H1 trading update

RNS Number : 9411T

M. P. Evans Group PLC

24 July 2020

 

M.P.EVANS GROUP PLC

("MPE" OR "GROUP")

2020 first-half trading update

The Group is pleased to announce the following crop and production information for the six months ended 30 June 2020:

	2020	Increase	2019
	Tonnes	%	Tonnes
Crop of fresh fruit bunches
Own crop	334,100	16	287,200
Scheme smallholder crop	84,600	16	72,900
Independent smallholder crop	130,900	157	50,900
	549,600	34	411,000
Production*
Crude palm oil	124,800	31	95,000
Palm kernels	27,800	28	21,800

* Figures include production from the Group's crop sold to third-party mills.

Crop and production figures continued to rise during the first half of 2020. This results from increasing yields in the Group's areas as its palms mature. Palms' yields improve through their early years, and the Group has a low average palm age of only a little over seven years. In addition, the Group is harvesting a larger area as plantings on its newer estates come into harvesting for the first time. All estates and mills have continued to work normally during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the period to the end of June 2020, the Group realised an average price at mill gate of US$541 per tonne compared with US$462 per tonne in the first half of 2019, an increase of 17%. Prices for palm kernels averaged US$298 per tonne (mill gate), higher than the US$263 per tonne in 2019.   After a strong start to the year, the price of crude palm oil fell as the global Covid-19 pandemic took hold to reach a low point of US$510 per tonne cif Rotterdam in the middle of May. Since then the price has recovered on an upward trend to reach more than US$650 by the middle of July. Futures markets point towards prices at above this level for the remainder of the year and into 2021, but may experience some variability whilst the Covid-19 crisis persists.

Following the end of the first half, as announced on 20 July 2020, the Group signed an agreement to dispose of 70 hectares of land in Malaysia for US$23.5 million, in line with the valuation published in its 2019 annual report. The proceeds will support investment in its Indonesian oil-palm projects.

In light of the reported crop growth and strengthening CPO price, the board anticipates that the Group will be in a position to maintain its dividend.

Enquiries:

M.P. Evans Group PLC

Telephone: [phone]

Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, Chairman
Tristan Price, Chief Executive
Matthew Coulson, Finance Director

Peel Hunt LLP (Nomad and joint broker)

Telephone: [phone]

Dan Webster
George Sellar

Andrew Clark

finnCap (Joint broker)

Telephone: [phone]

Tim Redfern
Chris Raggett

Hudson Sandler (Financial PR)

Telephone: [phone]

Charlie Jack

Elfie Kent

 

END

 

 

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