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R.E.A. Holdings plc (RE.)
R.E.A. Holdings plc: Trading update
01-Feb-2021 / 07:00 GMT/BST
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside
information according to REGULATION (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR), transmitted by
EQS Group.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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R.E.A. Holdings plc ("REA" or the "company") - Trading update
Agricultural operations
Key agricultural statistics for the year to 31 December 2020 (with
comparative figures for 2019) were as follows:
2020 2019
FFB crops (tonnes):
Group harvested* 785,850 800,666
Third party harvested 185,515 198,737
Total 971,365 999,403
Production (tonnes):
Total FFB processed 948,261 979,411
CPO 213,536 224,856
Palm kernels 47,186 46,326
CPKO 16,164 15,305
Extraction rates (percentage):
CPO 22.5 23.0
Palm kernel 5.0 4.7
CPKO** 39.5 40.7
Rainfall (mm):
Average across the estates 3,061 3,057
* Group harvested FFB for both years includes crops from areas that are
currently being reallocated to plasma and which will be excluded for group
crop reporting purposes going forward
**Based on kernels processed
The group achieved a satisfactory FFB outturn for the third consecutive
year at 785,850 tonnes, a yield exceeding 22.5 tonnes per mature hectare.
After a strong start to 2020, cropping slowed in the middle of the year
with ripening delayed in common with other plantation companies in the
region. Following on from this slowdown, peak production in the latter
months of the year clashed with a combination of excessively wet weather,
that hindered both harvesting and crop evacuation, and a shortfall in the
availability of harvesters who were unable to travel to the estates due to
the Covid-19 pandemic.
Continuing work on modification and upgrading in the group's three mills
was also limited by supplies of spare parts and the availability of
contractors needed to complete the scheduled works. This led to some
processing delays during the peak crop months in the last quarter of 2020
which in turn put pressure on extraction rates during this period.
CPO prices
After an initial firm start to 2020, CPO prices fell away from $860 per
tonne, CIF Rotterdam, on 1 January to a low for the year of $510 per tonne
in May. Prices then staged a steady recovery from the middle of the year
through to the end of 2020 to close at $940 per tonne. These stronger
prices have continued into the first weeks of 2020 with CPO, CIF
Rotterdam, currently at $1,030 per tonne.
The higher prices now prevailing are materially beneficial to the company
although, as for all Indonesian palm oil companies, the extent of the
benefit is reduced by two imposts chargeable on exports of Indonesian CPO:
export duty and export levy. Both export duty and export levy are
calculated on sliding scales by reference to a CPO reference price
(recently increased from $870.77 to $1,027 per tonne with effect from
February 2021) that is set periodically by the Indonesian government on
the basis of CIF Rotterdam and other recognised benchmark CPO prices.
Following the rise in the CPO price in the second half of 2020, the
Indonesian government announced changes to the export levy scale. An
effect of the changes is that, at reference prices between $770 and $1,300
per tonne, an exporter of Indonesian CPO receives, after deduction of
export duty and levy, substantially the same net price per tonne.
Although CPO produced by the group is generally sold in the Indonesian
local market, which means that group sales are not subject to export duty
or export levy, arbitrage between the Indonesian local and international
CPO markets normally results in a local price that is broadly in line with
prevailing international prices after adjustment of the latter for
delivery costs and export duty and levy.
The application of monies raised by the export levy to subsidise
Indonesian producers of biodiesel should permit Indonesian biodiesel to
remain competitive with regular diesel oil and thereby underpin biodiesel
offtake of CPO. In addition, CPO markets should be supported over the
coming months by a general reduction in supplies of vegetable oils
combined with continuing demand growth as economies start to recover from
the set-backs of 2020. In particular, CPO production and stock levels are
likely to be constrained by the impact of reduced fertiliser applications
by smaller producers in response to weak CPO prices in the first half of
2020.
These factors, combined with the effect of the current scales of export
duty and levy as described above, means that prices for local sales of
Indonesian CPO can reasonably be expected to remain stable at current
levels for the immediate future.
Covid-19
Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic has not directly affected the company's day
to day operations, albeit that it has necessitated certain changes to
working practices and on site testing to safeguard employees, contractors
and other parties associated with the group, there have inevitably been
certain impacts. In addition to the wider economic consequences that led
to the fall in CPO prices early in 2020, the group experienced delays in
deliveries of supplies as well as travel restrictions that prevented or
delayed employees and contractors from returning to the estates.
Further, the recently agreed initiatives with respect to the stone and
coal interests could not be progressed during the extended economic
slowdown in 2020.
Stone and coal interests
The project in respect of the stone concessions held by PT Aragon Tambang
Pratama ("ATP"), which has been on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic,
is being rekindled with a view to commencing production during 2021. It
is expected that ATP, a company which is owned by the group's local
partners in the stone and coal operations and principally funded by the
group, will be supplying andesite to a neighbouring coal company to build
a road that will run through the group's estates pursuant to an agreement
reached early in 2020.
Following a recovery in Indonesian coal prices, the contractor appointed
to mine the coal concession at Kota Bangun in East Kalimantan held by PT
Indo Pancadasa Agrotama ("IPA"), a company owned and funded similarly to
ATP , has commenced negotiations to settle land compensation with affected
local individuals in preparation for recommencing mining during 2021. As
explained previously, the contractor will fund the land compensation and
all other required expenditure on infrastructure and mobilisation in
exchange for a participation in the profits of the IPA mine.
In addition to its mine, IPA owns a port on the Mahakam River that it
acquired in 2018 to provide an evacuation route for its coal production.
IPA expects that its revenues will be augmented by fees from two
neighbouring coal concessions that are planning to ship coal through IPA's
port.
2020 results
The group's normal cropping cycle results in FFB crops being weighted to
the second half of the year and this was again the case in 2020 with a
second half crop of 436,763 tonnes against the 349,087 tonnes harvested in
the first half. Combined with the better average selling prices in the
second half, this will permit the group to report earnings before
interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the second half that are
significantly ahead of the $11.2 million reported for the first half.
Whilst interest costs in the second half of 2020 were not materially
different from those of the first half, finance charges reported for the
first half were reduced by foreign exchange gains of $5.7 million arising
in respect of Indonesian rupiah and sterling indebtedness. Subsequent
strengthening of the Indonesian rupiah and sterling against the US dollar
will mean not only that these gains will not be repeated in the second
half, but also that finance charges for the second half will reflect a
significant reversal of the gains booked in the first half.
Funding
Improved cash flow from operations in the final months of 2020 permitted
the group to reduce amounts owed to trade suppliers to close to normal
levels and to avoid cancelling fertiliser applications.
Bank indebtedness was reduced over 2020 by the equivalent of $15.0
million, but this reduction was in part financed by increased pre-sale
advances from customers against forward commitments of CPO and CPKO (all
such commitments being on the basis of pricing fixed shortly ahead of
delivery by reference to market prices prevailing at that time).
Looking forward, the group has bank indebtedness falling due for repayment
in 2021 and 2022 equivalent in total to $39.8 million and is also due to
repay the outstanding $27.0 million nominal of US dollar notes at the end
of June 2022.
As previously announced, the group is in discussions with its banks to
provide additional financing. The group will also explore alternative
sources of finance including debt, equity and trade finance to strengthen
the group's balance sheet, address the dividend arrears on the preference
shares and enable the group to take full advantage of its high levels of
production and the strong palm oil market.
Dividends on the preference shares
Subject to the prospects of much improved cash flow in 2021 being realised
and to satisfactory arrangements being agreed to fund the indebtedness
falling due for repayment in 2021 and 2022, the directors expect to be
able to pay the dividends arising on the preference shares in respect of
the current year. Whilst the group recognises the importance of paying
the arrears on the preference dividend, which now stand at 18p per share,
with a significant debt refinancing still to be agreed, it is not yet in a
position to provide guidance on when it might be able to commence doing
so.
Outlook
2021 has started well for the group with production in January ahead of
normal levels. Indications are that the peak production period will
continue through the first quarter of 2021.
Works to restore the condition of estate roads following the heavy rains
of recent months should facilitate more efficient evacuation of FFB in
2021. With the easing of supply backlogs and adaptations implemented to
address Covid-related risks and travel restrictions, the remaining mill
works will gradually be completed in 2021. Together, these will serve to
improve extraction rates which should then remain at more consistent
levels.
With good production, firm CPO prices, the continuing benefit of cost
savings from the programme initiated in 2019 and careful management of
expenditure, coupled with the prospect of positive cash contributions from
the group's stone and coal interests (augmented by the recent full
recovery of costs of the arbitration claim against IPA), the directors
look forward to an improvement in the group's performance in 2021 and
beyond.
Publication of results
In line with the timetable adopted in previous years, the final results
for 2020 are due to be announced, and the annual report in respect of 2020
published, at the end of April 2021.
Enquiries:
R.E.A Holdings plc
Tel: 020 7436 7877
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ISIN: GB0002349065
Category Code: TST
TIDM: RE.
LEI Code: 213800YXL94R94RYG150
Sequence No.: 92627
EQS News ID: 1164636
End of Announcement EQS News Service
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