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.


Flag of Brazil. Petrobras resumes bunkering operations at Rio Grande Terminal after power restoration  

Brazilian supplier restarts marine fuel supply after completing an inspection following an electricity outage.

Stena E-Flexer vessel render. Stena RoRo orders battery-ready E-Flexer 2.0 ferries from Chinese yard  

Vessels include diesel engines capable of running on biodiesel and are methanol-ready.

BW Gemini vessel. Nord Gas Solutions to supply cargo and fuel systems for eight BW LPG VLGCs  

Gas-handling systems specialist awarded contract for new 90,000-cbm vessels.

Kingston Trader vessel. TFG Marine fits mass flow meter to Jamaica-bound bunker barge  

Kingston Trader becomes the first Caribbean bunkering vessel with mass flow metering as TFG Marine’s fleet coverage nears 90%.

Sebastian Vasquez and Camilo Angulo Ferrand, Monjasa. Monjasa announces full-chain marine fuel operations in Cartagena  

Monjasa says it now covers the entire marine fuel supply chain in Colombia, from oil wells to ship-side deliveries.

Steel-cutting ceremony for vessel with builder's hull no. H619. Ceremonies held for Van Oord’s methanol-hybrid rock installation vessels  

Two ships advance through parallel construction at China’s CIMC Raffles shipyard.

WK NatPower and AREL MoU signing. Wah Kwong NatPower signs MoU to explore Hong Kong marine electrification  

Venture will examine shore power, vessel charging and electric vessel deployment around Aberdeen’s waterfront.

Vard 4 39 design render. Dong Fang Offshore orders CSOV with battery-hybrid propulsion  

Vard secures fifth newbuild contract from Taiwanese firm, with delivery scheduled for 2028.

Rock Star vessel. CSL and OWL launch first subsea rock installation vessel for offshore wind  

MV Rock Star can run on MGO and methanol and is designed to support scour protection and cable burial for offshore wind projects.

François Michel and Andy McKeran. Lloyd’s Register study backs 200,000-cbm LNG carriers for fleet renewal  

Analysis finds larger LNG carriers could cut transport costs while retaining access to most major terminals.