Central Iron Ore reports a 51% yoy decrease of bottom line

Central Iron Ore (CGOK UK) net income was UAH 768 mln (-51% yoy) in 2014, the company reported as part of its AGM announcement on Feb. 25. That implies an EPS of UAH 0.66/share.

Roman Topolyuk: Central Iron Ore demonstrated relatively stable operating performance in 2014, though a bit softer yoy: total iron ore concentrate output slid 2.6% yoy to 6.4 mmt and pellet production declined 2.3% yoy to 2.4 mmt.

The enterprise managed to keep such a capacity load by redirecting all its iron ore pellets to the export market (vs. 84% of pellets exported in 2013). The local market of iron ore was devastated by war and a number of steelmakers in the Donbas region have shifted into idle mode.

The twofold plunge in iron ore market prices was behind the steep decline of the plant’s bottom line, and more market weakness is yet to come. We don’t expect Central Iron to pay dividends from its 2014 profit.