Mercer International Inc. Reports First Quarter 2022 Results and Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.075

Mercer International Inc. today reported first quarter 2022 results. Operating EBITDA increased to a $154.5 million from $82.0 million in the first quarter of 2021 and decreased from $164.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.

In the first quarter of 2022, net income was $88.9 million (or $1.35 per basic share and $1.34 per diluted share) compared to $5.9 million (or $0.09 per share) in the first quarter of 2021 and net income of $74.5 million (or $1.13 per basic share and $1.12 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Mr. David Gandossi, the Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Our robust first quarter operating results were driven by strong sales volumes, increased pulp, lumber and energy pricing and our German mills’ sales of surplus energy into the spot market. These positive effects were only partially offset by higher costs for key inputs including fiber, energy and chemicals. Despite the impact of such cost inflation, we believe that our cost control measures will help mitigate the effect of increases going forward and we see our surplus energy sales as a strong hedge for higher energy prices.

“Overall, our first quarter pulp results compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, benefitted from higher pulp pricing and the Rosenthal turbine running for most of the quarter allowing for surplus energy sales and minimal energy purchases, which were partially offset by higher fiber and natural gas costs. Also, our fourth quarter 2021 results included $31.9 million of business interruption insurance proceeds.

“In the first quarter of 2022, our Friesau sawmill’s production continued its strong performance and its results were materially improved over the trailing fourth quarter primarily due to improved lumber pricing in the U.S. In the first quarter of 2022, our solid wood segment generated operating income of $40.5 million.

“Pulp prices improved in all markets during the first quarter as low customer inventory levels and limited supply, including as a result of global logistical slowdowns, led to higher pricing. As of March 31, 2022, third party industry quoted NBSK list prices were approximately $1,345 per ADMT in Europe and net prices were approximately $985 per ADMT in China.

“Global logistics challenges continue to impact our business primarily with regards to North American rail traffic which led to us having to slow production at our Canadian pulp mills. We primarily managed these logistical challenges by using additional trucking which is higher cost compared to rail. We are seeing the railways beginning to make headway with the unwinding of their system backlogs and we are currently optimistic that such logistics issues will be much improved over the coming summer months.

“As we move into the second quarter, we currently expect some continued upward pricing pressure on pulp prices as a result of current supply-demand dynamics. While lumber prices in the United States have declined in the last few weeks, we generally expect them to remain at historically strong levels into the summer. Further, we currently expect strong energy demand and prices in Germany to continue in the second quarter of 2022.

“Currently our 2022 capital expenditures are on track to total approximately $175 to $200 million. The majority of these investments are designed to deliver high returns, help us achieve our ESG objectives and enhance shareholder value.

“What I am most excited about is our recently acquired cross-laminated timber facility (the “CLT Facility”) located near Spokane, Washington. It is a state-of-the-art facility that produces cross-laminated timber (“CLT”) which is a wood panel product made from adhering layers of solid sawn timber. CLT is a more sustainable alternative for use in construction and home building. In the first quarter we built out our senior sales and marketing team which interfaces directly with developers, architects and builders to support and work with them to incorporate our CLT products. We have also started ramping up the business and have identified new offerings to build out and expand the
CLT Facility’s product line. Over time, as we continue to ramp up and expand its business and with some small targeted capital expenditures to expand its product offerings, I believe the CLT Facility will be a key foundation of our solid wood business.

“While many countries globally have eased pandemic restrictions and the global roll-out of vaccines continues, health and infection risks from COVID-19, including from variants, continue. Consequently, we will maintain our measures and procedures put in place to protect our people and allow us to operate our business safely and efficiently.

“Finally, as you are likely aware, I have announced my retirement as CEO and President of Mercer effective May 1, 2022. The Board has appointed Juan Carlos Bueno, a globally recognized leader in the biomaterials space, to take the Company through the next stage of its development. Our new leadership, combined with an excellent management team and outstanding employees, will continue to advance our growth strategy into the future. Although I will no longer be leading Mercer I will support Juan Carlos’ transition and will enjoy watching Mercer’s progress.”

Consolidated – Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

Total revenues in the first quarter of 2022 increased by approximately 44% to a record $592.7 million from $412.7 million in the same quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher sales realizations, pulp sales volumes and energy sales.

In the first quarter of 2022, our energy and chemical revenues increased by 76% to $46.2 million from $26.3 million in the same quarter of 2021 primarily as a result of higher energy prices in Germany, which were more than double those in the same quarter of 2021.

Costs and expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased by approximately 30% to $470.4 million from $361.7 million in the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher per unit fiber costs, pulp sales volumes and energy, freight and chemical costs partially offset by lower maintenance costs.

In the first quarter of 2022, Operating EBITDA increased by approximately 88% to $154.5 million from $82.0 million in the same quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher sales realizations and pulp sales volumes and lower maintenance costs partially offset by higher per unit fiber and other production costs.

Segment Results

Pulp

In the first quarter of 2022, pulp segment operating income increased to $86.2 million from $25.3 million in the same quarter of 2021 as higher sales realizations and lower maintenance costs were partially offset by higher per unit fiber costs and other production costs.

Pulp revenues in the first quarter of 2022 increased by approximately 41% to a record $446.9 million from $317.6 million in the same quarter of 2021 due to higher sales realizations and sales volumes.

Energy and chemical revenues increased by approximately 76% to a record $39.0 million in the first quarter of 2022 from $22.2 million in the same quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher sales realizations.

In the first quarter of 2022, third party industry quoted average list prices for NBSK pulp increased from the same quarter of 2021 primarily as a result of low customer inventory levels and global logistics issues restricting supply. Average NBSK pulp sales realizations increased by approximately 22% to $812 per ADMT in the first quarter of 2022 from approximately $668 per ADMT in the same quarter of 2021.

Costs and expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased by approximately 27% to $399.7 million from $314.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher pulp sales volumes, per unit fiber costs and energy, chemical and freight costs partially offset by lower maintenance costs. In the first quarter of 2022, we had no annual maintenance downtime compared to maintenance downtime of 27 days (approximately 37,800 ADMTs) in the same quarter of 2021.

In the first quarter of 2022 per unit fiber costs increased by approximately 25% from the same quarter of 2021 due to higher per unit fiber costs for all of our mills. Per unit fiber costs for our German mills increased due to strong demand and reduced availability of lower cost beetle damaged wood. For our Canadian mills, per unit fiber costs increased due to strong demand in the mills fiber baskets. We currently expect per unit fiber costs will increase in the second quarter of 2022 due to continued strong demand.

Wood Products

In the first quarter of 2022, our wood products segment had operating income of $40.5 million compared to $28.0 million in the same quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher sales realizations partially offset by higher per unit fiber costs.

Average lumber sales realizations increased by approximately 35% to $840 per Mfbm in the first quarter of 2022 from approximately $622 per Mfbm in the same quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher pricing in both the European and U.S. markets. U.S. lumber pricing increased due to strong demand from the housing and renovation markets. European lumber pricing increased due to steady demand with limited supply.

In the comparative quarter of 2021, per unit fiber costs were lower as a result of a large supply of beetle damaged wood. As producers have worked through such wood, more green wood is being harvested. In the first quarter of 2022 per unit fiber costs increased by approximately 56% from the same quarter of 2021 as a result of using more green wood and continued strong demand for sawlogs. We currently expect modestly higher per unit fiber costs in the second quarter of 2022.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $410.7 million and approximately $281.0 million available under our revolving credit facilities providing us with aggregate liquidity of about $691.7 million.

Quarterly Dividend

A quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share will be paid on July 7, 2022 to all shareholders of record on June 29, 2022. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval and may be adjusted as business and industry conditions warrant.

Earnings Release Call

In conjunction with this release, Mercer International Inc. will host a conference call, which will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet. Management will host the call, which is scheduled for April 29, 2022 at 10:00 AM ET. Listeners can access the conference call live and archived for 30 days over the Internet at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/t6i78rsg or through a link on the company’s home page at www.mercerint.com. Please allow 15 minutes prior to the call to visit the site and download and install any necessary audio software.

For the complete press release, click here.

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, 550 million board feet of lumber and 140 thousand cubic meters of CLT. To obtain further information on the company, please visit its web site at www.mercerint.com.

Source: Mercer International, Inc.