Industria
ArcelorMittal S.A.: ArcelorMittal reports third quarter 2024 results
Luxembourg, November 7 , 20 24 - ArcelorMittal (referred to as “ArcelorMittal” or the “Company” or the "Group") (MT (New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Luxembourg), MTS (Madrid)), the world's leading integrated steel and mining company, today announced results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024.
3Q 2024 key highlights:
Safety focus: The Company-wide audit of safety by dss+ is now complete. It has provided the Group with a clear set of 6 recommendations which the Company is committed to implement. LTIF rate of 0.88x in 3Q 2024 and 0.68x in 9M 2024
Structurally higher margins and resilient operating results: Despite the challenging market environment, the Company continues to demonstrate resilient performance benefiting from regional diversification. Operating income of $0.7bn in 3Q 2024 (vs $1.0bn in 2Q 2024); EBITDA of $1.6bn in 3Q 2024 (vs. $1.9bn in 2Q 2024) with EBITDA/t of $118/t in 3Q 2024 ($133/t in 9M 2024) and well above the Group's long-term historical average , reflecting structural improvements
Financial strength: Following the acquisition of c.28.4% stake in Vallourec for $1.0bn and $0.3bn share buybacks, net debt increased to $6.2bn at the end of the quarter (gross debt of $11.3bn and cash and cash equivalents of $5.1bn as of September 30, 2024) from $5.2bn as of June 30, 2024
Cash flow being reinvested for growth and shareholder returns: Over the past 12 months, the Company has generated investable cash flow of $2.8bn with a net $0.6bn allocated to M&A, $1.5bn invested on strategic growth capex projects and $2.0bn returns to ArcelorMittal shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet
Consistent shareholder returns: The Company will continue to return a minimum 50% of post-dividend FCF to shareholders through its share buyback programs. The Company repurchased 1.5% of its outstanding shares during 3Q 2024 (5.7% during the 9M 2024) bringing the total reduction in fully diluted share count to 37% since September 2020 . To date, 73m shares from the current 85m share buy-back program have been repurchased
Outlook
Positive free cash flow outlook in 2024 and beyond: FY 2024 capex is expected to be within the previously communicated guidance range ($4.5bn-$5.0bn). The Company expects the year to date investment in working capital to reverse by year end, supporting the outlook for free cash flow generation. The completion of the Company's strategic growth projects is expected to generate additional EBITDA and investable cash flow in the coming periods . ArcelorMittal continues to optimize its decarbonization pathway to ensure that the Company can remain competitive and achieve an appropriate return on investment
Company believes current market conditions are unsustainable: China's excess production relative to demand is resulting in very low domestic steel spreads (with the majority of producers loss making) and aggressive exports; steel prices particularly in Europe are well below the marginal cost curve. The Company expects apparent demand in our aggregate markets to be higher in 2H 2024 vs. 2H 2023 (reflecting no repeat of the destock that impacted Europe ASC in 2H 2023 and YoY demand growth in India and Brazil). As absolute inventory levels remain low, particularly in Europe, the Company remains optimistic that restocking activity will occur once real demand begins to recover
Positive on medium/long term outlook: Through its global asset portfolio, ArcelorMittal is uniquely positioned to capture the anticipated growth in steel demand over the medium/long-term; the Company's strategic focus is on safety, delivering its growth projects, and consistently returning capital to shareholders whilst maintaining a strong balance sheet
Recently completed strategic projects are performing well : The Group's portfolio of approved strategic growth projects is estimated to increase EBITDA potential (relative to historical normalized levels) by $1.8bn
Financial highlights (on the basis of IFRS ):
Commenting, Aditya Mittal, ArcelorMittal Chief Executive Officer, said:
“A key milestone during Q3 was the completion of the comprehensive dss+ workplace safety audit. We are now working to define the implementation plan for the six recommendations in an accelerated manner and will provide updates on the progress.
"Economic sentiment remains subdued, but we have delivered a resilient financial performance, reinforcing the structural strength of the Group. Apparent demand is expected to be stronger in the second half of this year compared with 2023, and inventory levels are low, indicating that re-stocking will occur when real demand recovers. The increased level of imports into Europe is a concern and stronger trade measures are urgently required to address this. Similarly, the CBAM needs further strengthening to ensure it fulfills its aim of ensuring European steelmakers can remain competitive versus higher-emissions imports.
“Our free cash flow generation enables us to continue to invest in the business for strategic growth and return capital to shareholders. Our first renewables project is now operating and started supplying power to AMNS India in September. The Vega CMC project is also fully up and running and produced its first Magnelis coil in September.
“Globally, the medium to long-term outlook for steel is positive, and we are confident that ArcelorMittal will continue to harness its unique geographic presence and strong research and development capability to meet our stakeholders needs and produce smarter steels for people and planet.”
Safety and sustainable development
Health and Safety focus:
Protecting employee health and safety remains the overarching priority of the Company. LTIF rate of 0.88x in 3Q 2024 (vs. 0.57x in 2Q 2024 and 0.94x in 3Q 2023).
The Company-wide independent safety audit by dss+ is complete. It is a comprehensive independent safety audit, providing ArcelorMittal with a clear set of recommendations which the Company is committed to implement. See website for more details: dss+ safety audit recommendations
The Company is now defining the most effective ways to implement these recommendations in an accelerated manner. The first phase includes taking these recommendations to build customized, business unit- specific work plans, to be incorporated into their five-year planning cycle.
Own personnel and contractors – Lost Time Injury Frequency rate
Sustainable development highlights :
Analysis of results for 3Q 2024 versus 2Q 2024
Sales in 3Q 2024 declined by 6.5% to $15.2 billion as compared to $16.2 billion in 2Q 2024.
Operating income of $0.7 billion in 3Q 2024 was 36.6% lower as compared 2Q 2024 largely reflecting lower steel prices (-3.7%), seasonally lower steel shipments (-3.6%), impairments of $36 million related to the closure of the coke oven battery in Krakow (Poland) and exceptional items of $74 million due to restructuring costs at the same site.
EBITDA in 3Q 2024 decreased by 15.1% to $1,581 million as compared to $1,862 million in 2Q 2024, primarily due to weaker results in North America (negative price-cost effect) and Europe (seasonally lower steel shipments) offset in part by an improvement in the Brazil segment primarily due to higher volumes and lower costs.
Net interest cost of $8 million in 3Q 2024 is broadly stable as compared to $7 million in 2Q 2024 and continues to benefit from the capitalization of the interest cost related to certain long term capex investments.
ArcelorMittal recorded net income in 3Q 2024 of $287 million, lower as compared to $504 million in 2Q 2024. ArcelorMittal recorded an adjusted net income (i.e., excluding the impairments and exceptional items discussed above as well as mark-to-market loss on purchase of Vallourec shares ) in 3Q 2024 of $488 million as compared to $677 million in 2Q 2024.
ArcelorMittal's basic earnings per common share for 3Q 2024 was $0.37 (adjusted earnings per common share of $0.63) as compared to $0.63 in 2Q 2024 (adjusted earnings per common share of $0.85).
Net cash provided by operating activities during 3Q 2024 amounted to $1.4 billion, and includes a $0.1 billion release of working capital. Capex for the quarter amounted to $1.1 billion (including $0.3 billion spent on strategic growth projects), leading to a free cashflow of $0.3 billion. Cash outflows for the purchase of the c.28.4% stake in Vallourec for $1.0 billion and ongoing share buybacks ($0.3 billion), led to an increase in net debt to $6.2 billion on September 30, 2024, as compared to $5.2 billion on June 30, 2024.
Analysis of operations
North America
* North America steel shipments include slabs sourced by the segment from Group companies (mainly the Brazil segment) and sold to the Calvert JV (eliminated in the Group consolidation). These shipments can vary between periods due to slab sourcing mix and timing of vessels: 3Q'24 577kt; 2Q'24 476kt; 3Q'23 393kt, 9M'24 1,534kt and 9M'23 1,227kt.
Sales in 3Q 2024 decreased by 12.7% to $2.8 billion, as compared to $3.2 billion in 2Q 2024 primarily on account of 8.3% decrease in average steel selling prices and 2.4% decrease in steel shipments.
As previously communicated on July 19, 2024, ArcelorMittal Mexico announced that it had reached a settlement with unions with an agreement to end an illegal blockade at the site. The electric arc furnace EAF (for slab production) and hot strip mill resumed normal operations in August 2024. As a result, 3Q 2024 performance was impacted by ~0.4Mt production and EBITDA by $0.1 billion (same impacts as 2Q 2024).
Operating income in 3Q 2024 decreased by 32.2% to $229 million as compared to $338 million in 2Q 2024, primarily due to a negative price-cost impact.
EBITDA in 3Q 2024 of $358 million was 23.5% lower as compared to $467 million in 2Q 2024.
Brazil
Sales in 3Q 2024 remained broadly stable at $3.2 billion as compared to 2Q 2024, primarily due to a 4.1% increase in steel shipments largely offsetting a 4.7% decline in average steel selling prices.
Operating income in 3Q 2024 of $414 million was 27.3% higher as compared to $325 million in 2Q 2024, due to higher shipments and a positive price-cost effect (lower costs more than offsetting lower selling prices).
EBITDA in 3Q 2024 increased by 20.3% to $497 million as compared to $413 million in 2Q 2024.
Europe
Sales in 3Q 2024 declined by 8.7% to $7.1 billion, as compared to $7.8 billion in 2Q 2024, primarily due to a 8.2% decline in steel shipment volumes due to seasonality and maintenance in the long products and a 1.5% decline in average steel selling prices.
Operating income in 3Q 2024 was $12 million as compared to $194 million in 2Q 2024 primarily due to seasonally lower steel shipments, impairments of $36 million related to the closure of the coke oven battery in Krakow (Poland) and exceptional items of $74 million due to restructuring costs at the same site.
EBITDA in 3Q 2024 of $403 million decreased by 12.7% as compared to $462 million in 2Q 2024 primarily due to seasonally lower steel shipments.
India and JVs
Income from associates, joint ventures and other investments (excluding impairments and exceptional items, of which none in the periods) for 3Q 2024 was $162 million as compared to $181 million in 2Q 2024, primarily due to lower contributions from AMNS India.
ArcelorMittal has investments in various joint venture and associate entities globally. The Company considers Calvert (50% equity interest) and AMNS India (60% equity interest) joint ventures to be of particular strategic importance, warranting more detailed disclosures to improve the understanding of their operational performance and value to the Company.
AMNS India
Sales in 3Q 2024 declined by 2.8% to $1.5 billion as compared to $1.6 billion in 2Q 2024, primarily due to lower average steel selling prices.
EBITDA during 3Q 2024 declined by 31.3% to $162 million as compared to $237 million in 2Q 2024, driven by a negative price-cost effect.
Calvert
Sales in 3Q 2024 declined by 15.3% to $1.1 billion as compared to $1.2 billion in 2Q 2024 primarily due to lower shipments driven by weaker demand.
EBITDA during 3Q 2024 of $126 million was 24.2% lower as compared to $166 million in 2Q 2024, primarily due to lower steel shipments and a negative price-cost effect.
Sustainable Solutions
Sales in 3Q 2024 declined by 12.1% to $2.5 billion as compared to $2.9 billion in 2Q 2024.
Operating income in 3Q 2024 was lower at $17 million as compared to $55 million in 2Q 2024, mainly in the Projects business, impacted by seasonality.
EBITDA in 3Q 2024 of $55 million was 42.1% lower as compared to $95 million in 2Q 2024.
Mining
Note: Mining segment comprises iron ore operations of ArcelorMittal Mines Canada (AMMC) and ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Sales in 3Q 2024 declined by 8.0% to $589 million as compared to $641 million in 2Q 2024 primarily due to lower iron ore reference prices (-10.8%).
Iron ore production in 3Q 2024 increased by 13.1% to 6.6Mt as compared to 5.9Mt in 2Q 2024 primarily due to a recovery in ArcelorMittal Mines Canada which had been impacted by wildfires in the Port Cartier region in June leading to Port disruption, as well as maintenance.
Operating income in 3Q 2024 declined by 14.6% to $128 million as compared to $150 million in 2Q 2024 driven by lower iron ore reference prices offset in part by lower costs as production volumes recovered.
EBITDA in 3Q 2024 of $193 million was 11.0% lower as compared to $216 million in 2Q 2024.
Other recent developments
On October 11, 2024, ArcelorMittal announced that it had entered into a definitive Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Nippon Steel Corporation (“NSC”) pursuant to which ArcelorMittal will purchase NSC's 50% equity interest in the AM/NS Calvert Joint Venture (the “Transaction”). The Transaction has been entered into at the request of NSC to address regulatory concerns pursuant to its agreed acquisition of US Steel. The Transaction is subject to NSC completing its pending acquisition of US Steel, which is subject to various other regulatory requirements.
Under the terms of the agreement, ArcelorMittal will pay $1 consideration for the Transaction; further, NSC will inject cash and forgive partner loans in an amount estimated to be approximately $0.9 billion.
There are no assurances or guarantees that NSC will complete its acquisition of US Steel. Should NSC not complete its acquisition of US Steel, then the Agreement will not come into effect and the AM/NS Calvert JV will continue.
ArcelorMittal Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
ArcelorMittal Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
ArcelorMittal Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash flows
Appendix 1: Capital expenditures
Appendix 2: Debt repayment schedule as of September 30, 2024
As of September 30, 2024, the average debt maturity is 6.7 years.
Appendix 3: Reconciliation of gross debt to net debt
Appendix 4: Adjusted net income and adjusted basic EPS
Appendix 5: Terms and definitions
Unless indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this earnings release to the following terms have the meanings set out next to them below:
Adjusted basic EPS: refers to adjusted net income divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding.
Adjusted net income: refers to reported net income less impairment items and exceptional items and mark-to-market loss on purchase of c.28.4% shares in Vallourec
Apparent steel consumption: calculated as the sum of production plus imports minus exports.
Average steel selling prices: calculated as steel sales divided by steel shipments.
Cash and cash equivalents : represents cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments.
Capex: represents the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangibles. The Group's capex figures do not include capex at the JVs level (i.e.: AMNS India and Calvert).
Crude steel production: steel in the first solid state after melting, suitable for further processing or for sale.
Depreciation: refers to amortization and depreciation.
EPS: refers to basic or diluted earnings per share.
EBITDA: defined as operating result plus depreciation, impairment items and exceptional items and result from associates, joint ventures and other investments (excluding impairments and exceptional items if any).
EBITDA/tonne: calculated as EBITDA divided by total steel shipments.
Exceptional items: income / (charges) relate to transactions that are significant, infrequent or unusual and are not representative of the normal course of business of the period.
Free cash flow (FCF) : refers to net cash provided by operating activities less capex less dividends paid to minority shareholders.
Foreign exchange and other net financing income(loss) : include foreign currency exchange impact, bank fees, interest on pensions, impairment of financial assets, revaluation of derivative instruments and other charges that cannot be directly linked to operating results.
Gross debt : long-term debt and short-term debt.
Impairment items: refers to impairment charges net of reversals.
Income from associates, joint ventures and other investments : refers to income from associates, joint ventures and other investments (excluding impairments and exceptional items if any).
Investable cash flow: refers to net cash provided by operating activities less maintenance/normative capex.
Iron ore reference prices: refers to iron ore prices for 62% Fe CFR China. Pricing is generally linked to market price indexes and uses a variety of mechanisms, including current spot prices and average prices over specified periods. Therefore, there may not be a direct correlation between market reference prices and actual selling prices in various regions at a given time.
Kt: refers to thousand metric tonnes.
Liquidity: cash and cash equivalents plus available credit lines excluding back-up lines for the commercial paper program.
LTIF: refers to lost time injury frequency rate equals lost time injuries per 1,000,000 worked hours, based on own personnel and contractors.
Maintenance/normative capex: refers to recurring expenditures required for a company to continue operating and sustain its growth.
Mt: refers to million metric tonnes.
Net debt: long-term debt and short-term debt less cash and cash equivalents.
Net debt/LTM EBITDA: refers to Net debt divided by EBITDA for the last twelve months.
Net interest expense: includes interest expense less interest income.
On-going projects: refer to projects for which construction has begun (excluding various projects that are under development), even if such projects have been placed on hold pending improved operating conditions.
Operating results: refers to operating income(loss).
Operating segments: North America segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of Canada and Mexico; and also includes all Mexico mines. The Brazil segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of Brazil and its neighboring countries including Argentina, Costa Rica, Venezuela; and also includes Andrade and Serra Azul captive iron ore mines. The Europe segment includes the Flat, Long and includes Bosnia and Herzegovina captive iron ore mines; Sustainable Solutions division includes Downstream Solutions and Tubular operations of the European business. The Others segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of Kazakhstan (till December 7, 2023), Ukraine and South Africa; and also includes the captive iron ore mines in Ukraine and iron ore and coal mines in Kazakhstan (till December 7, 2023). Mining segment includes iron ore operations of ArcelorMittal Mines Canada and ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Own iron ore production: includes total of all finished production of fines, concentrate, pellets and lumps and includes share of production.
Price-cost effect: a lack of correlation or a lag in the corollary relationship between raw material and steel prices, which can either have a positive (i.e. increased spread between steel prices and raw material costs) or negative effect (i.e. a squeeze or decreased spread between steel prices and raw material costs).
Shipments: information at segment and Group level eliminates intra-segment shipments (which are primarily between Flat/Long plants and Tubular plants) and inter-segment shipments respectively. Shipments of Downstream Solutions are excluded.
Working capital change (working capital investment / release): Movement of change in working capital - trade accounts receivable plus inventories less trade and other accounts payable.
Footnotes
Third quarter 2024 earnings analyst conference call
ArcelorMittal Management will host a conference call for members of the investment community to present and comment on the three-month period ended September 30, 2024 on:
Thursday November 7, 2024, at 9.30am US Eastern time. 14.30pm London time and 15.30pm CET.
To access via the conference call and ask a question during the Q&A, please register in advance: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa7b975369f7541cfb574031a9e8a264d
Alternatively, the webcast can be accessed live on the day: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/t6z858m6
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking information and statements about ArcelorMittal and its subsidiaries. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “target” or similar expressions. Although ArcelorMittal's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of ArcelorMittal's securities are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of ArcelorMittal, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the filings with the Luxembourg Stock Market Authority for the Financial Markets (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) made or to be made by ArcelorMittal, including ArcelorMittal's latest Annual Report on Form 20-F on file with the SEC. ArcelorMittal undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP/Alternative Performance Measures
This press release also includes certain non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures. ArcelorMittal presents EBITDA and EBITDA/tonne, free cash flow (FCF), adjusted net income, adjusted basic earnings per share and the ratio of net debt/LTM EBITDA which are non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures, as additional measures to enhance the understanding of its operating performance. As announced previously, the definition of EBITDA has been revised to include income from share of associates, JVs and other investments (excluding impairments and exceptional items if any, of associates, JVs and other investments) because the Company believes this information provides investors with additional information to understand its results, given the increasing significance of its joint ventures. ArcelorMittal believes such indicators are relevant to provide management and investors with additional information. ArcelorMittal also presents net debt and change in working capital as additional measures to enhance the understanding of its financial position, changes to its capital structure and its credit assessment. Investable cashflow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less maintenance/normative capex, and the Company thus believes that it represents a cashflow that is available for allocation at management's discretion. The Company's guidance as to additional EBITDA estimated to be generated from certain projects and with respect to working capital for the fourth quarter of 2024, is based on the same accounting policies as those applied in the Company's financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. ArcelorMittal is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, such guidance to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measure, due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the occurrence and the financial impact of items impacting comparability. For the same reasons, ArcelorMittal is unable to address the significance of the unavailable information. Non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures should be read in conjunction with, and not as an alternative to, ArcelorMittal's financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Comparable IFRS measures and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures are presented herein.
About ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal is one of the world's leading steel and mining companies, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 15 countries. In 2023, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $68.3 billion and crude steel production of 58.1 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 42.0 million metric tonnes.
Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century. With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future.
ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS). For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/
Enquiries
ArcelorMittal investor relations: +44 207 543 1128; Retail: +44 207 543 1156; SRI: +44 207 543 1156 and Bonds/credit: +33 1 71 92 10 26.
ArcelorMittal corporate communications (e-mail: press@arcelormittal.com ) +44 207 629 7988. Contact: Paul Weigh +44 203 214 2419
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