Thu 7 Aug 2014, 14:20 GMT

Oiltanking Q2 net income up 43.3%


Terminal operator posts net income of $42.3 million for the second quarter of 2014.



Oiltanking Partners, L.P. has reported record second quarter 2014 net income of $42.3 million, or $0.37 per unit, representing an increase of 43.3% on second quarter 2013 net income of $29.5 million, or $0.31 per unit.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased 34.3% to $48.8 million for the second quarter of 2014, compared to $36.4 million for the corresponding period in 2013.

Revenues increased by approximately $17.0 million, or 32.6%, to $69.1 million during the second quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. This was said to be due to higher storage service fee revenues, throughput fee revenues and ancillary service fee revenues.

Storage service fee revenue grew by $6.8 million due to new storage capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels placed into service in the second half of 2013 and 2.0 million barrels placed into service since January 2014. Throughput fee revenues grew by $8.9 million during the second quarter of 2014 due to fees related to pipeline throughput, fees from in-terminal sales between customers, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports at the firm's Houston terminal and customer deficiency charges recognized in the current period.

"We continue to benefit from strong growth in customer export initiatives and logistics needs. General activity at our terminals has increased, and we achieved a new throughput record of more than 1.25 million barrels per day this quarter," said Ken Owen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oiltanking's general partner. "Our Houston expansion projects are enhancing our storage, distribution and export capabilities, allowing us to capitalize on increased customer demand for energy logistics services.

"We have made excellent progress at Appelt II, successfully placing into service six storage tanks with a total storage capacity of approximately 2.0 million barrels. We are on track to deliver the remainder of the tanks along with the two previously-announced Crossroads pipelines on schedule," said Owen. "We are also very pleased to have received the necessary permits and broken ground on our Beaumont expansion. Our goal is to build a world-class crude terminal in Beaumont that positions us to execute the same business model we have applied in Houston of delivering maximum connectivity and logistics flexibility to our customers."

Operating expenses during the second quarter of 2014 were $14.0 million, increasing by $3.0 million compared to the corresponding period in 2013. This was said to be due to higher costs associated with operations personnel, rental expense, insurance and other expenses largely attributable to increased capacity. Selling, general and administrative expenses during the second quarter of 2014 were $6.3 million, increasing by $1.5 million compared to last year.

As announced in June, Oiltanking has increased its estimate of 2014 capital expenditures by $50 million, primarily to reflect its investment in the Beaumont crude expansion, and it now expects to spend between $300 million and $320 million this year.


MAmmoSS graphic. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding receives order for ammonia fuel handling system  

MAmmoSS system will support shop testing of ammonia marine engines from two licensors.

Neoliner Origin vessel. Kongsberg Maritime to lead EU Horizon project targeting wind-assisted propulsion at scale  

A 15-partner European consortium will use two full-scale vessel demonstrators to validate wind propulsion technology.

Petrobras logo. Petrobras warns of extended MGO and VLSFO supply suspension at Port of Itaqui  

Fuel distributor announces pipeline maintenance shutdowns affecting both MGO and VLSFO supply.

Richard Berkling, PowerCell Group. PowerCell secures SEK 50m marine fuel cell order for two liquid hydrogen cargo ships  

Swedish fuel cell maker wins contract to power two North Sea hydrogen vessels by 2028.

Wärtsilä hydrogen engine. MatH2 consortium launched to tackle hydrogen materials barriers  

New Finnish-led alliance targets materials compatibility challenges holding back hydrogen adoption.

CMA CGM Berenice vessel. CMA CGM takes delivery of fifth methanol dual-fuel boxship in series from Jiangnan Shipyard  

15,000-teu vessel is the penultimate ship in a six-vessel series due for completion in September.

VeriSphere logo. VPS launches VeriSphere Webshop in push to digitise marine fuel services  

Veritas Petroleum Services unveils self-service digital platform giving customers direct access to fuel data tools.

Titus vessel. ExxonMobil and Wallenius Wilhelmsen complete first trial of biofuel blend made from FAME distillation residue  

Vehicle carrier bunkered in Zeebrugge with B30 VLSFO blend.

Chimbusco and Shenergy green methanol agreement signing. 'China’s largest single-order green methanol procurement deal' announced  

Chimbusco and Shenergy seal agreement for 6,000 tonnes of methanol.

Moriond vessel. Exmar takes delivery of third dual-fuel LPG midsize gas carrier in newbuild programme  

Belgian shipping group Exmar takes delivery of the 41,000-cbm LPG carrier Moriond.