UC Rusal Announces Results for Nine Months Ended 30 September 2012
OREANDA-NEWS. November 26, 2012. UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486, Euronext: RUSAL/RUAL, Moscow Exchange: RUALR/RUALRS), the world’s largest aluminium producer, announces its results for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2012.
Key highlights of the quarter ended 30 September 2012
• The operating profitability and underlying results of RUSAL in the third quarter of 2012 were seriously affected by low LME aluminium price as a result of investor sentiment. Thanks to procurement saving and cost reduction initiatives undertaken by the management supported by product mix improvement, weakened local currency and growing premiums, the Company managed to demonstrate Aluminium segment EBITDA margin of 8% in line with industry’s best producers.
• The Company maintains the healthy operating liquidity position having generated free cash flow before interest payments of USD885 million for the nine months ended 30 September 2012 and achieved the cash balance of USD894 million at the end of the third quarter of 2012. Continuing inventory optimization resulted in the reduction of working capital from the beginning of the year by 20% or USD469 million.
• Primary aluminium production was almost flat at 1,042 thousand tonnes for the third quarter of 2012 compared to 1,044 thousand tonnes for the second quarter of 2012 or 1,041 thousand tonnes for the third quarter of 2011. Primary aluminium production for the nine months ended 30 September 2012 reached 3,135 thousand tonnes demonstrating an increase of 2.3% compared to 3,064 thousand tonnes for the first nine months of 2011.
• Production of value-added products reached the new record high level of 40% of total output in the third quarter of 2012 or 39% in the first nine months of 2012.
• Average-weighted realized premium over LME aluminium price in the third quarter of 2012 increased to USD226 per tonne as compared to USD191 per tonne for the second quarter of 2012 or USD164 per tonne in the third quarter of 2011.
• Aluminium segment cash cost per tonne in the third quarter of 2012 decreased by 0.6% to USD1,936 per tonne as compared to USD1,947 per tonne in the previous quarter of the year due to the strict cost control and positive effect from depreciating domestic currency.
• In October 2012, the Company reached an agreement on the extension, until the end of 2013, of the period during which financial covenants under the existing credit facilities arranged by international and Russian lenders are not to be tested to allow it greater flexibility in the management of its financial ratios during the volatility currently affecting the commodity markets. The Company plans an early repayment of debt obligations falling due in the first half of 2013 in the amount of no less than USD406 million by the end of 2012.
• The Company has launched Kindia-2 bauxite project in Guinea increasing Kindia’s total capacity to 3.8Mt (+19%) by the end of 2012.
• In October 2012, Boguchanskaya Hydropower Plant (BEMO HPP) was successfully launched. Three 333MW units (total capacity of 1,000MW) of the HPP were put into test operation and produced the first self-generated electricity. The Company has also commenced the pot shell installation at the
Boguchansky aluminium smelter (BEMO smelter) construction site to start metal production at the plant in August 2013.
Commenting on the results, Oleg Deripaska, CEO of RUSAL said:
“Nine months of the current year have been particularly challenging for the aluminium industry. The operating profitability and underlying results of the Company in the third quarter of 2012 were seriously hit by the bottomed LME aluminium price as a result of investor sentiment. The period under review has seen RUSAL continue to focus on cost controls as well as increase production of value added products at our technologically advanced smelters up to 40% of total aluminium output. This approach has enabled us to demonstrate operating margins in line with global aluminium peers.
“Also the Company has developed an optimal strategy for liquidity management and mitigation of financial risks which allows the Company to be prepared for any scenario and to manage its risks. This has enabled RUSAL to maintain its strong liquidity position and post the period end, we announced an extension to the financial covenant non-testing period, demonstrating the continued support of our blue chip lenders.
“The current conditions faced by the aluminium industry require all producers to act responsibly in order to ensure the sector remains competitive. During the third quarter, the Company’s Board approved a long-term phased programme of production optimization aimed at substitution of less effective smelting capacities with new advanced facilities.
“While the short term outlook for the sector remains uncertain, the steps being taken now to address the oversupply alongside growing demand not only from the emerging markets but also from North America, enables RUSAL to remain confident in its current strategy and the outlook for the wider sector.”
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