Südzucker successfully completes exceptional year

Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt's consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012/13 (March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013) were up 13 percent to EUR 7.9 (previous year: 7.0) billion and operating profit jumped 30 percent to EUR 974 (previous year: 751) million. All segments contributed to the increase in consolidated group revenues. Consolidated operating profit rose sharply in the first half of the fiscal year, driven especially by the unusually strong growth in the sugar segment, and was unchanged from last year during the second half of the year. As expected, the special products segment was unable to build on last year's results; operating profit declined in the second half of the fiscal year. The CropEnergies and fruit segments contributed to the substantial operating profit growth.

Dividend boosted EUR 0.20 to EUR 0.90 per share

The executive and supervisory boards will recommend payment of a dividend of EUR 0.90 (previous year: 0.70) per share at the annual general meeting on August 1, 2013. The recommended increase reflects the group's operating profit, which was again sharply higher. Based on the 204.2 (previous year: 188.8) million shares in circulation, the total dividend distribution will be EUR 183.8 (previous year: 132.1) million.

Sugar segment operating profit higher in the first half of the fiscal year

The sugar segment's revenues climbed sharply, to EUR 4,232 (previous year: 3,728) million. Operating profit, which rose to EUR 710 (previous year: 511) million, was once again the main highlight of the group's results. In the first half of the fiscal year, the market situation in Western Europe began to align with that in Europe overall. While last year only the price level in Eastern Europe rose on account of the terms of various contracts, in fall 2011 sales revenues in Western Europe began to catch up. As a result, operating profit was up sharply in the first half of fiscal 2012/13 compared to the much weaker period a year earlier. In the second half of the fiscal year, operating profit growth leveled off as commodity costs climbed once again.

The total overall volume of sugar Südzucker Group produced from beets was about 4.5 (previous year: 4.9) million tonnes, not quite matching last year's record. During the 2012 campaign, Südzucker harvested about 28.7 (previous year: 31.3) million tonnes of beets from a slightly greater cultivation area than last year of about 422,000 (previous year: 412,000) hectares. The theoretical sugar yield was 11.8 (previous year: 13.4) tonnes per hectare. The group's three refineries refined 0.4 (previous year: 0.5) million tonnes of raw cane sugar. The total amount of sugar produced, including refined sugar, was thus 4.9 (previous year: 5.4) million tonnes.

Special products segment's operating profit declines due to higher commodity costs

The special products segment's revenue grew three percent to EUR 1,862 (previous year: 1,806) million, driven by higher revenues in the starch division. As expected, the segment's operating profit did not match last year's positive result and came in at EUR 132 (previous year: 149) million. Although it grew in the first half of the year, the second half result was significantly lower than last year, due in part to a sharp decline in the starch division's operating profit compared to the unusually strong previous year. This was further exacerbated by the fact that overall, the Freiberger, BENEO and PortionPack Europe divisions were unable to match the prior year's operating profit because of the difficult economic environment.

Wheat starch facility planned for the Zeitz site

A planned wheat starch facility at the Zeitz site will accompany the site's existing sugar factory and ethanol plant. The operation is expected to eventually produce up to 140,000 tonnes of wheat starch products for the food and chemical industries when all phases are complete. It is also designed to make gluten and wheat bran for the food and animal feed markets. About 80 direct jobs will be added at the new facility in Zeitz. About 24 additional jobs will be created for supplementary maintenance and other services for the Südzucker Group. The plant is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015 and will cost about EUR 125 million.

CropEnergies also building a new factory in Zeitz

CropEnergies also plans to build a facility at the Zeitz site. The new plant will produce high-end food-grade rectified spirit and will create new attractive sales opportunities for CropEnergies in traditional market segments such as the beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. With Ryssen Alcools, France, CropEnergies Group is already active in these markets. The plant, which will have the capacity to produce 60,000 cubic meters of rectified spirit annually, is scheduled for startup in 2015 and is expected to cost about EUR 27 million.

CropEnergies segment's dynamic growth continues

The CropEnergies segment's revenues expanded to EUR 645 (previous year: 529) million. The increase was driven primarily by higher ethanol volumes from increased production. Higher sales revenues from protein-rich food and animal feed also contributed. Operating profit rose faster than sales revenues and ended at EUR 87 (previous year: 53) million. This higher profit was the result of significantly improved capacity utilization and the associated higher volume. CropEnergies also profited because it locked in grain prices early and was able to use a wide mix of raw materials. Sales revenues from ethanol, food and animal feed, which also rose, more than offset the impact of significantly higher grain prices.

Fruit segment offsets higher costs

The fruit segment's revenues climbed to EUR 1,140 (previous year: 929) million. Higher volumes and higher sales revenues driven by higher commodity costs both contributed to the growth. The fruit segment's overall operating profit for fiscal 2012/13 came in higher than last year at EUR 45 (previous year: 38) million. In addition to the contribution from the Ybbstaler companies, consolidated for the first time since the second quarter of 2012/13 via the newly founded joint venture Austria Juice, volume growth and higher sales revenues helped offset higher costs.

Workforce expands slightly

In fiscal 2012/13, the average number of employees rose slightly to 17,940 (previous year: 17,489). The headcount in the sugar, special products and CropEnergies segments remained almost constant. In the fruit segment, the workforce expanded to 5,184 (previous year: 4,822) as a result of the first-time consolidation of the Ybbstaler companies.

Forecast for the current fiscal year 2013/14

Following the record results in 2012/13, operating profit for the current 2013/14 fiscal year is expected to decline significantly, to about EUR 825 million. Consolidated group revenues should rise slightly. Südzucker will thus continue to deliver excellent results and will earn a high return on the capital invested in the company.