ICTSI 1Q2019 Net Income Up 77% to US$72.4M; Ramp up of new ports contributing to volume growth

9 May 2019

Throughput grew 7% to 2.5 million TEUs
Revenues increased 18% to US$383.8 million
EBITDA improved 25% to US$222.5 million

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) today reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 posting revenue from port operations of US$383.8 million, an increase of 18 percent over the US$325.4 million reported for the same period last year; Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of US$222.5 million, 25 percent higher than the US$177.5 million generated in the first quarter of 2018; and net income attributable to equity holders of US$72.4 million, 77 percent more than the US$40.9 million earned in the same period last year due to the strong operating income highlighted by strong operational and financial performance at VICT in Melbourne, Australia, lower financing charges, and a significant improvement in the operations at Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce S.A. (SPIA), its joint venture container terminal project with PSA International Pte Ltd. (PSA) in Buenaventura, Colombia, which posted a lower net loss share of US$6.3 million compared to US$8.9 million in the same period in 2018 as the company continued to ramp-up container volume lifting SPIA’s EBITDA to positive level for the quarter.

“Enrique K. Razon, Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President said: “ICTSI has continued to grow and delivered a strong first quarter financial performance underpinned by operational improvements and higher contributions from our new ports including VICT in Melbourne Australia, Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea. While we remain very mindful of the economic backdrop, we remain confident about the future prospects of the business as we build on this positive momentum.”

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 2,478,672 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, seven percent more than the 2,325,540 TEUs handled in the same period in 2018. The increase in volume was primarily due to improvement in trade activities, new shipping lines and services and continuous volume ramp-up at certain terminals.

Gross revenues from port operations for the quarter-ended March 31, 2019 increased 18 percent to US$383.8 million from the US$325.4 million reported in the same period in 2018. The increase in revenues was mainly due to volume growth; tariff adjustments at certain terminals; new contracts with shipping lines and services; increased in revenues from non-containerized cargoes, storage and ancillary services; and the contribution from the Company’s new terminals in Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea.

Consolidated cash operating expenses in the first quarter of 2019 was 5 percent higher at US$112.0 million compared to US$106.2 million in the same period in 2018. The increase in cash operating expenses was mainly due to government-mandated and contracted salary rate adjustments at certain terminals; increase in information technology-related expenses; and full quarter cost contribution of the two terminals in Papua New Guinea. The increase was partially tapered by the continuing cost optimization measures implemented and the favorable translation impact of Philippine Peso expenses at Philippine terminals, Pakistani Rupee expenses at Karachi, Pakistan, Australian dollar expenses at Melbourne, Australia and Brazilian Reais based expenses at Suape, Brazil.

Consolidated EBITDA for the first quarter of 2019 increased 25 percent to US$222.5 million from US$177.5 million in 2018 mainly due to strong revenues partially tapered by the higher operating expenses driven by volume growth. Consequently, EBITDA margin increased to 58 percent in the first quarter of 2019 from 55 percent in the same period in 2018.

Consolidated financing charges and other expenses for the quarter decreased nine percent from US$31.1 million in 2018 to US$28.3 million in 2019 primarily due to the lower interest expense resulting from the prepayment of the CMSA project finance loan in May 2018.

Capital expenditures excluding capitalized borrowing costs for the first quarter of 2019 amounted to US$59.6 million, approximately 16 percent of the US380.0 million capital expenditures budget for the full year 2019. The estimated capital expenditure budget will be utilized mainly for the ongoing expansion projects in Manila, Mexico and Iraq; equipment acquisitions and upgrades; and for maintenance requirements.

ICTSI is a leading global developer, manager and operator of container terminals in the 50,000 to three million TEU/year range. ICTSI operates in six continents and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world.

About International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Headquartered and established in 1988 in Manila, Philippines, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is in the business of port operations, management and development. ICTSI’s portfolio of terminals and projects spans developed and emerging market economies in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. ICTSI has received global acclaim for its public-private partnerships with governments divesting of their port assets to the private sector. (www.ictsi.com)