SOC QUIM&MIN SP ADR : résus Q1 2014 pas bon du tout !

100nom

21 mai 2014 •14:40

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. ("SQM") (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) reported today earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2014 of US$81.0 million (US$0.31 per ADR), a decrease from US$151.8 million (US$0.58 per ADR) for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Gross Margin reached US$154.8 million (29.0% of revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 2014; a decrease compared to US$238.9 million (38.3% of revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Revenues totaled US$534.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, representing a decrease compared to US$623.4 million reported for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

SQM's Chief Executive Officer, Patricio Contesse, stated, "Prices of our major business lines declined compared to the first quarter of 2013. As expected, at the end of 2013 and during the first quarter of 2014, iodine prices fell impacting our results. However, we have been able to increase efficiencies and reduce costs company-wide within this price environment. Our gross profit slightly increased when comparing the first quarter of 2014 to the third and fourth quarters of 2013."

Mr. Contesse continued, "We look forward to a stronger demand in the potash market as well as higher sales volumes in the Potassium and Specialty Plant Nutrition business lines during 2014. We expect to recover some volumes in the lithium business line during 2014. We will continue to manage the company with a focus on the long-term and remain focused on maximizing shareholder value."