REG - RHI Magnesita N.V. - Q1 Trading Update

RHI Magnesita NVAnnouncement

29/04/2026 07:00

For best results when printing this announcement, please click on link below:
https://newsfile.refinitiv.com/getnewsfile/v1/story?guid=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20260429:nRSc2961Ca&default-theme=true

RNS Number : 2961C  RHI Magnesita N.V.  29 April 2026

29 April 2026

RHI Magnesita N.V.

("RHI Magnesita" or "the Group")

Q1 2026 TRADING UPDATE

Continued progress in a volatile world

RHI Magnesita, the leading global supplier of high-grade refractory products,
systems and solutions, today provides an update on trading for the three
months ended 31 March 2026 ("Q1").

·    Global demand for steel and industrial refractories was slightly
weaker than prior year with regional performance varying.

·    Adjusted EBITA increased meaningfully year-on-year, supported by
continued execution of management-led self-help initiatives across pricing,
cost discipline, network optimisation and enhanced supply chain agility.

·    Full-year guidance reconfirmed: adjusted EBITA of approximately
€435 million on a constant currency basis (approximately €400 million
including foreign exchange headwinds).

·    Strong full-year cash generation expected to support further
deleveraging to approximately 2.6x by year-end.

Q1 trading

Demand for refractories weakened in steel markets in Europe, Middle East and
LATAM and were at expected levels in other regions. RHI Magnesita steel sales
volumes were broadly in line with Q1 2025, with moderate pricing benefits
realised. Industrial refractory demand decreased slightly in cement and
industrial projects.

Strong profit contributions from North America and Latin America supported Q1
earnings, while India, China & East Asia and META (Middle East, Türkiye
& Africa) performed in line with expectations. Europe & CIS
underdelivered, primarily due to volume shifts from Q1 to Q2. Performance in
Europe has the potential to improve over the remainder of the year, supported
by cost reduction measures and early signs of recovery in the Industrial
business, particularly in non-ferrous metals.

At the end of Q1 2026, the Group announced a review of its production
footprint in France, including the potential closure of one plant and the
conversion of another into a circular economy site. This forms part of the
Network Optimisation Programme Europe and is intended to enhance
competitiveness and improve operational efficiency.

Adjusted EBITA increased by approximately 15% year-on-year (+46% on a constant
currency basis), while reported EBIT increased by 25% year-on-year (+84% on a
constant currency basis). The improvement was primarily driven by sustained
cost discipline and the continued benefits of management-led self-help
measures implemented in 2025 and 2026.

The conflict in the Middle East did not have a material impact on the Group's
performance in Q1 but depressed sales volumes in March in the region. While
certain local customers were significantly affected, the Group's overall
exposure to the region remains limited. All impacted shipments were
successfully redirected via alternative routes to serve customers both
regionally and globally, with service levels maintained high above industry
standards. The Q2 order intake remains robust.

The longer-term impact of the conflict remains uncertain. The Group will
continue to execute management led self-help measures to mitigate potential
headwinds.

Customers across all regions continued to benefit from the Group's
Local-for-Local strategy and modern supply chain capabilities despite
significant global disruptions. Inflationary pressures arising from the
conflict are being mitigated through the implementation of surcharges to
offset higher energy, freight and raw material costs.

Financial position

Net debt at 31 March 2026 increased compared to year-end 2025, with leverage
remaining broadly in line with recent levels. The increase was driven by
higher working capital, reflecting a planned build-up in inventories ahead of
anticipated stronger sales in Q2, particularly in industrial projects. This
build-up is consistent with normal seasonal patterns and is expected to unwind
over the remainder of the year, in line with full-year guidance on working
capital intensity.

Leverage is expected to decline to around 2.6x by the end of 2026.

Full-year guidance reconfirmed

Demand across steel and industrial end markets remains resilient, albeit at
subdued levels and regionally different. Against this backdrop, management
continues to execute self-help measures which, together with momentum from the
second half of 2025, support performance and underpin confidence in the
Group's full-year guidance.

In line with previous guidance, adjusted EBITA for FY 2026 is expected to be
approximately €435 million on a constant currency basis, or around €400
million after foreign exchange headwinds.

The Group expects to maintain strong cash generation, with cash conversion
above 90% and continued deleveraging supported by disciplined working capital
management. Net debt is projected to decline over the year, with leverage
reducing to around 2.6x by year-end. M&A remains a core element of the
strategy; however, no significant cash outflows related to transactions are
anticipated in 2026.

Stefan Borgas, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Despite a turbulent global economy in Q1, our performance demonstrates
continued progress. Demand remains resilient overall, though slightly
disappointing in major steel markets and with regional variations as expected.
We have restored margins to acceptable levels, reflecting disciplined
execution of our self-help measures.

We have also identified further opportunities in digitisation, plant network
optimisation and SG&A efficiency, which are expected to support continued
improvement and provide momentum over the next 18-24 months.

Our upgraded 4PRO full solutions value propositions to selected customers show
encouraging feedback from leading, sophisticated customers in their markets.

We remain highly responsive to the evolving geopolitical backdrop, actively
managing our supply chain to optimise costs and pricing. The increasing
operational flexibility of our resilient Local-for-Local model, combined with
rapidly advancing digital capabilities, further strengthens this adaptability.

Looking ahead, we remain confident that our proactive measures position us to
manage ongoing market volatility."

The reported financial data in this trading update have not been audited.

Conference call

A conference call for analysts will be held at 8:15am UK time to discuss the
trading update:

Webcast link:
https://www.investis-live.com/rhimagnesita/69d52b0d3d1719000fc25143/mdgw
(https://www.investis-live.com/rhimagnesita/69d52b0d3d1719000fc25143/mdgw)

Dial in (listen only):

International: +44 20 3936 2999

UK toll free: 0800 358 1035

Access code: 856527

AGM

AGM - Further to the Notice of Meeting issued on 26 March 2026, the Company
will hold its Annual General Meeting ("AGM') on 13 May 2026 at 14:00 CEST.
Voting results from the AGM will be released shortly after the meeting.

 

For further enquiries, please contact:

Alexander Ordosch, Head of Investor Relations

Tel +43 699 1870 6162

E‐mail: Alexander.Ordosch@rhimagnesita.com
(mailto:Alexander.Ordosch@rhimagnesita.com)

 

Media:

Hudson Sandler

Tel +44 020 7796 4133

E-mail: rhimagnesita@hudsonsandler.com

 

About RHI Magnesita

RHI Magnesita is the leading global supplier of high-grade refractory
products, systems and solutions which are critical for high-temperature
processes exceeding 1,200°C in a wide range of industries, including steel,
cement, non-ferrous metals and glass. With a vertically integrated value
chain, from raw materials to refractory products and full performance-based
solutions, RHI Magnesita serves customers around the world, with over 20,000
employees in 76 main production sites (including recycling facilities), 16 raw
material sites and more than 70 sales offices. RHI Magnesita intends to
leverage its leadership in terms of revenue, scale, product portfolio and
diversified geographic presence to target strategically those countries and
regions benefiting from more dynamic economic growth prospects.

RHI Magnesita offers investors EBITDA and free cash flow comparable to FTSE
100 peers, the highest free cash flow yield in the UK industrials sector, a
compelling M&A growth story and high operational gearing to market
recovery. The Group seeks to allocate capital to maximise value generation for
shareholders. After maintenance capex and dividend, M&A, organic
investments and buybacks compete for capital. The global refractory industry
remains fragmented and the M&A pipeline presents an opportunity to
continue a value-accretive consolidation strategy.

The Group is listed within the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category
("ESCC") of the Official List of the London Stock Exchange (symbol: RHIM) and
is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index, with a secondary listing on the Vienna
Stock Exchange (Wiener Börse). For more information please visit:
www.rhimagnesita.com

 

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact
rns@lseg.com (mailto:rns@lseg.com)
 or visit
www.rns.com (http://www.rns.com/)
.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our
Privacy Policy (https://www.lseg.com/privacy-and-cookie-policy)
.   END  TSTBVLLLQZLBBBE



            Copyright 2019 Regulatory News Service, all rights reserved