Eramet: Adjusted turnover of €809m in Q3 2024

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Eramet SA
Eramet SA

Paris, 24 October 2024, 7:15 a.m.

PRESS RELEASE

Eramet: Adjusted turnover of €809m in Q3 2024

  • Adjusted turnover1 of €809m, down 17% versus Q3 2023, reflecting a negative volume effect (-43%), partly offset by a positive price effect (+26%)

  • Decrease in volumes sold for the Group’s main mining activities, except mineral sands:

    • Depressed market conditions for carbon steel in China in Q3, leading to a decline in sales of manganese ore (-37% vs. Q3 2023)

    • Timing of issuance by the Indonesian Authorities of the nickel ore sales permit for 2024, which significantly restricted nickel ore volumes sold in Q3 (-83%)

    • Good operational performance in Senegal, with an increase in zircon and ilmenite volumes sold2 (+88% and +34%, respectively)

  • Significant volatility in selling prices over the quarter:

    • Strong decline in manganese ore prices to around $4.0/dmtu currently (-56% vs. end-July), with an average quarterly index remaining above Q3 2023

    • Stability in prices for nickel ore sold in Indonesia, the decline of the LME being offset by a high level of local premiums, resulting from supply restrictions

  • Regaining full ownership of Centenario, a key strategic asset for Eramet's sustainable development in lithium, a critical metal for the energy transition; impact of $699 million on the Group's net debt (press release of 24/10/20243)

  • Suspension of the Battery Recycling project, pending a solid and sustainable economic model in Europe

  • Market conditions remain depressed in Q4 2024 and are expected to continue weighing on prices, notably for manganese

    • Volumes targets revised for 2024 (press release of 15/10/20243):

      • Sales of high-grade manganese ore: between 6.0 and 6.5 Mt, including around 0.7 Mt of internal sales, factoring in the decline in Q3 sales

      • Nickel ore sales in Indonesia: 32 Mwmt, including 3 Mwmt of internal sales and a third of the volume being limonite, according to the revised sales permit for the year

      • Production of lithium carbonate: around 1 kt-LCE, scheduled to start in the coming weeks in Argentina

  • Adjusted EBITDA1 in H2 expected to be above that of H1, considering the market environment and based on the above production and sales volume targets

  • Action plan aimed at preserving cash:

    • Reduction in capex financed by the Group4, revised downwards between €450m and €500m in 2024 (a decrease of €250m and €100m compared to the targets communicated end-February and end-July respectively)

    • Optimisation of WCR, particularly inventories by adjusting production as closely as possible to match demand

    • Strict cost control in all of our activities, with the temporary suspension of manganese ore production in Gabon notably enabling better cost control in a difficult market environment