BW LPG Limited - Financial Results for Q3 2024
Singapore, 2 December 2024
Highlights and Subsequent Events
- Another good quarter for shipping with TCE income - Shipping Q3 2024 concluded
at US$46,800 per available day and US$46,500 per calendar day (total).
- Avance Gas vessels deliveries commenced 1 November and a total of nine ships
are expected to be delivered in time to receive Q3 dividends.
- The nine ships represent a share issuance of 14.4 million shares, increasing
the total shares outstanding eligible for Q3 dividend from 132.3 million to
146.7 million. When all twelve ships are delivered, total shares outstanding
will amount to 151.6 million.
- Declared a Q3 2024 cash dividend of US$0.42 per share, representing 100%
payout ratio of Shipping NPAT. This amounts to US$61.6 million based on 146.7
million shares outstanding.
- BW Product Services generated a net accounting profit of US$58M in Q3,
comprising a negative US$14.4M of realised trading result and US$85.8M of
unrealised MTM gain from cargo and paper positions.
o The high accounting profit does not represent an immediate uplift to the
Company's dividend capacity as it stems from MtM valuation of unrealised
positions.
- BW LPG signed a new seven-year US$460M RCF at a competitive margin in Nov 2024
and voluntarily prepaid as well as cancelled the US$400M Facility in Oct 2024.
- Strategic fleet renewal with sale of 2007-bult BW Cedar, and purchase of
2019-built BW Kizoku.
Financial Performance
BW LPG Limited ("BW LPG", the "Company", NYSE ticker code: "BWLP", OSE ticker
code: "BWLPG.OL") reported a Q3 2024 Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) of US$ 120
million, yielding an annualised return on equity of 30%. The Q3 profit
attributable to equity holders of the company was US$ 105 million, and earnings
per share was US$ 0.79.
The Company's net leverage ratio was 21% in Q3 with available liquidity at US$
750 million at the end of the quarter. Avance Gas vessel deliveries commenced 1
November and a total of nine ships are expected to be delivered in time with the
right to receive Q3 dividend. The nine ships represent a share issuance of 14.4
million shares increasing total shares outstanding eligible for Q3 dividend from
132.3 million to 146.7 million. The Board has declared a cash dividend of US$
0.42 per share, representing 100% payout ratio of Shipping NPAT and an
annualised dividend yield of 14%. Total Q3 dividend amount to US$61.6 million
based on 146.7 million shares outstanding.
Commercial Performance Shipping - Q3 VLGC freight rates averaged US$ 46,800 per
available day or US$ 46,500 per calendar day, with 98% fleet utilisation. Time
Charter Equivalent (TCE) income was US$ 145.5 million for the quarter, and our
India subsidiary contributed a stable TCE income of US$ 32.9 million for Q3.
Product Services - Product Services reported a US$ 71.7 million gross profit for
Q3. After considering other expenses, comprising mainly of G&A and income tax
expenses, Product Services reported a net profit after tax of US$ 58.5 million
for the quarter. This accounting profit does not immediate uplift the Company's
dividend capacity as it stems from MTM valuation of unrealised positions which
will fluctuate and realise over time.
Corporate Update
With reference to the press release dated 19 November 2024, BW LPG announced a
strategic fleet renewal, with the sale of 2007-built BW Cedar for further
trading, and the exercise of a purchase option for 2019-built BW Kizoku.
BW LPG's 52% owned subsidiary BW LPG India sold its 2007-built vessel BW Cedar
for approximately US$65 million. On a 100% basis, the sale is expected to
generate a net book gain of around US$33 million and about US$51 million in net
cash after repayment of its existing bank loan. The vessel will be delivered to
the new owners in Q1 2025.
BW LPG also declared a purchase option for BW Kizoku, for a consideration of
US$69.8 million, expected to be delivered in January 2025.
Through these transactions, BW LPG are renewing its fleet by capitalizing on
strong asset prices in the second-hand market for older vessels while acquiring
a modern vessel at a competitive price translating to a new building equivalent
of US$ mid-80 million.
Please see press release for further information here:
https://www.bwlpg.com/media/press-release/bw-lpg-limited-strategic-fleet-renewal
-with-sale-and-purchase-of-very-large-gas-carriers/
Market Update
The third quarter of 2024 began on a challenging note for VLGC owners, as the
Panama Canal normalized operations, putting sailing distances and VLGC
utilization under pressure. Weather and technical issues also meant fluctuations
in export volumes. This translated to volatility in spot rates, swinging as low
as US$23,000/day and US$50,000 during the quarter.
In the US, export volumes were negatively affected in July by Hurricane Beryl.
Subsequently, exports rebounded in August. Towards the end of September however,
one export terminal announced it had to close for unscheduled maintenance due to
problems with their chilling capacity. This negatively impacted overall VLGC
loadings in both September and October. These issues were eventually resolved,
and going into November, all major US Gulf Coast export terminals were running
at full capacity.
Despite these challenges, LPG exports carried on VLGCs out of North America grew
6.7% in the third quarter, compared to the same period in 2023, reflecting the
strong underlying trend in production and exports.
The new locks in the Panama Canal are operating near full capacity, with the old
locks increasing throughput as well. While this reduces fleet wide
inefficiencies, LNG carriers and dry bulk vessels are also gradually returning
to the canal, increasing the competition for transit slots.
In the Middle East, OPEC+ announced in early November that the voluntary
production cut would be extended to the end of December. The voluntary
production cut contributed to LPG on exports on VLGCs only growing 0.6% for the
third quarter compared to Q3 2023.
Fleet Capacity
Year-to-date, 20 new VLGC vessels have been delivered, and there are plans for
the delivery of 2 more throughout the remaining months of 2024, and 13 VLGCs for
delivery in 2025. Established shipbuilders are indicating deliveries no earlier
than 2027 for new VLGC orders.
VLGC Freight Market Outlook
Following a quarter with disruptions in exports and volatility in rates, it is
encouraging to note that LPG export terminals are again back to high levels of
exports. Going forward, several terminal expansion projects in the US, are
expected to support growth for North American LPG export growth in the high
single-digits for the next three years.
Middle East LPG exports are expected to grow in the mid-single digits over the
coming years, driven by higher gas production from new projects in Qatar, UAE
and other countries in the region.
Furthermore, Chinese PDH plants are currently operating at above average
run-rates, with 5 and 6 new PDH plants scheduled to start up in 2025 and 2026
respectively, supporting growth in LPG imports.
The Houston-Chiba FFA market for CAL2025 is currently trading at ~US$ 40,000 per
day, although with limited liquidity.
The spot market is expected to fluctuate however, driven by weather changes,
geopolitical situation, Panama Canal availability and other drivers of the VLGC
market.
Q3 2024 Earnings Presentation and Interim Financial Report
Please see the attachments for the Q3 2024 Earnings Presentation and Interim
Financial Report.
- BW LPG Q3 2024 Earnings Presentation
- BW LPG Q3 2024 Interim Financial Report
BW LPG will present its financial results at 14:00hrs CET today. The
presentation will be hosted by Kristian Sørensen (CEO) and Samantha Xu (CFO).
The Presentation will be held live via Zoom. Please register at the link below:
https://bit.ly/BWLPGQ32024EP
A presentation recording will also be available after the event on the Company's
website at: https://www.investor.bwlpg.com
For further information, please contact:
Kristian Sørensen, CEO
Samantha Xu, CFO
E-mail: investor.relations@bwlpg.com
About BW LPG
BW LPG is the world's leading owner and operator of LPG vessels, owning and
operating Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGC) with a total carrying capacity of over
3 million CBM. With five decades of operating experience in LPG shipping, an
in-house LPG trading division and a growing presence in LPG terminal
infrastructure and distribution, BW LPG offers an integrated, flexible, and
reliable service to customers along the LPG value chain. More information about
BW LPG can be found at www.bwlpg.com
BW LPG is associated with BW Group, a leading global maritime company involved
in shipping, floating infrastructure, deepwater oil & gas production, and new
sustainable technologies. Founded in 1955 by Sir YK Pao, BW controls a fleet of
over 450 vessels transporting oil, gas and dry commodities, with its 200 LNG and
LPG ships constituting the largest gas fleet in the world. In the renewables
space, the group has investments in solar, wind, batteries, biofuels and water
treatment.
This information is subject to disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12
of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.