Thu 12 Aug 2010, 06:32 GMT

Aegean posts 26% rise in H1 net income


Supplier sees sales volumes increase by 61.8 percent during the first six months of 2010.



Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. has announced that net income for the second quarter of 2010 dipped by $0.1 million year-on-year and by $2.1 million compared to the previous quarter, whilst net income for the first half of 2010 rose by $5.4 million, or 26 percent, in a comparison with the corresponding period last year.

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $12.0 million, or $0.25 basic and diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $12.1 million, excluding a one-time gain of $4.2 million, or $0.29 basic and $0.28 diluted earnings per share during the second quarter of 2009.

Total revenues for the April to June period increased by 146.3 percent to $1,336.6 million compared to $542.6 million for the same period in 2009. Sales of marine petroleum products increased by 147.5 percent to $1,331.8 million compared to $538.2 million for the year-earlier period.

Net revenue, which equals total revenue less cost of goods sold and cargo transportation expenses, increased by 44.7 percent to $68.3 million compared to $47.2 million in 2009.

Sales volumes of marine fuel rose by 88.5 percent to 2,825,046 metric tonnes compared to 1,498,937 metric tonnes in the year-earlier period, as volumes increased across major markets. Results for the second quarter included sales from Aegean's acquisition of Verbeke Bunkering N.V., which closed on April 1, 2010.

Operating income for the second quarter of 2010 was $19.2 million compared to $17.6 million including a non-recurring gain of $4.2 million on the sale of vessels for the same period in 2009. Operating expenses, excluding the cost of fuel and cargo transportation costs, increased to $49.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $33.8 million for the same period in 2009.

Six-month results

For the first six months of 2010, Aegean recorded a $5.4 million, or 26 percent, rise in net income to $26.1 million, or $0.56 basic and diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $20.7 million, or $0.49 basic and diluted earnings per share, for the year-earlier period.

The volume of marine fuel sold increased 61.8 percent to 4,545,559 metric tonnes compared to 2,808,974 metric tonnes in the year-earlier period.

Operating income for the six-month period was $36.6 million compared to $25.9 million in 2009.

Commenting on the results, E. Nikolas Tavlarios, President commented, "During the second quarter, Aegean Marine continued to expand its global market share for the physical supply of marine fuel, enabling the Company to increase both sales volumes and EBITDA by 88.5% and 12.7%, respectively, compared to the year-earlier period. Consistent with management's strategy to expand its brand and scale, we completed the acquisition of Verbeke Bunkering at the onset of the second quarter, cementing our presence in the world's second largest bunkering market.

"Building upon our success, we acquired the Shell Las Palmas terminal in the Canary Islands, which lie along major trans-Atlantic seaborne trade routes. Importantly, the terminal includes dedicated land storage facilities that broaden our new onshore storage facilities under development in, Jamaica, Morocco and the UAE where we expect to commence construction of a facility with approximate capacity of 3 million barrels in September 2010. Including our latest acquisition, which closed in July 2010, Aegean Marine has more than tripled its vast global network to 16 markets covering over 40 ports compared to 5 at the time of our IPO in December 2006."

Tavlarios continued, "In addition to penetrating new markets and increasing our in-land storage capacity, we further enhanced our high-quality logistics infrastructure with the delivery of three double-hull bunkering tanker newbuildings in the second quarter and one to date in the current third quarter. Going forward, we expect to complete our fully financed newbuild program with the delivery of nine remaining double-hull bunkering tanker newbuildings over the next six months. By expanding our fully integrated marine fuel platform from procurement to delivery, combined with our burgeoning marine lubricant business, we remain well positioned to strengthen our global brand recognition and increase the Company's earnings power."

Greece 

Maran Melina vessel. Angelicoussis Group takes delivery of fifth dual-fuel Suezmax tanker  

Maran Tankers Management adds the 155,500-DWT Maran Melina to its fleet.

CMA CGM Orsay naming ceremony. CMA CGM takes delivery of LNG-powered Orsay for Asia-Europe trade  

24,212-TEU vessel joins 10-ship series, adding capacity to the carrier's FAL3 route.

Titan Unikum vessel. Titan Clean Fuels completes 15-year survey on LNG bunkering vessel Titan Unikum  

Multi-gas carrier has undergone dry-docking work at a Chinese yard, preparing it for future upgrades.

Aesen 116H vessel. Lehmann Marine’s CUBE battery system debuts in China aboard hybrid crew boat  

German battery maker’s first Chinese installation targets fuel savings on a Cheoy Lee-built vessel for a Singapore operator.

Person signing a document. Iino Lines secures transition loan from Mizuho Bank for LPG dual-fuel VLGC  

Japanese shipowner finances the acquisition of Lumi Aurora through a green transition finance framework aligned with ICMA guidelines.

ABS, HD KSOE and Siemens MoU signing. ABS, HD KSOE and Siemens partner on digital twin technology for ammonia-fuelled ship safety  

Three firms will combine CFD analysis and digital twin technology to assess ammonia leak scenarios in vessel design.

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) logo. Nuclear-powered LNG carriers cost more upfront but cut lifetime fuel bills, ABS-backed study finds  

Joint study with Blossom Energy examines the economics of a 174,000-cbm LNG carrier powered by a small reactor.

Christos Doulaveris, Flex Commodities. Flex Commodities appoints Christos Doulaveris as general manager for Greece  

Bunker trader strengthens its Greek operations with a new leadership appointment.

Chang Ping Yuan vessel. China delivers first domestically built VLGC under Chinese flag  

Cosco Shipping’s new 88,000-cbm gas carrier features an LPG dual-fuel main engine.

IMO, GreenVoyage2050 and Republic of Türkiye MoTI logos. Electric and hybrid ferries could cut Sea of Marmara emissions by 63%, IMO study finds  

A GreenVoyage2050 study finds that electrification could slash emissions, avoid €492 million in damage costs and support jobs.