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Borouge reports $1.38 billion revenue in Q1 2023

Quarterly sales volumes of 1,157kt increased by 5.1 per cent year-on-year

Borouge on Friday announced that its revenues stood at $1.38 billion for the three-month period ending March 31, 2023, with and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of $460 million.

The company’s value enhancement programme has already delivered a significant impact of more than $100 million in efficiencies and revenue optimisation.

Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, chief executive officer of Borouge, commented: “We are pleased to report our Q1 2023 results, along with a number of important operational and strategic achievements. The turnaround of our Borouge 2 facility was completed on time and on budget, returning our asset base to full production capacity from the second quarter onwards. We also made important strides forward in the execution of our value enhancement programme, achieving revenue optimisation gains and significant efficiencies in both fixed and variable costs. We will be looking to build on this strong progress throughout the year.”

“In April, we were pleased to pay a final dividend of $650 million to shareholders, bringing total post-IPO dividends for 2022 to $975 million. We remain committed to paying dividends of $1.3 billion for 2023.”

Pricing premia for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) improved compared to the previous quarter, by 22 per cent for PE and 17 per cent for PP, to reach $264 and $137, respectively.

As such, Borouge maintained its healthy polyolefin pricing premia, a key competitive advantage for the business.

Quarterly sales volumes of 1,157kt increased by 5.1 per cent year-on-year, with constraints on volumes vs. the previous quarter, and revenue stood at $1.38 billion. Lower quarterly production volumes were due to the planned one-off impact of the Borouge 2 turnaround, which has been implemented in line with its expected timetable and within budget.

The turnaround was completed on March 17, 2023, with 200kt returned to Borouge’s total production capacity. It forms part of Borouge’s regular plant maintenance schedule, which aims to keep its world-class asset base well-maintained and support industry-leading reliability and efficiency of operations.

Borouge delivered adjusted Ebitda of $460 million in the first quarter. A stable Ebitda margin of 33.3 per cent reflected material efficiencies from the value enhancement programme and higher revenues from product mix and differentiation, which partially offset the impact of lower production volumes.

Net profit for the period was $199 million, with lower sales volumes partially offset by strengthening prices. Cash conversion in the first quarter was very strong, at 82 per cent, with Capex increasing by 8 per cent quarter-on-quarter in support of the Borouge 2 turnaround.

The company’s value enhancement programme has already delivered a material impact over $100 million in efficiencies and revenue optimisation as of the end of the quarter. While higher propylene feedstock costs in the first quarter reflected overall market trends, and the utilisation of the cost-advantaged OCU to produce propylene was reduced by the Borouge 2 turnaround, the company said it continues to operate comfortably within the top quartile of the global cost curve, owing to its very competitive feedstock contracts, economies of scale and young asset base.

Focused on revenue optimisation and efficiency across variable and fixed costs, the value enhancement programme is expected to deliver a $400 million Ebitda impact in 2023, offsetting market pressures and positioning the company for future growth. Thereafter, Borouge expects to sustain a 15 per cent positive Ebitda impact from 2024 onwards versus the 2022 baseline.

With a consistent focus on maintaining a strong and healthy balance sheet, in January 2023, in view of a significant cash balance of over $1 billion, Borouge repaid $500 million of its $3.65 billion commercial term facility. This has resulted in significant interest cost savings. The Company will continue strengthening its balance sheet as it pursues growth and ensures future dividend capacity.

As announced in February 2023, the board of directors has mandated Borouge’s executive management to explore international expansion opportunities focused on geographies and markets that support the company’s existing strategic priorities.

Activity in Borouge’s core Asia Pacific and Middle East markets remains stronger than in developed markets, with economic growth rates ahead of developed economies. Management expects stable polyolefin demand growth in its core territories and for sales volumes to return to levels equivalent to production volumes.

The company’s differentiated product portfolio, enabled by Borstar technology, its innovation capabilities and integrated go-to-market approach, result in a sustained and strong market position, with Borouge able to tactically place all volumes in response to changes in demand.

Management expects to continue to achieve product pricing premia in line with its over-the-cycle mid-term guidance of $200/tonne for PE and $140/tonne for PP.