Scales Corporation is pleased to provide the following business and earnings guidance update. Pleasingly, all Scales’ business units have continued to operate successfully, within the protocols established, for the first six months of the year. While operations within New Zealand have been able to operate effectively, sales rates and pricing in international markets have been more variable and, as a result, earnings for the full 2020 year are forecast to be impacted. In addition, the earnings mix for the Group, by division, are forecast to differ from previous years, as detailed below.
Horticulture Division:
As outlined at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting in June, the 2020 apple harvest was completed with a total pick of 5.1 million TCEs equivalent, equal to the previous record in 2018. To date approximately 95% of the crop harvested has been packed and export packout rates are now forecast to be 80%, in line with rates for previous years and matching previous record volumes of own grown export volumes. Scales fortunately had access to adequate resources to cover harvest, packing, cool storage and shipping, and operating costs per TCE have been maintained at the levels close to the previous year.
Sales to date are approximately 70% of the expected total export volumes and we are continuing to ship to all customers. At this point market conditions for traditional varieties to Europe and UK are operating as expected with 35% of the sales remaining to be made, with average prices for the season expected to be higher than 2019. Sales rates for Asia and near markets have been adversely affected by the timing and impact of Covid-19 on China’s domestic apple sales, particularly during the lock down period. This has caused ongoing disruption in most Asia markets. With 35% of sales also remaining to be made in these markets total volumes and prices will be lower than 2019.
Based on returns to date, EBITDA earnings for the Horticulture division for 2020 are forecast to be materially below the previous year’s $39.7 million.
Food Ingredients Division:
Conversely, global demand for the food ingredients division and for pet food in particular have continued to remain strong. Significant trading opportunities have been captured by Shelby in the US, where market disruption from Covid-19 has also been high. While demand for the second half of the year remains uncertain, results for the first half will be materially above the same period last year.
Based on current trading and outlook the Group expects to retain a good portion of this over performance for the full year.
2020 Guidance
At a Group level, Directors wish to advise that Underlying Net Profit for the twelve months to 31 December 2020 is now expected to be at the bottom end of the guidance range, of between $30.0 million and $36.0 million.
Scales also advises that it will release its Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2020, prior to market opening on Wednesday 26 August. This will be followed by a conference call at 10am.
For more information:
www.scalesoperation.co.nz