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Johnson Matthey 1Q trading update

Published by , Editorial Assistant
Hydrocarbon Engineering,


Unless otherwise stated, figures and commentary quoted in this statement are based on the quarter ended 30th June 2016 and compare this quarter to 1Q15/1Q16 at actual rates.

Q1 highlights

  • Solid start to the year, group sales for continuing businesses up 6% (up 2% at constant rates).
  • Strong sales growth in emission control technologies and further progress in new businesses.
  • Overall demand stable in quarter for process technologies, precious metal products and fine chemicals.
  • Underlying profit before tax on a continuing basis broadly in line with last year at constant rates.
  • Full year outlook at constant rates remains in line with previous expectations.

Overview of trading

Group sales for the continuing businesses increased by 6% to £822 million (up 2% at constant rates), supported by continued good demand in emission control technologies and an increasing contribution from new businesses. Sales in both process technologies and precious metal products were stable although markets in both divisions remained challenging. Demand in fine chemicals’ continuing businesses was steady.

Underlying profit before tax for the quarter was supported by actions taken to reduce costs in the last financial year. Outlook for the full year at constant rates is unchanged. If current exchange rates prevail for the remainder of 2016/17, the group’s reported results will further benefit from a positive translational impact.

Emission control technologies (ECT)

ECT continued to perform well, with sales up 9% to £521 million (5% ahead at constant rates).

Sales in light duty vehicle catalyst business were up 14% to £331 million (12% ahead at constant rates), continuing to outpace global car production which grew by 2%. The business saw growth across all regions with particularly strong growth in Europe, helped in part by robust car production growth in the region’s key markets.

Heavy duty catalyst business’ sales were up 1% to £190 million (down 5% at constant rates). As expected, the slowdown in demand for Class 8 trucks in North America held back growth in sales. Production of Class 8 trucks has continued to weaken during the first quarter although production levels expected to stabilise later in the year. Sales in Europe were strong, helped by the good growth in Western European truck production.

Process technologies

Sales in process technologies grew by 3% to £134 million (down 1% at constant rates) with sales growth in chemicals offsetting reduced demand in the oil and gas businesses.

Chemicals businesses’ sales increased in the quarter with good demand for speciality products for petrochemical applications offsetting ongoing weakness in licensing activity. No new licences were signed in the period and low levels of licensing activity are expected to continue over the year.

Sales in the oil and gas businesses were lower partly as a result of reduced demand in the gas processing business after a strong 2015/16. Tough market conditions due to the low oil price continued to adversely impact demand in diagnostic services from customers in upstream oil and gas markets. On the other hand, demand for hydrogen catalysts was strong in the quarter.

Underlying operating profit for the division improved substantially as a result of the actions taken in the second half of 2015/16 to reduce costs, but market conditions remain challenging.

Precious metal products

Precious metal products’ sales increased by 6% to £91 million (up 1% at constant rates).

In services, precious metals management’s sales increased as the business benefited from the volatility in platinum group metal (pgm) prices during the period. Intake volumes in pgm refining and recycling business were stable, albeit at relatively low levels. Sales in the manufacturing businesses were slightly down as a weaker first quarter for noble metals was partly offset by good demand across all regions in advanced glass technologies.

The division’s underlying operating profit was down, principally due to lower average pgm prices (platinum averaged US$1010/oz, down 11% on the same period last year, and palladium average US$573/oz, down 25%).

Fine chemicals

As expected, sales in fine chemicals’ continuing businesses were flat at £59 million (5% down at constant rates). The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing business’ sales were slightly down due to timing of orders. Catalysis and chiral technologies had a good start to the year with strong demand for homogeneous catalysts.

Underlying operating profit for the division was lower, partly due to the absence of income from research chemicals which was sold on 30th September 2015.

New businesses

New businesses continued to make further progress with sales increasing 14% to £43 million (11% ahead at constant rates), with good demand for battery materials and an early contribution from the recent water technologies acquisitions made in April and May.

The operating loss for the division continued to be in line with expectations for the full year.

Outlook

In line with preliminary results announcement on 2 June 2016, we continue to expect the group’s performance in 2016/17 to be ahead of 2015/16, albeit weighted towards the second half.

The underlying performance of the group for 2016/17 at constant rates remains in line with previous expectations. However, the full year positive translational impact from exchange rates at 2 June 2016 of approximately £15 million has increased substantially recently. If exchange rates remain at current levels for the remainder of 2016/17, the positive translational impact to full year underlying operating profit would increase by around a further £25 million to a total of approximately £40 million.

It is too early to predict the exact consequences of the UK’s vote to leave the EU. However, the board currently believes that this will not have a long term material impact on Johnson Matthey and the company will continue to focus on executing strategy for the group. The company will continue to grow the business by investing in research and development, manufacturing facilities and employees, whilst improving health and safety performance and delivering the best products and service for customers.


Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/21072016/johnson-matthey-releases-first-quarter-trading-update-3749/

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