OSLO, Norway, Oct. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Hydro's underlying earnings before financial items and tax rose to NOK 659 million in the third quarter from NOK 518 million in the second quarter of 2013, lifted by higher hydropower production and lower operating costs. Low production at the Alunorte alumina refinery weighed on results in the quarter. A milestone reached in the quarter was the completion of the Sapa joint venture transaction, creating a global leader in extruded products. · Underlying EBIT NOK 659 million · Lower cost offsets weaker alumina and aluminium prices · Low production at Alunorte following power outages · Higher power production in Energy · New Sapa joint venture established · 2013 aluminium demand growth expected around 2% in world outside China "I am pleased to report that we are on track to deliver the USD 300 per mt cost improvements for our fully-owned smelters by the end of 2013, contributing to a more robust cost position and bottom line. This is a great achievement for Hydro and our organization. Stretching for excellence and always striving to become better provide us with a solid platform for the future," said Hydro's President and CEO, Svein Richard Brandtzæg. The positive developments in the third quarter were partly offset by a further weakening of underlying results for Bauxite & Alumina. Underlying EBIT for Bauxite & Alumina declined compared to the second quarter due to lower LME- linked alumina prices and continued low production volumes at the Alunorte alumina refinery, following power outages in first half of 2013. "Following the power outages at Alunorte and disruption to production earlier this year, we immediately mobilized resources to stabilize and increase production at the refinery. After stabilizing the production we now see production gradually increasing after the outages, although from a low level," said Brandtzæg. Primary Metal delivered improved underlying EBIT despite lower realized aluminium prices. Lower costs for alumina and power, higher premiums and seasonally lower fixed costs had a positive effect on underlying results for the quarter. Primary Metal has sold forward around 50 percent of its expected primary aluminium production for the fourth quarter of 2013 at a price level of around USD 1,800 per mt. This excludes volumes from Qatalum. Underlying EBIT for Metal Markets declined compared to the previous quarter, mainly affected by seasonally lower volumes and lower margins. Compared to the second quarter, underlying EBIT for Rolled Products was stable. Sales were seasonally lower, while operating costs declined. Underlying EBIT for Energy improved compared to the second quarter mainly due to higher power production and spot prices supported by low precipitation levels. Operating cash flow was NOK 1.1 billion for the third quarter. Net cash used for investment activities amounted to NOK 0.7 billion. Hydro's net debt position amounted to around NOK 0.5 billion at the end of the third quarter. Reported earnings before financial items and tax amounted to NOK 597 million in the third quarter. Reported EBIT also included net unrealized derivative gains and negative metal effects amounting to a loss of NOK 80 million in total, divestment gains of NOK 53 million and other items amounting to a net loss of NOK 36 million. The Alunorte alumina refinery and the Albras aluminium smelter have entered into additional USD currency forward contracts in Brazil for the second half 2013 and full year 2014. The total program value amounted to USD 1 220 million, including settled amounts, split 30 percent and 70 percent for 2013 and 2014, respectively. The achieved average exchange rates for the total program are 2.30 and 2.41 for 2013 and 2014, respectively. Key financial information %change First First NOK million, Third Second %change Third prior 9 9 except per quarter quarter prior quarter year months months Year share data 2013 2013 quarter 2012 quarter 2013 2012 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 16 146 16 053 1 % 14 722 10 % 48 309 48 596 64 181 Earnings before financial items and tax (EBIT) 597 375 59 % (232) >100 % 1 677 (132) 571 Items excluded from underlying EBIT 62 144 (57) % 249 (75) % 577 1 257 725 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underlying EBIT 659 518 27 % 16 >100 % 2 254 1 125 1 297 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underlying EBIT : Bauxite & Alumina (370) (244) (51) % (386) 4 % (678) (718) (791) Primary Metal 337 237 42 % (4) >100 % 938 277 335 Metal Markets 111 147 (24) % 8 >100 % 404 140 210 Rolled Products 182 181 1 % 213 (15) % 516 567 637 Energy 485 268 81 % 220 >100 % 1 270 1 137 1 459 Other and >(100) eliminations (87) (70) (23) % (35) % (195) (278) (553) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underlying EBIT 659 518 27 % 16 >100 % 2 254 1 125 1 297 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underlying EBITDA 1 753 1 624 8 % 1 149 53 % 5 541 4 577 5 827 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underlying income (loss) from discontinued operations 57 112 (49) % 16 >100 % 220 49 (5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income (1 (1 (loss) 321 (665) >100 % (256) >100 % (81) 418) 331) Underlying net income (loss) 393 427 (8) % (44) >100 % 1 470 432 408 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per share 0.11 (0.31) >100 % (0.15) >100 % (0.06) (0.70) (0.65) Underlying earnings per share 0.14 0.19 (26) % (0.01) >100 % 0.63 0.22 0.21 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial data: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments 948 612 55 % 806 18 % 2 615 2 275 3 382 Adjusted net interest- (12 (8 bearing debt 10 732 (11 317) >100 % (12 918) >100 % 10 732 918) 304) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key Operational information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alumina production (kmt) 1 316 1 248 5 % 1 441 (9) % 3 925 4 396 5 792 Primary aluminium production (kmt) 491 483 2 % 484 1 % 1 452 1 500 1 985 Realized aluminium price LME 1 (USD/mt) 1 822 926 (5) % 2 022 (10) % 1 932 2 119 2 080 Realized aluminium price LME 11 12 (NOK/mt) 10 938 11 217 (2) % 856 (8) % 11 233 321 12 047 Realized NOK/USD exchange rate 6.00 5.82 3 % 5.86 2 % 5.81 5.81 5.79 Metal products sales, total Hydro (kmt) 792 789 - 794 - 2 387 2 522 3 254 Rolled Products sales volumes to external market (kmt) 234 245 (5) % 228 3 % 715 683 909 Power production (GWh) 2 838 2 090 36 % 2 157 32 % 7 831 7 860 10 307 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investor contact Contact Rikard Lindqvist Cellular +47 41751199 E-mail Rikard.Lindqvist@hydro.com Press contact Contact Halvor Molland Cellular +47 92979797 E-mail Halvor.Molland@hydro.com Certain statements included within this announcement contain forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those relating to (a) forecasts, projections and estimates, (b) statements of management's plans, objectives and strategies for Hydro, such as planned expansions, investments or other projects, (c) targeted production volumes and costs, capacities or rates, start up costs, cost reductions and profit objectives, (d) various expectations about future developments in Hydro's markets, particularly prices, supply and demand and competition, (e) results of operations, (f) margins, (g) growth rates, (h) risk management, as well as (i) statements preceded by "expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", "proposed", "intended" or similar statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and forecasts that, by their nature, involve risk and uncertainty. Various factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in a forward-looking statement or affect the extent to which a particular projection is realized. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: our continued ability to reposition and restructure our upstream and downstream aluminium business; changes in availability and cost of energy and raw materials; global supply and demand for aluminium and aluminium products; world economic growth, including rates of inflation and industrial production; changes in the relative value of currencies and the value of commodity contracts; trends in Hydro's key markets and competition; and legislative, regulatory and political factors. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Hydro disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Q3 report: http://hugin.info/106/R/1737420/582493.pdf Q3 presentation: http://hugin.info/106/R/1737420/582492.pdf [HUG#1737420]
