ArcelorMittal's Q2 core earnings beat expectations
Adds Arcelor comment in paragraph 2, shipments in paragraph 3, EBITDA, steel demand, free cash flow outlooks in paragraphs 6 onwards
By Anna Peverieri and Michal Aleksandrowicz
Aug 1 (Reuters) -The world's second-largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal MT.AS reported on Thursday second-quarter core profit that exceeded expectations, citing higher steel shipments and lower costs that blunted the impact of lower steel prices.
Steel prices in both Europe and the U.S. are below the marginal cost of production and China’s excess output has resulted in "very low domestic steel spreads and aggressive exports," Arcelor said in a statement.
Second-quarter steel shipments rose 3.2% from the first quarter, it said.
The Luxembourg-based company reported quarterly earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $1.86 billion, higher than the company-compiled consensus of $1.77 billion.
However, its quarterly net income of $504 million was below the consensus of $624 million.
The company said it benefited from diversification. It estimated its projects in Brazil, India, USA, France and Liberia would add $1.8 billion to its EBITDA by 2026.
Its recent acquisitions in Spain and Italy, as well as its joint venture with Vallourec VLLP.PA would add a further $0.2 billion to its core earnings by 2025.
The steel industry has been suffering from weaker construction activity in Europe and problems in the real estate sector in China, the world's top consumer and producer of the metal. In the U.S., interest rate hikes have dented demand.
The company cut its annual apparent global steel demand outside China to a range of 2.5% to 3% in comparison to the 3%-4% growth it forecast in February.
Arcelor said it would continue to return a minimum 50% of post-dividend free cash flow to shareholders through its share buyback program.
It expects positive free cash flow in 2024 and beyond.
Reporting by Anna Peverieri and Michal Aleksandrowicz in Gdansk; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Christian Schmollinger and Sonali Paul
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