News and events

2 August 2010

Q2 and H1 2010 operational results

Kemerovo, Russian Federation

OJSC “Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company” (RTS/MICEX: “KBTK”), one of the fastest-growing thermal coal producers in Russia, is pleased to announce its operational results for the second quarter and six months ended 30 June 2010.

Q2 2010 operational results

  Q2 2010 Q2 2009 Change, %
Coal production (mln. tonnes) 1.23 1.25 -2%
Sorted coal (mln. tonnes) 0.87 0.64 37%
Sales volume (mln. tonnes) 1.59 1.31 22%
Export sales volume (mln. tonnes) 0.89 0.53 68%
Domestic sales volume (mln. tonnes) 0.70 0.78 -10%

During the second quarter of 2010 the Company has decreased coal production volume by 2% to 1.23 mln. tonnes (Q2 2009: 1.25 mln. tonnes). The decrease in production volume has been related to technological schedules of the Company’s open-pit mines development. The volume of coal sorted by coal-crushing and screening units increased 37% year-on-year to 0.87 mln. tonnes (Q2 2009: 0.64 mln. tonnes). Significant growth of coal sorting volumes has been caused by increase in demand for coal-sorting products from export clients and customers, purchasing coal through the Company’s retail chain.

In Q2 2010 coal sales volume increased by 22% to 1.59 mln. tonnes (Q2 2009: 1.31 mln tonnes), including 1.26 mln. tonnes of coal produced by the Company and 0.33 mln. tonnes of coal purchased from third-party producers. Export trade channels were the driver of such growth. Compared to the same period last year Q2 2010 export sales volume has increased by 68% to 0.89 mln. tonnes, and export share in the Company’s total sales volume has increased by 56% (Q2 2009: 41%).

In Q2 2010 average domestic coal prices net of VAT and railroad tariffs increased by 3% year-on-year to RUB 930 per tonne compared to the same period last year (Q2 2009: RUB 905 per tonne). Export prices net of railroad tariffs has raised year-on-year by 5% to RUB 957 per tonne (Q2 2009: RUB 908 per tonne). The year-on-year advance in the Company’s average realized prices is related to overall recovery of world thermal-coal quotes.

H1 2010 operational results

  H1 2010 H1 2009 Change, %
Coal production (mln. tonnes) 2.72 2.64 3%
Sorted coal (mln. tonnes) 1.78 1.20 48%
Sales volume (mln. tonnes) 3.52 3.06 15%
Export sales volume (mln. tonnes) 1.64 1.18 38%
Domestic sales volume (mln. tonnes) 1.88 1.87 0%

During the first half of 2010 the Company has increased coal production volume by 3% to 2.72 mln. tonnes (H1 2009: 2.64 mln. tonnes), while volume of coal sorted by coal-crushing and screening units increased 48% year-on-year to 1.78 mln. tonnes (H1 2009: 1.20 mln. tonnes), following the growth of demand on foreign and local markets.

Compared to the same period last year in H1 2010 coal sales volume has increased by 15% to 3.52 mln. tonnes (H1 2009: 3.06 mln. tonnes), pushed up by significant growth of export, which has gained 38% year-on-year. Export share in total sales volume increased by 8% year-on-year and amounted to 47% (H1 2009: 39%). The Company’s largest export markets in H1 2010 has been China and South Korea – 63% of Company’s total export sales (H1 2009: 33%), Poland – 26% (H1 2009: 54%), Ukraine – 4% (H1 2009: n/a), Spain – 3% (H1 2009: n/a), Turkey – 2% (H1 2009: n/a) and Czech Republic – 2% (H1 2009: n/a)

In H1 2010 average domestic coal price net of VAT and railroad tariffs (RUB 892 per tonne) has exceeded the result of H1 2009 (RUB 868 per tonne) by 3%. The equal growth of price (3%) has been also stated for Q1 and Q2 of 2010 compared to the same periods last year.

During the first half of 2010 average export coal price has been RUB 923 per tonne, or 18% less compared to the same period last year (H1 2009: RUB 1.122 per tonne). The material year-on-year decrease in export prices is related to the base effect as in Q1 2009 the Company sold coal by the contracts signed in 2008 when the prices were record high, and in Q1 2010 the Company sold coal by the contracts signed in Q4 2009 when the prices were affected by the crisis and decrease in coal consumption.

Management of the Company is satisfied by the operational results.

The Company plans to issue unaudited reduced H1 2010 IFRS Statements on August, 30 2010. Conference-call for discussing of financial results will be held the same day at 5PM Moscow time (2PM London time). Conference call details will be issued separately.

For more information please contact:

Financial Dynamics Moscow
Tatiana Kosheleva
Leonid Solovyev

+7 495 795 06 23

OJSC "Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company" Kemerovo
Elena Sarycheva
Head of public affars department

+7 384 236 47 62

For investor enquiries please contact:

OJSC "Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company" Moscow
Anton Rumyantsev
Investor relatinons manager

+7 495 787 68 05

Notes to editors:

Company Overview

OJSC Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company (“KTK” or the “Company”), is one of the fastest-growing thermal coal producers in Russia. In terms of the 2009 production volume, it was ranked 7th among the largest thermal coal producers in the country. In the ten years since its establishment in 2000, the Company has commissioned and launched three open-pit mines, achieving annual production volume of 6.15 million tonnes of coal in 2009. The Company expects to continue to grow its production volume, in particular, following the launch of the Cheremshansky mine in 2008 and ongoing investments into its high performance modern mining technology, aimed at achieving the aggregate structural capacity 1 of existing mines of 11 million tonnes of coal per year.

According to IMC, the Company’s JORC coal resources totalled 409.3 million tonnes of ROM coal as of January 1, 2010, of which 191.6 million tonnes were proven and probable reserves, recoverable during the period of 2010-2029. The Company produces exclusively high quality thermal coal, classified as grade “D” under the Russian classification system, with a naturally low sulphur and phosphorus content, as well as a relatively high calorific value.

The Company conducts mining operations at three open-pit mines, located in the Kuzbass area, Russia’s largest coal producing region. The Company’s mining operations are supported by an extensive production and logistics infrastructure, including its own railway network and facilities, which enable the Company to transport 100% of produced coal from the open-pit mines to the main railway hub at the long-distance railway network, operated by the Russian Railways. Furthermore, as the Company’s mines are compactly located within 5 km of each other, a number of operations are conducted centrally, thereby minimising overhead costs and expenses.

In 2009, the Company’s total coal sales amounted to 7.4 million tonnes of coal, of which 6.0 million tonnes were extracted by the Company and 1.4 million tonnes were retailed after purchasing from other coal producers. The Company maintains a diversified sales structure balanced between export and domestic sales with approximately 64% of the coal sold to domestic consumers and approximately 36% exported, primarily to Poland, South Korea and China, in 2009.

The Company’s strong regional presence is supported by an extensive retail distribution network, located throughout the Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Omsk and Altay regions of Western Siberia. As of 31 December 2009, the Company’s distribution network included 60 owned and operated points of sale and delivered 2.8 million tonnes of coal in 2009, positioning KTK as one of the principal suppliers of coal to retail customers in Western Siberia.

FY 2009 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue increased by 25% to RUR 10,658 mln (2008: RUR 8,557 mln)
  • EBITDA 2 – RUR 2,177 mln (2008: RUR 2,172 mln)
  • • EBITDA margin – 20% (2008: 25%)
  • Net income – RUR 663 mln (2008: RUR 1,102 mln)
  • Net income margin – 6% (2008: 13%)

 

For more information please contact:

Financial Dynamics Moscow
Oleg Leonov
Leonid Solovyev
+7 495 795 06 23

1 The maximum production capacity that the Company believes could be achieved (taking into account projected stoppages for planned repair and maintenance) in an annual period if the Company were able to process all the coal that could be mined using the Company’s existing mine facilities after acquisition of certain mining and transportation equipment in accordance with its current capital expenditure program

2 EBITDA for each period is defined as results from operating activities, adjusted for amortisation and depreciation, impairment loss and loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment. EBITDA is not a measurement of the Company’s operating performance under IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with IFRS or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of the Company’s liquidity.