Algoma Steel Group announced results for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Michael Garcia, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We delivered results in the fiscal third quarter that were consistent with our previously disclosed outlook, accomplished against a challenging backdrop that included the remaining impact of the UAW strike and a heavy seasonal maintenance quarter. Improved market fundamentals coupled with the settlement of the strike in October led to a rebound in pricing which based on the lagging nature of our order book is expected to positively impact pricing realizations beginning in our fiscal fourth quarter.”
Mr. Garcia added, “As an update to our January 20th and January 23rd announcements regarding the collapse of a structure supporting utilities piping at our coke-making plant corridor, limited coke making operations continue and, as we develop our revised production plan, we will continue to evaluate our requirement for purchased coke to supplement our current inventories. We’ve finished all of the necessary repairs at the blast furnace following the related operational outage and have begun gradually restarting the furnace, increasing energy input as conditions permit. Based on our current assessment, we anticipate producing usable hot metal within the next seven days. We aim to return to full production within the next two weeks. The outage at the blast furnace and limited coke production are collectively expected to negatively impact shipments, costs and profitability in the fourth fiscal quarter.”
“Our transformative EAF project continues to advance in line with our expectations with commissioning expected to start by late 2024. As of December 31, 2023, we had invested a total of $509.9 million in its development, which represents approximately 60% of the anticipated total project cost. Importantly, project commitments to date total approximately $750 million with approximately 7% tied to time and material contracts, while the balance is fixed price in nature. We expect to contract the majority of the remaining costs by the end of the current quarter. We look forward to what promises to be an important and exciting year in the story of Algoma.”
Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Results
Third quarter revenue totaled $615.4 million, compared to $567.8 million in the prior year quarter. As compared with the prior year quarter, steel revenue was $556.9 million, compared to $512.0 million, and revenue per ton of steel sold was $1,192, compared to $1,239. Loss from operations was $36.9 million, compared to a loss of $65.7 million in the prior-year quarter.
The year over year improvement was primarily due to increased steel shipment volumes as a result of improved market conditions and resolving the temporary downstream finishing constraints for plate that occurred during the three-month period ended December 31, 2022. Further, higher cost of steel revenue as a result of increased shipment volumes was partially offset by a decrease in pricing for natural gas, purchased coke, alloys and power.
Net loss in the third quarter was $84.8 million, compared to a loss of $69.8 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase was primarily due to the change in fair value of warrant liabilities, share-based compensation liabilities, and earnout liabilities, a decrease in income tax recovery, an increase in foreign exchange losses, and an increase in financing charges, which more than offset the improvements in loss from operations.
Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was $(1.0) million, compared with $(35.9) million for the prior-year quarter. This resulted in an Adjusted EBITDA margin of (0.2)%. Average realized price of steel net of freight and non-steel revenue was $1,079 per ton, compared to $1,116 per ton in the prior-year quarter. Cost per ton of steel products sold was $1,027, compared to $1,157 in the prior-year quarter. Shipments for the third quarter increased by 12.6% to 516,068 tons, compared to 458,341 tons in the prior-year quarter due primarily to the reasons mentioned above. See “Non-IFRS Measures” below for an explanation of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.
Coke-making Plant Utilities Structure Update
As previously disclosed, on January 20, 2024, there was a collapse of a structure supporting utilities piping at the Company’s coke-making plant. No injuries occurred during the event. Additionally, for safety reasons, blast furnace operations were suspended at the time of the incident. The blast furnace experienced operational challenges upon initial restart due to unforeseen impacts related to the piping collapse.
Limited production of coke resumed at three coke-production units on January 23, which, when combined with inventories on hand and the availability of third-party coke supplies, is currently expected to fulfill the Company’s requirements for normal steelmaking production while the repair plan is developed. All necessary repairs to the blast furnace have been completed, and the furnace is now undergoing a gradual restart process. Additional energy will be added to the furnace as conditions permit. Based on current information, usable hot metal is expected to be produced within the next seven days, with a return to full production anticipated within the next two weeks. Algoma has standard insurance coverage that is intended to address circumstances such as these, including business interruption insurance. The Company is in the process of submitting claims under its insurance policies for covered losses.
Mr. Garcia commented, “Thanks to the fast response and hard work of our entire team, we were able to quickly resume limited coke-making capacity, and as of today we have restarted the blast furnace and continue ramping to normal production levels. The outage at the blast furnace and limited coke production are, however, collectively expected to negatively impact shipments, costs and profitability in the fiscal fourth quarter.”
Electric Arc Furnace
The Company has made substantial progress on the construction of two new state-of-the-art electric arc furnaces (“EAF”) to replace its existing blast furnace and basic oxygen steelmaking operations. The anticipated project timing and budget remain consistent with the outlook provided in the fiscal fourth quarter 2023 earnings release. As of December 31, 2023, the cumulative investment was approximately $509.9 million of the total projected cost of $825 million to $875 million. Project commitments to date total approximately $750 million with approximately 7% tied to time and material contracts, while the balance is fixed price in nature. We believe that we remain on track for commissioning late in calendar 2024. Following the transformation to EAF steelmaking, Algoma’s facility is expected to reach an annual raw steel production capacity of approximately 3.7 million tons, matching its downstream finishing capacity, and to generate an approximate 70% reduction in the Company’s annual carbon emissions.
Quarterly Dividend
The Board has declared a regular quarterly dividend in the amount of US$0.05 on each common share outstanding, payable on March 29, 2024, to holders of record of common shares of the Company as of the close of business on February 29, 2024. This dividend is designated as an “eligible dividend” for Canadian income tax purposes.
Algoma, the mystery industry that no one is allowed to know who the owners are as they continue to pump out tons of poisonous chemicals and particulate every day, turning all the houses brown and yellow, cover cars and all belongings for miles around.
There is a good reason for them not saying who the owners are, half of them are thieves, there would be no other reason not to disclose who everyone of them is.
The media has asked several times and get the same answers. (a numbered company)
I would bet $100 that the Ruia brothers and a few shady others all still have all their fat hands deep into this cash cow pie.