Wilmar's second-half profit up 23% to US$1.1b, to pay record full-year dividend

SINGAPORE (THE BUSINESS TIMES) - Agribusiness giant Wilmar International on Tuesday (Feb 22) posted a net profit of US$1.1 billion (S$1.48 billion) for the second half of the fiscal year ended December 2021, up 23.4 per cent from earnings of US$923.6 million a year ago.

This bumped up the group's earnings for the full financial year (FY) of 2021 to US$1.9 billion, up 23.2 per cent from FY2020's earnings of US$1.5 billion. Profits for the second half and FY2021 were both record highs for the group since its listing, said Wilmar.

Excluding gains from non-operating items and changes in fair value of biological assets, Wilmar's core net profit for FY2021 was up 24 per cent to US$1.8 billion.

The record earnings translated into sweeter payouts for shareholders. Wilmar's board has proposed a final tax-exempt dividend of 10.5 cents per share. Including the interim dividend of five cents per share paid out last August, the total dividend paid and proposed for FY2021 stands at 15.5 cents, the highest cash dividend paid out by the group since its listing.

The proposed dividend, if approved by shareholders at the company's annual general meeting, will be paid out on May 6, after the book closure date on Apr 28.

Revenue for the second half of last year was up 30.1 per cent year on year to US$36.3 billion from US$27.9 billion, due chiefly to higher commodity prices during the period.

Wilmar also benefited from higher sales volume for its medium-pack and bulk-food products and tropical oils segments, although growth was dampened by weaker oilseeds and grains and sugar merchandising sales.

Segmentally, Wilmar said its feed and industrial products segment had a strong showing, with profit rising 84 per cent to US$782.2 million in the second half due to good refining margins and sustained sales volume from midstream tropical oil operations, as well as steady contributions from sugar merchandising activities. These were, however, partially offset by thinner margins and weaker sales volume from soyabean crushing activities as hog farming margins continued to remain weak, resulting in lower demand for soyabean meals.

Higher palm oil and sugar prices also translated into growth for the group's plantation and sugar milling segment, the bottom line figures of which rose to US$400.1 million in the second half, versus US$187.8 million in the year-ago period.

On the other hand, Wilmar's food products segment was hit by higher raw material costs, which outpaced selling price adjustments. This segment recorded a profit of US$252.6 million in the second half of last year, down from US$657.4 million in the second half of FY2020.

Looking ahead, Wilmar said it expects sales volume for its food products segment to grow as the company expands its plants and enters central kitchen businesses in China.

But the group is also bracing for higher soyabean prices and poor hog farming margins in China. However, Wilmar said it expects its palm processing, palm plantation and sugar milling segment to perform well.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Wilmar expects its results for FY2022 ending December this year to be "satisfactory".

Shares of Wilmar ended Tuesday at $4.62, down six cents, or 1.3 per cent.