Mercer International Inc. Reports Second Quarter and First Half 2023 Results

Mercer International Inc. (“Mercer” and the “Company”) reported second quarter 2023 Operating EBITDA decreased to negative $68.7 million from positive $145.1 million in the second quarter of 2022 and positive $27.5 million in the first quarter of 2023.

In the second quarter of 2023, net loss was $98.3 million (or $1.48 per share) compared to net income of $71.4 million (or $1.08 per basic share and $1.07 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2022 and a net loss of $30.6 million (or $0.46 per share) in the first quarter of 2023.

In the first half of 2023, Operating EBITDA was negative $41.2 million a decrease from positive $299.5 million in the same period of 2022. In the first half of 2023, net loss was $128.9 million (or $1.94 per share) compared to net income of $160.3 million (or $2.43 per basic share and $2.41 per diluted share) in the same period of 2022.

Mr. Juan Carlos Bueno, the Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Our second quarter results were negatively impacted by the overall weakness in the pulp and lumber markets. Lower pulp prices were primarily the result of weak demand for paper caused by weak economic growth and high inventory levels along with slower than anticipated market recovery in post-Covid China. In particular, on average, hardwood pulp prices declined by over $225 per tonne or approximately 32% in the current quarter. As a result of this weakness in the pulp market, we took a non-cash inventory impairment of $51.4 million in the current quarter, of which $26.3 million related to hardwood fiber inventory and pulp at our Mercer Peace River mill. The mill had materially built up its hardwood fiber inventory in connection with the start-up of its new woodroom which commenced operations in the recent quarter. 

In the recent quarter we had 60 days of downtime (approximately 59,000 ADMTs) at our pulp mills which included 25 days for planned maintenance and 35 days for market curtailment at Peace River and Cariboo mills. All other mills ran very efficiently during the quarter. In the third quarter, we currently expect about 44 days of downtime (54,800 ADMTs) at our pulp mills comprised of 14 days of planned maintenance and an aggregate of 30 days because of logistical backlogs at our Celgar mill and market weakness. Lumber prices were also weak through the second quarter as high interest rates and uncertain economic indicators reduced overall demand.

Overall per unit fiber costs for our pulp segment decreased modestly in the second quarter compared to the first quarter but remained at historically elevated levels. Per unit fiber costs for our solid wood segment increased modestly in the second quarter.

During the second quarter we continued to execute on our long-term strategic plan by acquiring the cross-laminated timber (‘CLT’) and glulam assets of Structurlam. As a result of this acquisition, we now own the most modern mass timber facilities in the U.S. which represent approximately 35% of the North American CLT production capacity. The acquisition allows us to now provide the glulam products required by many of our CLT customers and better serve customers across North America. We believe that mass timber will continue to grow as a key foundational block in the construction industry. We saw strong growth in our mass timber business as we continued to ramp up operations. Revenues in the current quarter and in the first half of the year were more than double those of the comparative periods.

In the second quarter we also commissioned the lignin pilot production and research and development facility at our Rosenthal mill. This facility can produce approximately 250 tonnes of lignin per year. The facility was completed on time and on budget. A formal ‘ribbon cutting’ ceremony is planned for late August with key government officials, business partners, research institutions and several other stakeholders. We are excited about the potential lignin has as a sustainable green alternative to displace fossil fuels and hydrocarbon based products, very much in line with our strategy to develop new revenue streams from our existing assets that can contribute strongly to the circular economy.

We finished the current quarter with $445.6 million of liquidity.”

Mr. Bueno concluded: “Although the current pulp and lumber markets have negatively impacted our short-term financial results, our cash and liquidity levels continue to be healthy. We are fully committed to executing our strategic plan and rebalancing our asset portfolio. Growing and diversifying our solid wood and bio-product revenues are key components of our strategy. In the current market cycle we will continue to prudently manage our liquidity, lower working capital usage and reduce our discretionary capital expenditures to lower costs.”

Consolidated Financial Results

Consolidated – Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2022

Total revenues in the second quarter of 2023 decreased by approximately 7% to $529.9 million from $572.3 million in the same quarter of 2022 primarily due to lower pulp, lumber and energy sales realizations partially offset by higher sales volumes and the inclusion of Torgau.

Costs and expenses in the second quarter of 2023 increased by approximately 39% to $638.7 million from $458.3 million in the second quarter of 2022 primarily due to the inclusion of Torgau, a non-cash inventory impairment of $51.4 million at our Canadian pulp mills, higher sales volumes and higher per unit fiber costs. The impairment charges are primarily caused by lower pulp sales realizations and higher per unit fiber costs. In the second quarter of 2023, we received an aggregate of $22.0 million of insurance proceeds relating to the 2021 turbine downtime at our Rosenthal mill and the July 2022 fire at our Stendal mill.

In the second quarter of 2023, Operating EBITDA decreased to negative $68.7 million from positive $145.1 million in the same quarter of 2022 primarily due to lower pulp, lumber and energy sales realizations, the non-cash inventory impairment at our Canadian pulp mills and higher per unit fiber costs partially offset by higher sales volumes and insurance proceeds.    

Segment Results

Pulp

In the second quarter of 2023, pulp segment operating loss was $83.5 million compared to operating income of $75.5 million in the same quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of lower pulp and energy sales realizations, the non-cash inventory impairment and higher per unit fiber costs partially offset by the receipt of insurance proceeds of $22.0 million and higher pulp sales volumes.

In the second quarter of 2023, pulp segment revenues declined approximately 13% to $402.7 million from $460.3 million in the same quarter of 2022, reflecting weaker pulp markets and lower energy revenue.

Pulp revenues in the second quarter of 2023 decreased by approximately 11% to $374.2 million from $418.6 million in the same quarter of 2022 due to lower sales realizations partially offset by higher sales volumes. Total pulp sales volumes increased by approximately 14% to 536,878 ADMTs in the second quarter of 2023 from 471,537 ADMTs in the same quarter of 2022 primarily because of stronger customer demand resulting from lower prices. In the second quarter of 2023, third party industry quoted average list prices for NBSK pulp were materially lower in all our markets compared to the same quarter of 2022.

Our average NBSK pulp sales realizations decreased by approximately 21% to $706 per ADMT in the second quarter of 2023 from approximately $890 per ADMT in the same quarter of 2022.

Energy and chemical revenues decreased by approximately 32% to $28.5 million in the second quarter of 2023 from $41.7 million in the same quarter of 2022 as a result of lower energy sales realizations.

Costs and expenses in the second quarter of 2023 increased by approximately 26% to $486.3 million from $384.8 million in the second quarter of 2022 primarily due to the $51.4 million non-cash inventory impairment charges at our Canadian mills, higher pulp sales volumes and higher per unit fiber costs partially offset by the receipt of insurance proceeds in 2023. 

In the second quarter of 2023 per unit fiber costs increased by approximately 22% from the same quarter of 2022 due to higher per unit fiber costs for all of our mills. Our German mills had higher per unit fiber costs as a result of strong demand from other wood consumers such as heating pellet manufacturers. For our Canadian mills, per unit fiber costs increased due to strong demand in the mills’ fiber baskets and for our Celgar mill a decrease in the availability of wood chips because of regional sawmill curtailments. We currently expect per unit fiber costs to decrease in the third quarter of 2023 because of more stable supply and increased wood chip availability as a result of stronger sawmill production. 

Solid Wood

In the second quarter of 2023, operating loss was $22.5 million compared to operating income of $43.7 million in the same quarter of 2022 primarily due to lower sales realizations. 

In the second quarter of 2023, solid wood segment revenues increased by approximately 14% to $126.1 million from $111.0 million in the second quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of the inclusion of Torgau and the ramping up of our mass timber operations partially offset by lower lumber revenues.

In the second quarter of 2023, lumber revenues decreased by approximately 38% to $59.3 million from $96.3 million in the same quarter of 2022 due to lower sales realizations partially offset by higher sales volumes. In the second quarter of 2023, both U.S. and European realized lumber prices were lower because of decreased demand as a result of higher interest rates and an uncertain economic outlook compared to the same quarter of 2022. The U.S. market accounted for approximately 58% of our lumber revenues and approximately 54% of our lumber sales volumes in the second quarter of 2023. Most of the balance of our lumber sales were to Europe.

In the second quarter of 2023, our mass timber facility continued its ramp up of operations and increased its revenues to $16.0 million from $6.3 million in the comparative quarter of 2022 as a result of higher CLT sales volumes and realizations. 

Energy and wood residuals revenues in the second quarter of 2023 decreased by approximately 6% to $7.9 million from $8.4 million in the same quarter of 2022 primarily caused by lower sales realizations. 

Pallet revenues of $32.7 million and biofuel revenues of $10.2 million in the second quarter of 2023 are from the inclusion of Torgau.

In the second quarter of 2023, lumber production increased by approximately 9% to 122.3 MMfbm from 112.2 MMfbm in the same quarter of 2022 as a result of the inclusion of Torgau and modestly higher production at our Friesau mill.

Lumber sales volumes increased by approximately 21% to 133.9 MMfbm in the second quarter of 2023 from 111.0 MMfbm in the same quarter of 2022 primarily due to higher production and stronger customer demand resulting from lower prices.

Average lumber sales realizations decreased by approximately 49% to $443 per Mfbm in the second quarter of 2023 from approximately $867 per Mfbm in the same quarter of 2022 as a result of lower demand in both the U.S. and European markets.

Fiber costs were approximately 80% of our lumber cash production costs in the second quarter of 2023. In the second quarter of 2023, per unit fiber costs for lumber production increased by approximately 7% compared to the same quarter of 2022. Higher per unit fiber costs were due to strong fiber demand in Germany. We currently expect stable per unit fiber costs in the third quarter of 2023.

Consolidated – Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

Total revenues for the first half of 2023 decreased by approximately 10% to $1,052.5 million from $1,165.1 million in the first half of 2022 primarily due to lower lumber, pulp and energy sales realizations and lower pulp sales volumes partially offset by the inclusion of Torgau and higher lumber sales volumes.

Costs and expenses in the first half of 2023 increased by approximately 27% to $1,181.5 million from $928.7 million in the first half of 2022 primarily caused by the inclusion of Torgau, higher per unit fiber and chemical costs and inventory impairment charges at our Canadian pulp mills of $66.6 million which were primarily non-cash. The impairment charges are primarily the result of lower pulp sales realizations and higher per unit fiber costs. These increases were partially offset by lower pulp sales volumes, the receipt of $29.5 million of insurance proceeds in the first half of 2023 and the net positive impact of a stronger dollar on our Canadian dollar denominated costs and expenses.

In the first half of 2023, Operating EBITDA was negative $41.2 million compared to a positive $299.5 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to lower lumber, pulp and energy sales realizations, higher per unit fiber and chemical costs and the non-cash inventory impairment at our Canadian pulp mills partially offset by insurance proceeds received in the first half of 2023 and the net positive impact of a stronger dollar on our Canadian dollar denominated expenses.

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $213.3 million and approximately $232.3 million available under our revolving credit facilities providing us with aggregate liquidity of about $445.6 million.

Quarterly Dividend

A quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share will be paid on October 4, 2023 to all shareholders of record on September 27, 2023. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval and may be adjusted as business and industry conditions warrant.

About Mercer International

Mercer International Inc. is a global forest products company with operations in Germany, USA and Canada with consolidated annual production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes of pulp, 960 million board feet of lumber, 210 thousand cubic meters of cross-laminated timber, 45 thousand cubic meters of glulam, 17 million pallets and 230,000 metric tonnes of biofuels. To obtain further information on the company, please visit its web site at https://www.mercerint.com.

Contact:

Jimmy S.H. Lee – Executive Chairman – (604) 684-1099

Source: Mercer International Inc.