Press release dated Aug 27/2024
- Second quarter results supported by increased crop input margins, strong global potash demand, higher fertilizer operating rates and lower operating costs.
- Mark Thompson appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 26, 2024.
All amounts are in US dollars, except as otherwise noted
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nutrien Ltd. (TSX and NYSE: NTR) announced today its second quarter 2024 results, with net earnings of $392 million ($0.78 diluted net earnings per share). Second quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA 1 was $2.2 billion and adjusted net earnings per share 1 was $2.34.
“Nutrien benefited from improved Retail margins, higher fertilizer sales volumes and lower operating costs in the first-half of 2024. Crop input demand remains strong, and we raised our full-year outlook for global potash demand due to healthy engagement in all key markets,” commented Ken Seitz, Nutrien’s President and CEO.
“Our upstream production assets and downstream Retail businesses in North America and Australia have performed well in 2024. In Brazil, we continue to see challenges and are accelerating a margin improvement plan that is focused on further reducing operating costs and rationalizing our footprint to optimize cash flow,” added Mr. Seitz.
Highlights 2 :
- Generated net earnings of $557 million and adjusted EBITDA of $3.3 billion in the first half of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was down from the same period in 2023 primarily due to lower fertilizer net selling prices. This was partially offset by increased Nutrien Ag Solutions (“Retail”) earnings, higher Potash sales volumes, and lower natural gas costs.
- Retail adjusted EBITDA increased to $1.2 billion in the first half of 2024 supported by strong grower demand and a normalization of product margins in North America. Full-year 2024 Retail adjusted EBITDA guidance lowered due primarily to ongoing market instability in Brazil as well as the impact of delayed planting in North America in the second quarter.
- Potash adjusted EBITDA declined to $1.0 billion in the first half of 2024 due to lower net selling prices, which more than offset higher sales volumes and lower operating costs. Full-year 2024 Potash sales volume guidance raised due to record first half sales volumes and the expectation for strong global demand in the second half of 2024.
- Nitrogen adjusted EBITDA decreased to $1.1 billion in the first half of 2024 due to lower net selling prices, which more than offset lower natural gas costs. Ammonia production increased in the first half, driven by improved reliability and less turnaround activity.
- Accelerating a margin improvement plan in Brazil, including the curtailment of 3 fertilizer blenders and closure of 21 selling locations in the second quarter of 2024. Recognized a $335 million non-cash impairment of our Retail – Brazil assets due to ongoing market instability and more moderate margin expectations. Incurred a loss on foreign currency derivatives of approximately $220 million in Brazil. 3
- Previously announced that we are no longer pursuing our Geismar Clean Ammonia project and recognized a $195 million non-cash impairment of assets related to this project.
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