to the improved pricing environment it expects to realize a strong financial performance for the remainder of the year compared with 2009 levels. In addition, the company noted that iron ore demand has recovered from its 2009 lows, suggesting that iron ore pellet prices should remain well above 2009 levels for the remainder of 2010. For the April to June 2010 quarter, Ferrexpo says it has already or expects to secure significant average DAF/FOB price increases in line with international pricing for all of its production.