NEDERLAND, Texas, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OCI Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), announced its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The Partnership owns and operates an integrated methanol and ammonia production facility that is strategically located on the Texas Gulf Coast near Beaumont.

Summary of Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

• Revenues increased 32% to $74 million compared to $56 million for the same period in 2016
• EBITDA increased 140% to $24 million compared to $10 million for the same period in 2016
• Net loss of $1 million compared to a net loss of $15 million for the same period in 2016
• EBITDA and net loss margins were 32% and (1)% respectively, compared to 18% and (27)%, respectively, during the same period in 2016

Summary of Financial Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

• Revenues increased 33% to $167 million compared to $126 million for the same period in 2016
• EBITDA increased 125% to $63 million compared to $28 million for the same period in 2016
• Net income of $12 million compared to a net loss of $22 million for the same period in 2016
• EBITDA and net income (loss) margins were 38% and 7% respectively, compared to 22% and (17)%, respectively, during the same period in 2016

Unplanned Shutdown

As previously announced, on April 27, both the methanol and ammonia plants tripped and upon restart a leak was discovered in one of the waste heat boilers that needed to be repaired. The Partnership decided to take the opportunity to carry out several other repairs, which were previously scheduled for a later date, but management accelerated the timing of these repairs while the plants were down. The ammonia plant was restarted on May 2, but was running at reduced capacity utilization rates until the restart of the methanol plant on May 22. Since the restart of the methanol plant, both plants have been running at average utilization rates above nameplate capacity.

Distributions

Based on the results of the three months ended June 30, 2017, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the Partnership has approved a cash distribution of $0.12 per common unit or approximately $10.4 million in the aggregate. The cash distribution will be paid on September 8, 2017 to unitholders of record at the close of business on August 18, 2017. The amount of any subsequent quarterly cash distributions will vary depending on our future earnings as well as our cash requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service and other contractual obligations, and reserves for future operating or capital needs.

Run-Rate Quarterly Distribution Guidance

Partnership distributions, including the distribution of $0.12 being declared with respect to the three months ended June 30, 2017, remain largely consistent with our prior run-rate guidance, where the run-rate distribution amount is primarily affected each quarter for changes in average realized prices of methanol, ammonia and natural gas.

Our distribution with respect to the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects an average realized methanol price of $331 per metric ton, an average realized ammonia price of $291 per metric ton, and an average natural gas price of $3.32 per MMBtu. The lost volume resulting from the unplanned shutdown had a negative impact of approximately $0.13 on the distribution for the three months ended June 30, 2017, based on average contribution margins for the second quarter of 2017.

To assist investors in making the linkage between these prices and potential future distributions, we provide below a sensitivity analysis assuming full utilization:

• A $0.50 per MMBtu change in annual natural gas prices results in an approximately $0.23 impact on annual distributions
• A $10 per metric ton change in annual methanol prices results in an approximately $0.10 impact on annual distributions
• A $10 per metric ton change in annual ammonia prices results in an approximately $0.04 impact on annual distributions

We intend to continue making distributions consistent with our run-rate guidance, but there can be no assurance we will be able to do so. In addition to the impact of commodity prices, our distributions are subject to fluctuations in capacity utilization, working capital, capital expenditures, debt service and other contractual obligations, reserves for future operating or capital needs and other factors, including overall business, regulatory and financial considerations that may affect the availability of cash to distribute. Please see "Forward-Looking Statements" below."

Statement from President and Chief Executive Officer – Ahmed El-Hoshy

"During the quarter, as a result of the unplanned shutdown in April and May, our ammonia and methanol production units experienced 6 and 25 days of downtime, resulting in capacity utilization rates of 87% and 72%, respectively. We are pleased that the plants have been running consistently at rates above nameplate capacity since both plants were back up and running.

Despite the unplanned shutdown and higher natural gas costs compared to last year, second quarter EBITDA improved compared to the same quarter last year, benefiting from comparatively higher realized prices for methanol during the quarter.

After the rapid increase in US weighted average methanol contract prices during the first quarter, prices started to decline towards the end of March and into the second quarter, largely due to the return of supply from various methanol plants following turnarounds, and reduced Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) operating rates in China. After reaching a high of $491 per metric ton in March, the contract price declined to $377 per metric ton in June. Ammonia prices (Tampa cfr) also improved rapidly during the first quarter and reached $330 per metric ton in May before the June contract price dropped to $265 per metric ton.

Our average realized methanol price was $331 per metric ton in the second quarter, an increase of 72% from $192 per metric ton in the same quarter last year and a drop of 6% from $353 per metric ton in the first quarter of 2017. Our average realized ammonia price was $291 per metric ton in the second quarter, down 3% from $301 per metric ton in the same quarter last year, but up 18% from $247 per metric ton in the first quarter of 2017. Finally, our natural gas price averaged $3.32 per MMBtu during the quarter, up from $2.13 per MMBtu during the second quarter of 2016, offsetting some of the benefits of the higher pricing.

Looking forward, methanol spot prices have been relatively stable in the past few months. The US weighted average methanol contract price was $367 per metric ton for July and $370 per metric ton for August, only slightly below the $377 per metric ton in June and at levels that generate healthy returns for our operations. The lower prices have resulted in improved economics and increases in Chinese MTO operating rates during the second quarter and into the third. Global demand is expected to remain underpinned by MTO affordability.

Ammonia markets weakened into the third quarter of 2017, reflecting increased supply availability and low seasonal demand. The Tampa CFR ammonia contract price decreased from $265 per metric ton in June to $240 per metric ton in July and to $190 per metric ton in August."

 

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) plus (i) interest expense and other financing costs, (ii) depreciation expense and (iii) income tax expense. EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our unaudited financial statements, such as investors and commercial banks, to assess:

• the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis; and
• our operating performance and return on invested capital compared to those of other publicly traded partnerships, without regard to financing methods and capital structure.

EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA may have material limitations as a performance measure because it excludes items that are necessary elements of our costs and operations. In addition, EBITDA presented by other companies may not be comparable to our presentation because each company may define EBITDA differently.

EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by revenues. EBITDA margin is used as a supplemental financial measure by the Partnership's management in its analysis of our operating performance.

The tables below reconcile EBITDA to net income, its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands).

 

 

Conference Call with Management

The Partnership will hold a conference call on August 7, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. ET, during which the Partnership's senior management will review the Partnership's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 and provide an update on corporate developments. Callers may listen to the live presentation, which will be followed by a question and answer segment, by dialing (816) 287-5664 and entering the conference code 66005923. A replay of the conference call will be made available until August 21, 2017 and the replay can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and entering the same conference code 66005923.

About OCI Partners LP

OCI Partners LP (NYSE: OCIP) owns and operates an integrated methanol and ammonia production facility that is strategically located on the Texas Gulf Coast near Beaumont. The Partnership is headquartered in Nederland, Texas and currently has a methanol production design capacity of 912,500 metric tons per year and an ammonia production design capacity of 331,000 metric tons per year.

Notice to Foreign Investors

This release is intended to be a qualified notice to nominees as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b)(4) and (d). Please note that 100% of the Partnership's distributions to foreign investors are attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, all of the Partnership's distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Nominees, and not the Partnership, are treated as the withholding agents responsible for withholding on the distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate" and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the following: our business plans may change as the methanol and ammonia industry and markets warrant; the demand and sales prices for methanol, ammonia and their derivatives may decrease due to market, governmental and other factors; we may be unable to obtain economically priced natural gas and other feedstocks; we may be unable to successfully implement our business strategies, including the completion of significant capital programs; the occurrence of shutdowns (either temporary or permanent) or restarts of existing methanol and ammonia facilities (including our own facility); the timing and length of planned and unplanned downtime; and the occurrence of operating hazards from accidents, fire, severe weather, floods or other natural disasters. For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Partnership has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K is available to be viewed or downloaded at www.ocipartnerslp.com by selecting "SEC Filings" on the "Financial Reporting" sub-tab found under the "Investor and Media Relations" tab, as well as on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Interested investors may obtain a hard copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the Partnership's financial statements, free of charge by selecting "Annual Report" on the "Financial Reporting" sub-tab found under the "Investor and Media Relations" tab. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, unless required by law.

Contacts:
Hans Zayed
Director of Investor Relations
Phone: +1 917-817-5159
hans.zayed@oci.nl

SOURCE OCI Partners LP