“In the second quarter of 2022, TORM realized TCE rates which were more than twice as high as in the same period of 2021, resulting in an EBITDA of USD 153m and a profit before tax of USD 107m. This enables TORM to distribute USD 47m to our shareholders as dividends,” says Executive Director Jacob Meldgaard, and continues “The market has continued to improve into the third quarter of 2022, and so far, we have achieved rates which are more than three times as high as those we achieved in the third quarter of 2021.”
In the second quarter of 2022, TORM achieved TCE rates of /day 29,622 (2021, same period: /day 14,591) and an EBITDA of USD 153.4m (2021, same period: USD 44.7m). The profit before tax amounted to USD 107.0m (2021, same period a profit of USD 2.4m), and earnings per share (EPS) was USD 1.31 or DKK 9.16 (2021, same period: USD 0.03 or DKK 0.19). Cash flow from operating activities was positive at USD 71.1m in the second quarter of 2022 (2021, same period: USD 13.4m), and Return on Invested Capital (RoIC) was 22.7% (2021, same period: 2.6%).
In the first six months of 2022, TORM achieved TCE rates of /day 23,152 (2021, same period: /day 14,056) and an EBITDA of USD 213.8m (2021, same period: USD 63.6m). The profit before tax for the first six months of 2022 amounted to USD 117.7m (2021, same period loss before tax: USD 18.7m), and earnings per share (EPS) was USD 1.44 or DKK 9.80 (2021, same period loss per share: USD 0.25 or DKK 1.54). Cash flow from operating activities was positive at USD 89.0m in the first six months of 2022 (2021, same period: USD 23.2m). Return on Invested Capital (RoIC) for the first six months of 2022 was 13.7% (2021, same period: 0.0%).
TORM has utilized the high second-hand prices to divest seven of the oldest vessels in our fleet from late 2021 until the end of Q2 2022. The vessels were sold at an average age of 18 years and have added USD 62.8m in liquidity after debt repayment.
During Q2 2022, TORM entered into agreements to sell two of our oldest vessels, the 2003-built LR2 vessels (TORM Ingeborg and TORM Valborg). TORM delivered four previously sold vessels, including TORM Gudrun (LR2 vessel), TORM Emilie (LR1 vessel), TORM Horizon (MR vessel) and TORM Tevere (Handysize vessel) to their new owners during Q2 2022 and TORM Gyda (Handysize vessel) in July 2022. Six vessels were held for sale at the end of Q2 2022.
After the end of Q2 2022, TORM entered into an agreement to sell the 2003-built MR vessel (TORM Moselle). TORM Moselle is expected to be delivered to its new owner during Q3 2022. TORM took delivery of the second-hand LR2 vessel (TORM Hannah), the vessel was purchased in April 2022. TORM Hannah was financed by a sale and leaseback agreement. The purchase of TORM Hannah was highlighted in the Q1 2022 report. TORM Valborg and TORM Ingeborg were delivered to their new owners during July 2022 and August 2022, respectively.
After the end of the quarter and as announced on 16 August 2022, TORM purchased 75% of the shares in Marine Exhaust Technology A/S, a Danish-based company owning ME Production A/S (“MEP”), which among others produces solutions to reduce air pollutants in connection with marine transportation. With the acquisition, TORM gets access to strong expertise in – and access to sourcing of – developing and producing components for the maritime industry. TORM has an extensive historical relationship with MEP, which has provided TORM with most of the scrubbers installed on our vessels.
As of 30 June 2022, TORM’s available liquidity was USD 240.4m consisting of USD 157.7m in cash and cash equivalents, USD 45.0m in an undrawn credit facility and USD 37.7m in an available lease facility. Cash and cash equivalents include USD 24.4m in restricted cash, primarily related to collateral for financial instruments. As of 30 June 2022, net interest-bearing debt amounted to USD 894.0m (half year 2021: USD 889.5m), and TORM’s net loan-to-value (LTV) ratio was 42.5% (half year 2021: 53.9%).
TORM’s Board of Directors has approved an interim dividend for Q2 2022 of USD 0.58 per share, with an expected total dividend of USD 47m. Payment is expected on 16 September 2022, with ex-dividend date on 31 August 2022. The distribution is in line with TORM’s Distribution Policy with cash position (USD +157.7m), Working Capital Facility (USD +45.0m), restricted cash (USD -24.4m) and earmarked proceeds (USD -24.2m) and a correction for the sale of a vessel made in Q2 2022, with the payment not falling until early Q3 2022. (USD +13.5m). Distribution is aligned with TORM’s new Distribution Policy applying earmarked proceeds starting from May 2022 and is based on 80 owned vessels and a threshold level of USD 120m (USD 1.5m per vessel).
The product tanker market continued to see strong support from the normalization in the oil demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the market was supported by the trade recalibration caused by sanctions and self-sanctioning of Russian product exports as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Recent changes in the refinery landscape further supported the market, and the average MR benchmark in June 2022 reached the highest monthly level since 2006, further firming in July 2022. Global inventories remain at low levels. Earliest possible delivery of newbuilding product tanker vessels is /25, and the order book remains at about 5% of the existing fleet, which is historically low.
TORM has maintained the commitment we made when Russia invaded Ukraine to suspend all new business with Russia. Further, TORM has not experienced any critical incidents or situations due to the invasion, meaning that the safety of our seafarers has been unaffected. Despite the fact that many countries have lifted their COVID-19 restrictions, TORM is still impacted by restrictions primarily in countries which follow a zero-COVID-19 policy, such as China, leading to more complex operational planning.
Based on broker valuations, TORM’s fleet had a market value of USD 2,209.1m, including asset-held-for-sale as of the end of June 2022. Compared to broker valuations as of 31 March 2022, the market value of the fleet increased by USD 258.1m when adjusted for acquired and sold vessels in Q2 2022. The book value of TORM’s fleet was USD 1,910.3m as of 30 June 2022, including prepayments on vessels of USD 4.3m. The fleet was not impaired as of 30 June 2022.
As of 30 June 2022, TORM had installed 51 scrubbers out of 60 planned, including scrubbers installed on purchased second-hand vessels. After Q2 2022, TORM has installed one additional scrubber and acquired TORM Hannah which is fitted with a scrubber. Further, TORM plans to order eight additional scrubbers, which will result in TORM having a total of 68 scrubbers installed on our vessels.
As of 30 June 2022, 14% of the remaining total earning days in 2022 were covered at an average rate of /day 38,571. As of 14 August 2022, the coverage for the third quarter of 2022 was 67% at /day 45,462. For the individual vessel classes, the coverage was 63% at /day 52,684 for LR2, 74% at /day 48,449 for LR1, 66% at /day 43,493 for MR and 100% at /day 12,505 for Handysize.
