SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Q2 Slowed Down By Weak Market Development
SCHMOLZ+BICKENBACH has reported a 16.2% decline in sales volume from 580 kilotons in the second quarter of 2018 to 486 kilotons. Due to higher sales prices, revenue decreased proportionally less sharply to EUR 807.6 million (11.1%) from EUR 908.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was 52.3% lower at EUR 40.5 million compared to EUR 84.9 million in the same quarter of the previous year. EBITDA reached EUR 28.0 million, 65.8% less than the EUR 81.8 million achieved in the second quarter of 2018.
A difficult first quarter was followed by an even more challenging second quarter. Both the Group's order intake and order backlog continued to decline. Like all manufacturing industries, the steel sector also suffered from the unfavorable market setting, triggered primarily by the trade conflict between the USA and China. In addition, threats from the United States to introduce new tariffs on EU products, the Brexit process and other global crises weighed on the confidence of consumers and producers. In the second quarter, SCHMOLZ+BICKENBACH initiated further measures to mitigate the impact on earnings in the short term. Administrative costs were reduced, the number of contract workers reduced, ongoing projects prioritized and maintenance works postponed where this poses no risk to our operational performance vis-à-vis customers and to employee safety. In addition, production was cut back in order to adjust inventories to the current low demand, particularly from the automotive industry. In terms of structural improvements, the focus was on implementing the turnaround plan of Finkl Steel and the continued integration of Ascometal.
At 486 kilotons, sales volume in the second quarter 2019 was 16.2% lower than in the same period one year ago with 580 kilotons. This decline was mainly due to a 20.0% decline in sales volume of quality & engineering steel. The weakness of the automotive industry had a significant impact here. Sales in the other two product groups, stainless steel and tool steel, was also lower than in the same quarter of the previous year. However, the decline of these product groups was more moderate than in quality & engineering steel as the end markets for stainless steel and tool steel show a higher degree of diversification.
The average sales price per ton of steel was EUR 1,662 in the second quarter of 2019, 6.1% higher than in the prior-year quarter (Q2 2018: EUR 1,566). The increase is mainly attributable to the more favorable product mix with a larger share of higher-priced steel grades from the product groups stainless steel and tool steel.
However, the positive price trend could not offset the lower sales volume. As a result, revenue fell to EUR 807.6 million, 11.1% lower than in the prior-year quarter. The decline is primarily attributable to the quality & engineering steel product group with a decrease of 21.5%. Revenue of stainless steel fell by 1.5% and of tool steel by 1.1%.
From a regional perspective, revenue declined in almost all regions compared with the prior-year quarter. Only in the Americas revenue was up 3.8%. This mainly reflects the success of the expansion in growth markets in Latin America. Revenue declined by 13.8% in Europe and 5.3% in Africa/Asia/Australia.
Source : Strategic Research Institute