Société Internationale de Plantations d'Hévéas reported unaudited group turnover and investment results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012. For the quarter, the company reported total turnover of EUR 120.4 million compared to total turnover of EUR 111.3 million for the same period a year ago. Rubber turnover was EUR 94.3 million compared to EUR 105.3 million last year.

For the year, the company reported total turnover of EUR 419.4 million compared to total turnover of EUR 422.3 million for the same period a year ago. Rubber turnover was EUR 358.5 million compared to EUR 403.6 million last year. This performance is in line with expectations, although down by 11.2% due to a less favorable pricing environment than in 2011. Throughout the year the group has pursued its ambitious investment programme, including in particular the acquisition of the remaining 40% of CRC (in January 2012), the development of local infrastructures and the planting of new land. The level of investment in 2012 was therefore EUR 41 million, in line with the business plan set (EUR 45 million).

The company reported group operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012. The group has had a very good fourth quarter in particular with 41,400 tonnes sold (against 35,400 tonnes in 2011), an increase of 17%.

For the year, the group has achieved a record production of rubber with an increase of 8.8% to 151,400 tonnes (against 139,100 tonnes in 2011), exceeding the target set for this financial year of 144,000 tonnes. This increase is mainly due to external purchases which amounted to 83,000 tonnes in 2012 (against 73,300 tonnes in 2011), an increase of 13%, and which now represent 54.8% of the annual production (against 52.7% in 2011 and 49.6% in 2010). The drive of the smallholders in Ivory Coast is largely behind this increase in purchases. Reflecting the higher annual production volumes, annual tonnage sold is up 8.6% on the figure for 2011, at 141,700.

For the new financial year, the group is aiming to achieve a total annual production level of around 160,000 tonnes. This increase is due in part to the steady growth in own production, linked to increased output from the most recent plantations, and in part to external purchases which, in 2013, should represent around 57% of overall production.