August 19, 2020: In Q2 2020, A.P. Moller – Maersk improved profitability across all businesses through agile capacity deployment, cost mitigation initiatives and adaption to changed customer needs. The earnings improvement was achieved despite the sharp drop in global volumes following the COVID-19 crisis.
“As expected, the second quarter was materially impacted by COVID-19 and our focus remained on protecting our employees from the virus, serving our customers by keeping our global network of ships sailing and our ports, warehouses and inland transportation networks operating, and helping the societies we are part of fight the virus,” says Søren Skou, CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk.
“I am pleased that we despite the headwinds, continued our track record of improving earnings and free cash flow. Our operating earnings improved by 25%, marking the eighth consecutive quarter with year-on-year improvements, driven by strong cost performance across all our businesses, lower fuel prices and higher freight rates in Ocean and increased profitability in Logistics & Services. With a strong result and a strong balance sheet we are well positioned to financially and strategically come out stronger of the crisis.”
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) improved to USD 1.7bn, which is higher than the initial expectations in the trading update from June of an EBITDA slightly above USD 1.5bn. The EBITDA margin increased from 14.1% in Q2 last year to 18.9%.
Revenue decreased by 6.5% to USD 9bn, driven by a volume decrease of 16% in Ocean and 14% in gateway terminals. In Ocean, the lower volumes were partly offset by agile capacity deployment of the global network leading to lower costs, together with lower fuel prices and higher freight rates. In Logistics and Services, profitability increased through cost measures, favorable airfreight contribution and the integration of Performance Team, while Terminals & Towage showed their resilience by compensating lower volumes through cost measures.
The continued focus on improving returns showed further results with cash return on invested capital (CROIC), last twelve months improving to 12.5% from 8.9% and ROIC, last twelve months increasing to 4.7% from 1.4% in the previous year.
The net interest-bearing debt was USD 11.6bn compared to USD 11.7bn by the end of 2019, as free cash flow of USD 1.5bn allowed for share buy-back, dividends and acquisitions in the first six months of 2020.
The focus on a strong cost and capital allocation discipline will continue, and more additional cost and structural measures across the business will be taken to offset the negative impact of COVID-19 and fund the next stages of the transformation.
Guidance for 2020
A.P. Moller – Maersk suspended the full-year guidance for 2020 (EBITDA before restructuring and integration costs of around USD 5.5bn) on 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, given material uncertainties and lack of visibility related to the global demand for container transport and logistics.
Despite the uncertainties related to COVID-19, A.P. Moller – Maersk reinstates its full-year guidance for 2020 and now expects EBITDA to be between USD 6.0bn-7.0bn, before restructuring and integration costs.
The global demand growth for containers is still expected to contract in 2020 due to COVID-19 and for Q3 2020 volumes are expected to progressively recover with a current expectation of a mid-single digit contraction. Organic volume growth in Ocean is expected to be in line with or slightly lower than the average market growth.
The outlook and guidance for 2020 is subject to significant uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and does not take into consideration a material second lockdown phase. The guidance is also subject to uncertainties related to freight rates, bunker prices and other external factors.
The accumulated guidance on gross capital expenditures excl. acquisitions (CAPEX) for 2020-2021 is still expected to be USD 3.0bn-4.0bn, with steps being taken to reduce CAPEX in 2020. High cash conversion (cash flow from operations compared to EBITDA) is still expected for both years.
