Fourth-quarter adjusted net earnings was
'
'Our business is designed to provide stability in times of market weakness, with significant leverage through a recovery in fertilizer markets. We remain focused on optimizing our network, allocating capital to grow our Retail business and leading our industry in returning capital to shareholders,' added
Highlights
Retail performed well as EBITDA increased 8 percent in the fourth quarter and 2 percent in the full year 2019, compared to the same periods in 2018.
Potash EBITDA was down 62 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 due to lower sales volumes and lower net realized selling prices caused by a temporary reduction in global demand, the impact of production downtime and the
Nitrogen EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019 was 19 percent lower than the same period last year due primarily to lower ammonia sales volumes and a lower nitrogen net realized selling price. Nitrogen EBITDA in 2019 increased 2 percent compared to 2018 as lower natural gas costs in
In the fourth quarter of 2019,
Market Outlook
Agriculture and Retail
Recent US/
The
We expect demand for potash in
Despite improved agricultural fundamentals in most key markets, we continue to monitor the possible impacts of the Coronavirus, drought conditions in
Crop Nutrient Markets
Global potash prices declined in 2019 as customers in key offshore markets drew from inventories built by strong first-half 2019 shipments, while demand declined in
We believe potash production curtailments lowered inventory at the producer level, while continued grower consumption lowered distributor inventory in key markets outside of
Global nitrogen prices declined in 2019, due to reduced demand in
Dry phosphate fertilizer prices have recently improved after reaching historically low levels in 2019, but they continue to be impacted by increased supply from
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and other information included and incorporated by reference in this document constitute 'forward-looking information' or 'forward-looking statements' (collectively, 'forward-looking statements') under applicable securities laws (such statements are often accompanied by words such as 'anticipate', 'forecast', 'expect', 'believe', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'estimate', 'intend' or other similar words). All statements in this document, other than those relating to historical information or current conditions, are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:
All of the forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions referred to below and elsewhere in this document. Although we believe that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements and the reader should not place an undue reliance on these assumptions and such forward-looking statements. The additional key assumptions that have been made include, among other things, assumptions with respect to our ability to successfully complete, integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of our already completed and future acquisitions, and that we will be able to implement our standards, controls, procedures and policies at any acquired businesses to realize the expected synergies; that future business, regulatory and industry conditions will be within the parameters expected by us, including with respect to prices, margins, demand, supply, product availability, supplier agreements, availability and cost of labor and interest, exchange and effective tax rates; the completion of our expansion projects on schedule, as planned and on budget; assumptions with respect to global economic conditions and the accuracy of our market outlook expectations for 2020 and in the future; the adequacy of our cash generated from operations and our ability to access our credit facilities or capital markets for additional sources of financing; our ability to identify suitable candidates for acquisitions and divestitures and negotiate acceptable terms; our ability to maintain investment grade ratings and achieve our performance targets and the receipt, on time, of all necessary permits, utilities and project approvals with respect to our expansion projects and that we will have the resources necessary to meet the projects' approach.
Events or circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general global economic, market and business conditions; failure to complete announced and future acquisitions or divestitures at all or on the expected terms and within the expected timeline; climate change and weather conditions, including impacts from regional flooding and/or drought conditions; crop planted acreage, yield and prices; the supply and demand and price levels for our products; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government policy (including tariffs, trade restrictions and climate change initiatives), government ownership requirements, changes in environmental, tax and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof; political risks, including civil unrest, actions by armed groups or conflict and malicious acts including terrorism; the occurrence of a major environmental or safety incident; innovation and cybersecurity risks related to our systems, including our costs of addressing or mitigating such risks; regional natural gas supply restrictions; counterparty and sovereign risk; delays in completion of turnarounds at our major facilities; gas supply interruptions; any significant impairment of the carrying value of certain assets; risks related to reputational loss; certain complications that may arise in our mining processes; the ability to attract, engage and retain skilled employees and strikes or other forms of work stoppages and other risk factors detailed from time to time in
The purpose of our expected adjusted net earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA by segment guidance ranges, as well as our adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA price and volume and input cost sensitivities ranges, are to assist readers in understanding our expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Terms and References
For the definitions of certain financial and non-financial terms used in this document, as well as a list of abbreviated company names and sources, see the 'Terms', 'Abbreviated Company Names and Sources' and 'Terms and Measures' sections of our 2018 Annual Report dated
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