PhosAgro Reports 1Q 2021 Financial Results: EBITDA Increases 65% Year-on-Year to Over RUB 34 Billion

Moscow - PhosAgro ('PhosAgro' or 'the Company') (Moscow Exchange, LSE: PHOR), one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers, today announces its consolidated IFRS financial results for the first quarter (1Q) of 2021.

1Q 2021 highlights

Revenue for 1Q 2021 increased by 36.7% year-on-year to RUB 87.6 billion (USD 1.2 billion), driven by to improvements in the pricing environment, higher sales volumes and changes in exchange rates.

EBITDA increased by 65.4% year-on-year to RUB 34.3 billion (USD 461 million) thanks to higher global fertilizer prices. EBITDA margin for the quarter rose to 39.2%.

Free cash flow in 1Q 2021 amounted to RUB 15.2 billion (USD 205 million), a decrease of 16.6% year-on-year but a more than fivefold increase from 4Q 2020.

Adjusted net income in 1Q 2021 was RUB 21.2 billion (USD 286 million), up 28.0% year-on-year.

As of 31 March 2021, net debt was RUB 145.4 billion (USD 1.9 billion), a decrease of RUB 11.5 billion since the end of 2020. As of the end of 1Q 2021, the net debt/EBITDA ratio had decreased to 1.45x.

Financial and operational results

Financial highlights
RUB million	1Q 2021	1Q 2020	Chng, %
Revenue	87,579	64,058	36.7%
EBITDA*	34,309	20,738	65.4%
EBITDA margin	39.2%	32.4%	6.8 pp
Net profit	18,344	-15,588	n/a
Adj. net income**	21,229	16,591	28.0%
Free cash flow	15,215	18,253	-16.6%
	31.03.2021	31.12.2020
Net debt	145,388	156,875
ND/LTM EBITDA	1.45x	1.86x
Sales, ths tonnes	1Q 2021	1Q 2020	Chng, %
Phosphate-based fertilizers	2,077	2,087	-0.5%
Nitrogen-based fertilizers	787	703	11.9%
Total sales	2,864	2,790	2.7%

RUB/USD rates: average 1Q 2021: 74.3; average 1Q 2020: 66.3; as of 31 March 2021: 75.7; as of 31 December 2020: 73.9

*EBITDA is calculated as operating profit adjusted for depreciation and amortisation

**Net profit as reported minus FX gain or loss

Commenting on the Company's performance, Xavier Rolet, the Chairman of PhosAgro's Board of Directors, said:

'Today, more than ever, stakeholders rightfully expect global companies to demonstrate ESG leadership. Our strategy to 2025 focuses on sustainable development and growth. We set ambitious goals for ourselves to improve our environment disclosure and sustainability as we continue to maintain high levels of social investment in the communities where we operate.

'The Board is pleased to report that both CDP and MSCI recently upgraded the Company's ESG ratings to B- and A, respectively.

'In addition to its integrated ESG report, PhosAgro now provides additional disclosure in the form of a Climate Risk Management Report for 2020 that is compliant with TCFD requirements.

'This enhanced disclosure provides a comprehensive analysis of the Company's climate impact data, scenarios and risk assessments and sets out a broad climate action plan tailored to our global operations.'

Commenting on the Company's financial results, PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev said:

'In the first quarter of 2021, revenue exceeded RUB 87 billion, an increase of nearly 37% year-on-year, and EBITDA grew by more than 65% to RUB 34.3 billion, representing new record since the Company went public.

'The efficiency of our production facilities and the availability of key feedstocks enabled us to increase EBITDA margin to almost 40% and generate free cash flow of more than RUB 15 billion.

'This significant increase in profitability was due to the substantial investments in development that the Company has been making since 2013, combined with favourable market conditions in the beginning of 2021.

'We are continuing to implement our long-term investment programme this year, and we invested about RUB 10 billion into production assets in the first quarter. As an efficient business, PhosAgro was able to decrease net debt to RUB 145 billion at the end of 1Q 2021, while the net debt to EBITDA ratio had decreased to 1.45x.

'In particular, I would like to emphasise that the Company's excellent operating and financial performance enables us to fund our development programme without relying on debt financing.

'At the moment, fertilizer prices in world markets remain high despite a slight correction following the end of the season in the northern hemisphere. In the near term, we expect high prices for agricultural products and increased seasonal demand in the Indian and Brazilian markets to support prices.'

1Q 2021 market conditions

Since the beginning of 2021, a favourable situation has been developing in global markets for mineral fertilizers backed by stable demand in the largest markets. The main factors driving improvements in the fertilizer market are considerable increases in demand and in global prices for the main types of grains and oilseeds (corn, soybeans, wheat), which account for more than half of fertilizer use worldwide. The rise in prices for agricultural products, in turn, has helped drive up demand for fertilizers by making them more affordable.

Additional factors supporting the fertilizer market are the low levels of carry-over stocks in key markets, as well as growth in seasonal demand in the United States, China, Europe and Africa, which has limited fertilizer exports from these regions.

The rise in global prices for the main types of fertilizers has been one of the main factors behind the increase in prices for the raw materials needed for their production.

Global prices for commercial ammonia in 1Q 2021 increased to USD 332 per tonne (FOB Black Sea), compared with USD 211 per tonne in 4Q 2020 and USD 222 per tonne (FOB) in 1Q 2020. Unscheduled maintenance shutdowns in leading ammonia-producing countries - Trinidad, the United States, the Middle East and Russia - were another factor behind the increase in ammonia prices.

Global sulphur prices increased in the first quarter on the back of strong demand from producers of phosphate-based fertilizers amid limited supply due to a reduction in oil refining in 2020 and seasonal restrictions in terms of logistics. The average price for sulphur in 1Q 2021 was USD 144 per tonne (FOB Black Sea), compared with USD 62 per tonne (FOB) in 4Q 2020 and USD 38 per tonne (FOB) in 1Q 2020.

Prices for phosphate raw materials increased in the wake of the change in prices for phosphate-based fertilizers. Contract prices for phosphoric acid supplies to India in 1Q 2021 were agreed at USD 795 per tonne of 100% P₂O₅ (CFR India), which is USD 106 per tonne higher than in 4Q 2020 and USD 205 per tonne higher than in 1Q 2020. Phosphate feedstock prices (68%-72% BPL) in 1Q 2021 were USD 102 per tonne (FOB Morocco), compared with USD 95 per tonne in 4Q 2020 and USD 85 per tonne in 1Q 2020.

1Q 2021 financial performance

In 1Q 2021, the Company's revenue increased by 36.7% year-on-year to RUB 87.6 billion (USD 1.2 billion), driven mainly by an increase in sales volumes and the recovery in global prices for phosphate- and nitrogen-based fertilizers at a time when the rouble was weakening against the US dollar.

The Company's EBITDA for 1Q 2021 increased by 65.4% year-on-year to a record RUB 34.3 billion (USD 461 million). Despite the increase in prices for key feedstocks, EBITDA margin exceeded 39%.

EBITDA in the phosphate-based fertilizer segment amounted to RUB 26.3 billion (USD 353 million), up 64.3% year-on-year. Higher profits were recorded for all products, mainly due to the record-high purchasing power of farmers on the back of high prices for agricultural products. The main sales markets were Latin America and Europe.

EBITDA in the nitrogen-based fertilizer segment amounted to RUB 7.6 billion (USD 102 million), up 61.3% year-on-year. The main sales markets for these fertilizers were North America and Europe.

Net profit (adjusted for non-cash FX gain/loss) for 1Q 2021 increased by 28.0% year-on-year to RUB 21.2 billion (USD 286 million).

In 1Q 2021, the Company's free cash flow amounted to RUB 15.2 billion (USD 205 million). The main source of cash flow was an increase in profit margins due to higher average prices and an improvement in the structure of finished product, which offset outflows for working capital and capital investments.

Capex in 1Q 2021 amounted to RUB 9.9 billion (USD 133 million). The Company invested primarily in the construction of its large industrial complex at its Volkhov site, where the first production lines have already been launched with a design capacity of almost 300 thousand tonnes of MAP per year. Once the project is complete, the total capacity of the new complex will reach almost 900 thousand tonnes.

As of 31 March 2021, the net debt/EBITDA ratio was 1.45x. PhosAgro was able to decrease its debt burden to less than 1.5x thanks to higher profits along with effective cost controls. Net debt as of 31 March 2021 was RUB 145.4 billion (USD 1.9 billion).

Cost of sales
RUB million	1Q 2021	1Q 2020	Chng,%
Amortisation	6,760	6,226	8.6%
Materials and services	12,144	10,810	12.3%
Phosphate rock transport	2,284	2,260	1.1%
Repair expenses	2,889	2,416	19.6%
Drilling and blasting costs	985	769	28.1%
Other materials and services	5,986	5,365	11.6%
Raw materials	11,791	10,036	17.5%
Ammonia	2,081	1,191	74.7%
Sulphur and sulph. acid	2,046	1,195	71.2%
Potassium	3,261	3,206	1.7%
Natural gas	3,990	3,797	5.1%
Ammonium sulphate	413	647	-36.2%
Salaries and social contributions	4,234	3,587	18.0%
Electricity	1,801	1,706	5.6%
Fuel	1,506	1,144	31.6%
Products for resale	3,313	3,089	7.3%
Logistics costs	10,659	8,064	32.2%
Customs duties	742	360	106.1%
Freight, port and stevedoring expenses	6,490	4,500	44.2%
Russian Railways' tariffs and operators' fees	3,124	2,982	4.8%
Other	303	222	36.5%
Total	52,208	44,662	16.9%

Cost of sales increased by 16.9% year-on-year in 1Q 2021 to RUB 52.2 billion (USD 702 million):

· Expenses for materials and services increased by 12.3% year-on-year to RUB 12.1 billion (USD 163 million) due to an increase in the amount of planned repairs and a slight increase in costs associated with the extraction of phosphorus ore.

· Expenses for raw materials increased by 17.5% year-on-year to RUB 11.8 billion (USD 159 million) due to:

o a 74.7% increase in ammonia costs to RUB 2.1 billion (USD 28 million) as a result of higher prices for this feedstock and an increase in ammonia consumption;

o a 71.2% increase in expenses for sulphur and sulphuric acid to RUB 2.0 billion (USD 28 million) as a result of higher global prices for sulphur; however, the increase was constrained thanks to a decrease in purchases of sulphuric acid from third parties once the Company's new sulphuric acid production line in Cherepovets was launched for production in early 2020;

o a 5.1% increase in natural gas costs to RUB 4.0 billion (USD 54 million) due to annual price indexation; at the same time, consumption remained unchanged from 1Q 2020;

o a 36.2% decrease in expenses for ammonium sulphate to RUB 0.4 billion (USD 6 million) once the Company's ammonium sulphate production line reached design capacity.

· Salaries and social contributions increased by 18.0% to RUB 4.2 billion (USD 57 million) as a result of an increase in the headcount at new production facilities, salary indexation and bonuses payments.

· Spending on customs duties increased by RUB 0.4 billion (USD 5 million), or by 106.1%, year-on-year, due to an increase in export sales volumes amid the recovery in global fertilizer prices.

· Freight, port and stevedoring expenses increased by 44.2% to RUB 6.5 billion (USD 87 million) as a result of higher transportation tariffs and the devaluation of the rouble against the dollar.

Administrative and selling expenses
RUB million	1Q 2021	1Q 2020	Chng, %
Administrative expenses	4,892	4,652	5.2%
Salaries and social contributions	3,161	3,082	2.6%
Professional services	424	419	1.2%
Amortisation	356	336	6.0%
Other	951	815	16.7%
Selling and marketing expenses	1,600	1,618	-1.1%
Salaries and social contributions	974	869	12.1%
Materials and services	235	357	-34.2%
Amortisation	391	392	-0.3%
Total	6,492	6,270	3.5%

In 1Q 2021, administrative and selling expenses increased by 3.5% year-on-year to RUB 6.5 billion (USD 87.3 million). SG&A growth was kept to a minimum as a result of successful cost control initiatives.

Market outlook

In early April 2021, a slight price correction was noted in fertilizer markets that was associated with the end of the main seasonal demand in markets in the northern hemisphere (Europe, China, the United States).

At the same time, prices for agricultural products remained at their highest levels in recent years, thereby keeping fertilizers affordable despite the noticeable increase in prices. In addition, 2Q and 3Q have traditionally seen peak seasonal demand in the primary global markets (India and Brazil), which, combined with low stocks and continued demand in the United States, will keep prices high.

Risk factors in the short term will include an increase in fertilizer exports from China and a possible decrease in import demand from India due to higher global prices while subsidies for fertilizer purchases remain unchanged from the previous year.