Mannheim, 9 July 2013 - CropEnergies AG, Mannheim, increased its revenues and earnings in the 1st quarter of the financial year 2013/14 (1 March 2013 - 31 May 2013).
Revenues rose by 16 percent to EUR 186.0 (previous year: 160.5) million due to higher revenues for bioethanol as well as for protein food and animal feed products and due to a growth in bioethanol sales volumes. EBITDA improved by 3.6 percent to EUR 23.6 (previous year: 22.8) million and the operating profit by 5 percent to EUR 15.6 (previous year: 14.9) million. Owing to a high surplus from current business activities the net financial debt declined significantly to EUR 52.4 (previous year: 124.6) million.
From March to May 2013, CropEnergies produced a total of 201,000 (previous year: 192,000) cubic metres of bioethanol. The annual maintenance phase in Zeitz took place in the 1st quarter of 2013/14. After all maintenance work was successfully completed, the production plant was put into operation again at the end of April 2013 according to schedule.
The outlook for the complete financial year 2013/14 remains unchanged. Provided that market prices for bioethanol and vegetable proteins decline only slightly in comparison with the previous year and the production plants will continue to operate nearly at full capacity levels, CropEnergies expects revenues for the financial year 2013/14 to be close to the previous year's level.
Following the record level of EUR 87 million in operating profit achieved in the 2012/13 financial year due to the particularly favourable constellation of hedged raw material costs and product selling prices, CropEnergies expects the earnings situation to normalise owing to higher prices for raw materials, particularly grain. Accordingly, an operating profit ranging from EUR 50 to 60 million is expected. This already takes into account the adverse effects caused by the flooding in Zeitz in June 2013. CropEnergies still expects a return on capital employed (ROCE) of at least 10 percent, which will give the group again a leading position in the renewable energies segment.
The full report for the 1st quarter of 2013/14 can be downloaded from the CropEnergies website at www.cropenergies.com.
Ensuring mobility in a climate friendly way - today and in the future - is CropEnergies' business. Founded in Mannheim, Germany, in 2006, the young and dynamically growing member of the Südzucker Group is one of the leading European manufacturers of sustainably produced bioethanol for the fuel sector today. With its three modern production facilities in Germany, Belgium, and France as well as trading offices in the USA and Brazil, CropEnergies produces approximately 700,000 cubic meters of bioethanol per year. They mainly replace petrol and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent. With this, CropEnergies has established itself successfully as a bioethanol pioneer in a major emerging market.
In addition to the efficient production of bioethanol, CropEnergies is mainly characterized by the innovative co-product concept: The raw materials which are used such as cereals and sugar beets are completely utilized. As a result, 500,000 tonnes of high-quality protein food and animal feed products are manufactured every year out of the non-fermentable components of the raw materials.
Through advanced technology and innovation CropEnergies contributes to ensure a sustainable mobility from renewable sources today and in the future through its main product bioethanol: mobility - sustainable. renewable.
The CropEnergies AG stock (ISIN DE000AOLAUP1) has been listed at the regulated market (Prime Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2006.