Finnish steelmaker Outokumpu's Q1 core profit misses estimates due to strike in Finland
Adds context on Europe in paragraphs 8-10, shares in 3
By Jagoda Darlak
May 7 (Reuters) -Finnish stainless steel maker Outokumpu OUT1V.HE on Tuesday reported first-quarter core profit below market expectations due to industrial action in Finland and a tighter scrap market.
The company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell 81% to 38 million euros ($40.87 million) in the January-March period, below analysts' forecasts of 46.0 million in a company-provided poll.
Shares were down 2.6% at 0803 GMT.
Workers in Finland went on strike in March, targeting exports, imports and cargo transportation, the latest in a series of union action in protest against government labour reforms and welfare cuts.
The group, which produces stainless steel from recycled stainless scrap, said the strike had a negative impact of about 30 million euros in the quarter, and expects a similar hit in the second quarter.
"We have done everything under our control to mitigate the situation in order to limit the negative impacts of the four-week strike to EUR 60 million from the earlier estimated EUR 80 million," CEO Heikki Malinen said in a statement.
The group's profitability was also impacted by a tighter scrap market, due to the lower supply of recycled material, it added.
In its Europe business area, which serves the group's key market, adjusted EBITDA dropped by 97% in the first quarter, but the group said the gradual recovery in the region has continued.
Weak European steel markets and low prices have been weighing on steelmakers' profits, which had hit record levels in 2021 and 2022.
Its stainless steel deliveries fell by 12% in the first quarter, but are expected to increase by 5-15% in the second,while adjusted EBITDA is forecast to be "at a similar or higher level" in the same period.
Last month, Swedish rival SSAB posted better than expected results, while Spain's Acerinox ACX.MC saw its EBITDA drop by a half.
($1 = 0.9299 euros)
Reporting by Jagoda Darlak in Gdansk; Editing by Louise Heavens, Shri Navaratnam and David Evans
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
