Dutch animal nutrition and fish feed manufacturers Nutreco, have just released their trading update for the first quarter if this year.
Revenue for the first quarter was EUR 853.3 million; which represented 8.4% increase over the same period last year. Organic volume effect was 10.7%
Animal Nutrition revenues decreased by 4.6% to EUR 438.8 million. Organic volume effect was +1.0%, offset mainly by foreign exchange effects
Fish Feed revenues of € 414.5 million are 26.6% higher than last year driven by a 24.3% increase in organic volumes and 11.1% growth from acquisitions partly offset by 7.3% foreign exchange effects.
The process of exploring possible divestment opportunities of our compound feed and meat business in Spain and Portugal is taking more time than earlier anticipated as we seek a fair valuation that recognises the market position, current financial performance and future potential of these businesses
First quarter operating results of compound feed and meat business in Spain and Portugal ('discontinued operations') improved compared to Q1 2013
Outlook: Based on current trading conditions, Nutreco expects EBITA before exceptional items for continuing operations for the first half of 2014 to be clearly higher than first half 2013 (€ 80.3 million)
Knut Nesse, CEO of Nutreco siad "We are pleased with the higher results for the first quarter compared to last year driven by higher volumes in Fish Feed, mainly in Norway. Animal Nutrition results were slightly above last year with encouraging trends in margin development and volumes particularly in mature markets.
Our new organisational structure has been effectively implemented. The structure brings us closer to the business which will provide better execution power and deliver increased focus to regions with more integrated Animal Nutrition and Fish Feed businesses.
Our long term growth drivers are a growing world population and increased demand for protein which remain the basis of our strategy. Organic growth will be achieved by investing in new production facilities such as the recently announced investments in Asia as well as value-accretive acquisitions in line with our strategy.
Based on the developments in the first quarter, we expect EBITA before exceptional items for continuing operations for the first half of 2014 to be clearly higher than first half 2013 (€ 80.3 million)."
Animal Nutrition
Revenue for the Animal Nutrition segment in the first quarter amounted to € 438.8 million, a decrease of 4.6% compared to last year (Q1 2013: € 460.0 million). The volume effect was 1.0%, with higher sales in Canada and increased volumes in value-added nutritional solutions such as young animal feeds. The price effect was -1.9% caused by lower raw material prices. The contribution of acquisitions was 1.6% and related to the animal nutrition operations of Gisis in Ecuador and Hendrix Misr in Egypt. The foreign exchange rate effect was -5.3%. The operating result was slightly higher than the same quarter last year.
Fish Feed
The revenue in Fish Feed increased by 26.6% to € 414.5 million compared to last year (Q1 2013: € 327.5 million). The volume effect was 24.3%, mostly due to higher demand for salmon feed in Norway and fish feed for sea bass and sea bream in southern Europe partly offset by lower demand for non-salmonid feed especially in China. The increase in salmonid volumes was 35.9% driven by higher water temperatures in Norway compared to exceptionally cold water temperatures in the same quarter last year and increased biomass. The price effect was -1.5% due to lower raw material prices. The contribution of acquisitions was 11.1% and related to the acquisition of Gisis in Ecuador and Hendrix Misr in Egypt. The foreign exchange rate effect was -7.3%.
The volume share in revenues of fish feed for non-salmonid species is now 37% compared with 36% in the same quarter last year. The operating result in Q1 was clearly higher than the same quarter of 2013. This was mostly due to higher volumes in Norway, a better result in southern Europe and the contribution of operating companies in Ecuador and Egypt acquired in 2013.
Discontinued operations
Our Spanish and Portuguese compound feed and meat activities have had a good first quarter compared with last year benefiting from their market leadership positions and a recovery of the Spanish economy.
In July 2013 Nutreco announced that it was considering strategic opportunities for the Spanish and Portuguese compound feed and meat businesses in order to increase focus on a higher value-added portfolio of nutritional solutions, growth segments Animal Nutrition and Fish Feed as well as growth geographies. The compound feed and meat activities fall outside Nutreco's core strategic focus and are subject to a process exploring possible divestment opportunities. The process is taking more time than earlier anticipated. Nutreco is seeking a fair valuation that recognises the market position, current financial performance and future potential of these businesses. We continue to consider all options and remain committed to serving all stakeholders interests.
Outlook first half year 2014
The following developments are expected for the first half year 2014:
Animal Nutrition: operating result slightly higher than last year (H1 2013: € 56.9 million)
Fish Feed: an operating result which is clearly higher than last year (H1 2013: € 35.1 million).
Based on current trading conditions we expect EBITA before exceptional items for continuing operations for the first half of 2014 to be clearly higher than the first half year of 2013 (€ 80.3 million). Due to seasonality of the business, the majority of Nutreco's result is generated in the second half of the year.
