Maersk profit of 1,2bn dollar in Q1 2012
SHIPPING: The A.P. Moller – Maersk Group delivered a profit of USD 1.2bn. Excluding divestment gains and one-off tax income from the settlement of an Algerian tax dispute, the Group recorded a zero profit (profit of USD 1.1bn) and a ROIC of 1.1% (11.2%).
Maersk Line lost USD 599m (profit of USD 424m) in Q1 2012. Maersk Line’s volume increased by 18% and the average freight rate declined by 9% versus Q1 last year.
Maersk Oil’s profit for the period was USD 1.3bn (USD 0.5bn). A one-off tax income of USD 0.9bn from the settlement of an Algerian tax dispute and a gain from a partial divestment of interests in Brazil also had a positive effect on the result. The result was also positively affected by a higher average oil price of USD 119 per barrel (USD 105 per barrel) and negatively affected by a 24% decline in share of production to 254,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) compared to 335,000 boepd in Q1 2011. Maersk Oil completed five.
APM Terminals' profit for the period was USD 235m (USD141m) supported by after tax divestment gains of USD 73m from portfolio optimisation. Despite declining volumes in Europe, overall throughput increased by 10% driven by growth markets and new terminals. EBITDA margin declined to 22.7% (23.3%).
Maersk Drilling realised a profit of USD 125m (USD 122m) and a ROIC of 12.2% (12.9%). Several contracts were signed during the quarter, giving good earnings visibility for 2012 and 2013. Rig uptime remained high.
Maersk Supply Service reported a profit of USD 42m (USD 43m), with spot market rates at the same level as in Q1 2011. Four long term contracts were signed for the Brazilian and African deepwater markets.
The divestment of Maersk LNG resulted in a USD 73m gain and a USD 1.2bn cash flow.
The A.P. Moller - Maersk Group expects a result for 2012 slightly lower than the level reported in 2011 (USD 3.4bn).
Maersk Line expects a negative up to neutral result in 2012, based on the assumption that the rate restoration that has taken place since March 2012 will continue. The outlook is very sensitive towards changes in the market balance. Global demand for seaborne containers is expected to increase by 4-6% in 2012, with lower increases on the Asia – Europe trades but higher increases on the North – South trades.
Maersk Oil expects a result for 2012 at the same level as the result for 2011 (USD 2.1bn), impacted by compensation of USD 0.9bn from the settlement of a tax dispute in Algeria. The expected result is based on a share of production of 265,000 boepd at an average oil price of USD 110 per barrel. Exploration costs are expected to be above USD 1bn.
APM Terminals expects a result above 2011 and above market growth in volumes supported by portfolio expansion. Maersk Drilling and Maersk Supply Service expect results in line with the 2011 results. The total result from all other activities is expected to be at the same level as in 2011 excluding divestment gains and impairments.
The outlook for 2012 is subject to considerable uncertainty, not least due to developments in the global economy.
Source: A.P. Moller – Maersk / maritimedanmark.dk
