M. P. Evans Group PLC H1 trading update (9411T)

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RNS Number : 9411T

M. P. Evans Group PLC

24 July 2020

M.P.EVANS GROUP PLC

("MPE" OR "GROUP")

2020 first-half trading update

The Group is pleased to announce the following crop and production information for the six months ended 30 June 2020:

 
                                    2020   Increase      2019 
                                  Tonnes          %    Tonnes 
 Crop of fresh fruit bunches 
 Own crop                        334,100         16   287,200 
 Scheme smallholder crop          84,600         16    72,900 
 Independent smallholder crop    130,900        157    50,900 
                                --------  ---------  -------- 
                                 549,600         34   411,000 
                                ========  =========  ======== 
 
 Production* 
 Crude palm oil                  124,800         31    95,000 
 Palm kernels                     27,800         28    21,800 
 

* Figures include production from the Group's crop sold to third-party mills.

Crop and production figures continued to rise during the first half of 2020. This results from increasing yields in the Group's areas as its palms mature. Palms' yields improve through their early years, and the Group has a low average palm age of only a little over seven years. In addition, the Group is harvesting a larger area as plantings on its newer estates come into harvesting for the first time. All estates and mills have continued to work normally during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the period to the end of June 2020, the Group realised an average price at mill gate of US$541 per tonne compared with US$462 per tonne in the first half of 2019, an increase of 17%. Prices for palm kernels averaged US$298 per tonne (mill gate), higher than the US$263 per tonne in 2019. After a strong start to the year, the price of crude palm oil fell as the global Covid-19 pandemic took hold to reach a low point of US$510 per tonne cif Rotterdam in the middle of May. Since then the price has recovered on an upward trend to reach more than US$650 by the middle of July. Futures markets point towards prices at above this level for the remainder of the year and into 2021, but may experience some variability whilst the Covid-19 crisis persists.

Following the end of the first half, as announced on 20 July 2020, the Group signed an agreement to dispose of 70 hectares of land in Malaysia for US$23.5 million, in line with the valuation published in its 2019 annual report. The proceeds will support investment in its Indonesian oil-palm projects.

In light of the reported crop growth and strengthening CPO price, the board anticipates that the Group will be in a position to maintain its dividend.

Enquiries:

 
 M.P. Evans Group PLC   Telephone: [phone] 
 

Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, Chairman

Tristan Price, Chief Executive

Matthew Coulson, Finance Director

 
 Peel Hunt LLP (Nomad and joint   Telephone: [phone] 
  broker) 
 

Dan Webster

George Sellar

Andrew Clark

 
 finnCap (Joint broker)   Telephone: [phone] 
 

Tim Redfern

Chris Raggett

 
 Hudson Sandler (Financial PR)   Telephone: [phone] 
 

Charlie Jack

Elfie Kent

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July 24, 2020 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)