In This Article:
10:15 London, 12:15 Helsinki, 16 August 2024 - Afarak Group SE ("Afarak" or "the Company") (LSE: AFRK, NASDAQ: AFAGR)
FINANCIAL INTERIM RELEASE H1 2024
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| H1/24 | H1/23 | 2023 |
| Revenue | EUR million | 71.4 | 95.4 | 153.7 |
| EBITDA | EUR million | 4.2 | 15.1 | 16.6 |
| EBIT | EUR million | 3.1 | 14.4 | 15.0 |
| Earnings before taxes | EUR million | 1.9 | 12.1 | 12.0 |
| Profit | EUR million | 0.5 | 10.5 | 10.0 |
| Earnings per share | EUR | 0.0 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| EBITDA margin | % | 5.9 | 15.8 | 10.8 |
| EBIT margin | % | 4.3 | 15.1 | 9.8 |
| Earnings margin | % | 0.0 | 12.7 | 7.8 |
| Personnel (end of period) |
| 588 | 610 | 595 |
FIRST HALF 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
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Revenue decreased by 25.1% to EUR 71.4 (H1/2023: 95.4) million;
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Processed material sold decreased by 7% to 11,922 (H1/2023: 12,855) tonnes;
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Tonnage mined increased significantly by 15% to 187,958 (H1/2023: 162,971) tonnes;
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The Group’s EBITDA was EUR 4.2 (H1/2023: 15.1) million and the EBITDA margin was 5.9% (H1/2023: 15.8%);
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EBIT was EUR 3.1 (H1/2023: 14.4) million, with the EBIT margin at 4.3% (H1/2023: 15.1%);
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Profit for the period totalled EUR 0.5 (H1/2023: 10.5) million;
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Cash flow from operations stood at EUR -5.4 (H1/2023: 8.3) million;
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The interest-bearing debt amounted to EUR 4.6 (3.8) (31 December 2023: 3.1) million;
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Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June totalled EUR 10.1 (30 June 2023: 19.9) (31 December 2023: 18.0) million.
OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2024
On the low carbon ferro-chrome side, the sanctions against Russian material will only be fully implemented by end of 2024. Increased demand in aeronautics and defense applications should also start to show some positive impact on the supply and demand balances. Domestic price levels in China seem to have bottomed out as well. We expect further improvements in our cost structure during the second half-year and continue to develop new revenue streams in Europe. The market for low carbon ferro-chrome will be continuously competitive throughout the year.
The chrome ore market, on the other hand, is expected to remain strong. We have been finalizing investment decisions that will enable us to swiftly increase the output of chrome ore concentrates in South Africa.
CEO Mr. Guy Konsbruck
Afarak achieved a positive EBITDA of €4.2 Million for the six months ended 30 June 2024. This is no small achievement in a very difficult business environment. Higher realized chrome ore prices helped counterbalancing Low Carbon Ferrochrome prices that remained under pressure, mainly due to the presence of massive inventory of Russian material and low-cost imports, especially from India. The efficiency of our operations provided some buffer to protect our profitability. Afarak has been for many years now the only Western producer of low carbon ferro-chrome, a critical material for the production of the Aerospace, Defense, Automotive, Green energies, and various other industries.