Terrafame’s net sales in 2019 totalled EUR 310.4 million – EBITDA for the year was at the 2018 level

(The financial data from Terrafame Ltd presented in this factsheet are unaudited FAS figures. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in parentheses refer to the corresponding period of the previous year.)

 

Year 2019 in brief

• Nickel production increased to 27,468 (27,377) tonnes. Zinc production decreased by 10.4 per cent to 55,222 (61,608) tonnes.
• The average price of nickel in 2019 on the London Metal Exchange was USD 13,926 per tonne (13,122), which converts to EUR 12,439 (11,111) per tonne.
• The average price of zinc in 2019 on the London Metal Exchange was USD 2,547 per tonne (2,922), which converts to EUR 2,275 (2,474) per tonne.
• Net sales for the financial year decreased by 4.7 per cent to EUR 310.4 (325.8) million.
• The net sales in October–December 2019 amounted to EUR 66.8 (77.4) million, which is 13.7 per cent lower than in the corresponding period in 2018 and almost 35 per cent lower compared to July–September 2019. The net sales were low in October as a result of the scheduled shutdown of the metals recovery plant and the unscheduled stoppage at the hydrogen sulphide plant in the fourth quarter.
• The EBITDA for the year was at the 2018 level, i.e. EUR 32.0 (32.8) million.
• EBITDA for the fourth quarter was EUR 0.7 (-1.0) million.
• Operating result for the year amounted to EUR -5.6 (3.0) million.
• Free cash flow from operations was EUR -20.6 (-15.6) million.
• The combined lost-time injury frequency rate of Terrafame and its partner companies in 2019 was 14.2 (8.7). Safe working methods used by both partner companies and own personnel were a source of increased attention in the industrial site throughout the year, and active efforts on safe working methods will continue.
• The construction works for new battery chemicals plant progressed as planned and process equipment installations and recruitments for the production organisation were launched.

 

1) Free cash flow after sustaining capex = EBITDA - Change in net working capital - Sustaining capex excluding right-of-use assets.
2) The quarterly split of sustaining and growth capex has been restated for 1-9/2019.

Terrafame has adopted the IFRS 16 Leases standard as permitted by section 5:5b of the Finnish Accounting Act and by the IAS Regulation (EU) in its financial accounting effective 1 January 2019, using the simplified approach. The cumulative impact of the implementation of the standard has been recognized on the balance sheet and the comparative figures have not been restated. The comparative figures regarding lease liabilities are presented according to the Finnish Accounting Act.
 

CEO Joni Lukkaroinen:

‘The annual nickel production increased to 27,468 (27,377) tonnes. Zinc production decreased by 10.4 per cent to 55,222 (61,608) tonnes. The production volume ratio of zinc to nickel is influenced by ore mineralogy and their dissolution ratio in bioleaching. At the start-up of production, significantly more zinc was produced in relation to the normal production ratio. The total production volumes were slightly below the annual target levels, which are set at 30,000 tonnes of nickel and 60,000 tonnes of zinc. This was particularly due to the loss of production resulting from repair measures in the bioleaching area as well as the scheduled stoppage of the metals recovery plant and the unscheduled stoppage of the hydrogen sulphide plant in the fourth quarter.

Terrafame’s net sales decreased by 4.7 per cent in 2019, to EUR 310.4 (325.8) million. However, we are pleased that, despite the decline in net sales, the EBITDA for the year reached the 2018 level and amounted to EUR 32.0 (32.8) million.

Strong nickel price fluctuations continued throughout the year. The uncertainty of the global economy kept the price development of nickel down during the first half of the year. In the third quarter, the price of nickel increased sharply, and that was when we achieved the largest quarterly net sales in the company’s history and had an excellent EBITDA as well. Towards the end of the year, the market price of nickel started declining again.

In 2019, we continued our determined efforts to further stabilise the production process and to achieve the production volume target levels on a more permanent basis. Our strategic spearhead project – the construction of the battery chemicals plant – also progressed well. Once completed, our new plant will be one of the world's largest production units for nickel sulphate used in electric vehicle batteries. We will also start producing cobalt sulphate used in electric vehicle batteries. The battery chemicals plant will move us forward in the value chain and into the rapidly growing battery chemicals market as a manufacturer of specialty chemicals. The plant’s process equipment installations and building of a production organisation are progressing and the commercial production of battery chemicals will be started during the first half of 2021.

In early February the Finnish government decided to grant a uranium extraction permit to Terrafame. This was a positive decision for our business, but we estimate that it will take approximately 2 years until the permit has legal force. After that, the process of getting the uranium extraction plant ready for use including recruitment and training of the personnel will take approximately one year. We estimate that when operating, the uranium plant will employ approximately 30 persons.

Safety is one of the cornerstones of our operating culture. At the end of 2019, the combined 12-month rolling lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) of Terrafame and its partners was 14.2 (8.7). Terrafame found the LTIFR of 33.0 of companies operating at the battery chemicals plant to be very high, which is why more attention was paid to the matter with the contractors. Active efforts on safety matters will be systematically emphasised among our own personnel and the employees of partner companies also in the future.‘

                                                                                            

Market developments

Electric car and battery markets

Global EV sales were approximately 2,2 million units in 2019. Although EV sales fell in China towards end of the year, mainly reflecting changes in subsidies, China still represented more than a half of the global EV sales. Whereas EV sales were sluggish in China torwards the end of the year, the whole year sales were up 35 per cent in Europe year-on-year.

Average pack sizes across all EV classes rose to a sales weighted average of 57 kWh from 53 kWh at the beginning of the year. The global battery demand in 2019 was up 17 per cent compared with 2018 at approximately 118 GWh. Together with increasing average pack sizes also the amount of nickel in the batteries has been increasing. E.g. the market share of NCA batteries increased from 22 per cent at the end of 2018 to 27 percent at the end of 2019 and the market share of NCM 811 batteries, that were launched at the market during 2019, was 5 per cent of all battery categories at the end of 2019.

Nickel and zinc

Strong nickel price fluctuations continued in 2019. The uncertainty of the global economy kept the price development of nickel down during the first half of the year despite the demand exceeding the supply. The price of nickel rose sharply in the third quarter, when the markets speculated on Indonesia’s nickel ore ban, and the price peaked at more than USD 18,000 per tonne. Supply exceeded demand in the second half of the year. The 2019 average price of nickel – USD 13,926 (13,122) per tonne – ended up being 6.1 percent higher than the price in 2018. In euros, the average price of nickel was 12,439 (11,111) per tonne.

In October–December 2019, the world market price of nickel was on average USD 15,450 (11,516) per tonne, which was 34.0 percent higher than the price in the corresponding period in 2018, but very close to the price in July–September 2019 (USD 15,551 per tonne).

The price of zinc kept declining in 2019, although the stock levels were also low, with the markets speculating on the possibility of oversupply. In March 2019, the price of zinc rose to over USD 3,000 per tonne at a time of low inventory levels. However, during the end of the year, the price of zinc started to decline on account of a market imbalance arising from the growing uncertainty of the global economy. The average price was USD 2,547 (2,922) per tonne, which was 12.8 per cent lower than in the corresponding period in 2018. In euros, the average price of zinc was 2,275 (2,474) per tonne.

The world market price of zinc in October–December 2019 was on average USD 2,388 (2,631) per tonne, which was 9.2 percent lower than the price in the corresponding period in 2018 and 1.6 percent (USD 2,350 per tonne) lower than in July–September 2019.

The total combined nickel stocks of the London Metal Exchange (LME) and Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) stood at 188,097 (221,659) tonnes at the end of 2019, corresponding to demand of approximately 4 (5) weeks. The stock levels grew during the fourth quarter of 2019 for the first time since the first quarter of 2016. Zinc stock levels declined sharply in late 2018 and the combined stock levels (LME+SHFE) at the end of 2019 were 79,285 (151,850) tonnes. This corresponds to demand of less than a week.

 

Exchange rate

The US dollar continued to strengthen against the euro towards the end of 2019. The average EUR/USD exchange rate for October–December 1.11 whereas in July–September 2019, it was 1.11. The average EUR/USD exchange rate for the year 2019 was 1.12 whereas in 2018, it was 1.18.

 

Metals production

The annual production of nickel increased to 27,468 (27,377) tonnes. Zinc production decreased by 10.4 per cent to 55,222 (61,608) tonnes. The production volume ratio of zinc to nickel is influenced by ore mineralogy and their dissolution ratio in bioleaching. At the start-up of production, significantly more zinc was produced in relation to the normal production ratio. The total production volumes were slightly below the annual target levels, which are set at 30,000 tonnes of nickel and 60,000 tonnes of zinc. This was particularly due to the production losses caused by the repair measures in the bioleaching area and stoppages during the fourth quarter.

During the fourth quarter, nickel production decreased by 16.8 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2018, to 6,418 (7,710) tonnes. Zinc production decreased by 19.6 per cent to 12,845 (15,974) tonnes. During the fourth quarter, production was lower due to the scheduled stoppage of the metals recovery plant and the unscheduled stoppage of the hydrogen sulphide plant.

In March 2019, damage was detected in the liner structure of block 2 of the primary leaching area. Repair measures to construct a new liner structure over the existing structure were immediately initiated. In the primary leaching area, the stacking of ore was at a standstill between 18 March and 20 April. After that, the repairs have progressed as planned in the production area at the same pace with heap reclaiming and stacking of new ore.

 

Net sales and financial performance

Net sales for January–December 2019 decreased by 4.7 per cent to EUR 310.4 (325.8) million. The net sales were lower than in 2018 due to the loss of production resulting from the repair measures in the bioleaching area as well as the scheduled and unscheduled production stoppages at the metals recovery plant.

Net sales in the fourth quarter amounted to EUR 66.8 million. Net sales decreased by 13.7 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2018, mainly due to lower production. Net sales decreased by approximately 35 percent compared to