Lenzing AG - aerial view. © Lenzing AG/Bavaria Luftbild Verlags GmbH.

Despite a generally difficult demand environment for textile fibres and a drastic drop in standard viscose prices, the Lenzing Group reports that it recorded a solid business performance in 2019. The disciplined implementation of its sCore TEN corporate strategy and the accompanying focus on specialty fibres once again helped Lenzing to mitigate the effect of unprecedented price drops for standard viscose.

As a result, revenue dropped by 3.3% from EUR 2.18 billion to EUR 2.11 billion in 2019, driven by lower selling prices as well as standard fibre volumes. Due to positive mix effects and more resilient specialty fibre prices, the share of specialty fibres increased from 45.5% to 51.6% f revenue.

The earnings development was largely influenced by the decline in revenue, but also by negative currency effects on material and personnel costs. EBITDA fell by 14.4% from EUR 382 million to EUR 326.9 million. The EBITDA margin declined from 17.6% to 15.5%. Net profit, at EUR 114.9 million, was 22.4% lower than in the previous year at EUR 148.2 million. Earnings per share amounted to EUR 4.63 (2018: EUR 5.61).

“Lenzing and the entire textile value chain operated in a historically difficult market environment in 2019, which had a negative impact on our revenue and earnings development. The focus on specialty fibres has been contributing to the company’s resilience in the reporting period and we feel very well positioned with our corporate strategy. Our goals for 2024 underpin this confidence in our future,” says Stefan Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group.

“The implementation of the key projects in Thailand and Brazil plays a central role in further strengthening our market position and in accomplishing our ambitious climate targets. We are very satisfied with the progress of both projects,” Doboczky adds.

CAPEX (acquisition of property plant and equipment) amounted to EUR 244 mn in 2019, reflecting the Lenzing Group’s investment activities on increasing internal pulp production and raising the share of specialty fibers in line with the sCore TEN strategy. The major projects in Brazil and Thailand will have an increased impact on the CAPEX volume as of 2020.

Expansion of pulp capacities

The expansion and modernization of the dissolving wood pulp plants in Lenzing and Paskov, which started in 2017, will increase pulp production capacities by roughly 35,000 tons annually. The expansion in Lenzing was successfully implemented in the second half of 2019. At roughly the same time, the new capacities at the Paskov plant were gradually started up. This process will be completed in the first quarter of 2020.

Based on the decision to build a dissolving wood pulp plant in Brazil with its partner Duratex, Lenzing will increase its self-supply by 500,000 tons annually, thus strongly enhancing backwards integration. The plant is expected to start operations in the first half of 2022. Lenzing and Duratex hold 51% and 49%, respectively, in the joint venture. Industrial CAPEX are expected to total roughly USD 1.3 billion (based on current exchange rates and customary tax refunds).

Expansion of specialty fibre capacities

In 2019, Lenzing also started the construction of a state-of-the-art lyocell production facility in Thailand. The investment for the new plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons amounts to roughly EUR 400 million. Construction work started in the second half of 2019. The completion is scheduled for the end of 2021.

Lenzing aims to achieve stable and profitable growth and to improve the ecological footprint of the textile and nonwovens industry by expanding the production of specialty fibres. In addition, the conversion of production capacities from standard viscose to Lenzing Ecovero branded specialty viscose fibres progressed well during the reporting period. Lenzing says its Ecovero fibres “are very well received on the market thanks to their very favourable ecological footprint and their unique identification technology”.

Lenzing shines at the Oscars

The Tencel brand’s visibility was further increased through co-branding during the reporting period. Compared with the previous year, the number of end products labelled with the Tencel brand nearly doubled to 173 million. The digital marketing concept “Where to buy” was introduced on the website www.tencel.com  in the first quarter of 2019. Based on this concept, products made from Tencel fibres can be presented and linked in the online shops of more than 135 partners, including brands like H&M, Levi’s, Allbirds, Victoria’s Secret, Esprit, Pottery Barn and Asos.

Lenzings fibres were also a great success at this year’s Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles. Three dresses worn by nominees and winners were handmade from fabrics with our TENCEL Luxe filaments. The strong response on social media accelerated awareness for this sustainable and innovative product of the Lenzing Group.

Science Based Targets initiative approves climate targets

During the reporting year Lenzing announced its goal of a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, for which investments of more than EUR 100 million in sustainable technologies and production facilities are earmarked in the coming years. As a first milestone set for the year 2030, Lenzing aims to cut its own CO2 emissions per ton of product by 50%. For 2050, Lenzing has announced a vision towards net-zero CO2 emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative, the most recognized organization in the field of climate-relevant target setting, scientifically validated Lenzing’s climate targets in the second half of 2019. Lenzing is consequently the first producer of wood-based fibres with set science-based targets, the company says.

Lenzing sets ambitious goals for 2024

The Lenzing Group has been working on adapting its goals as part of the sCore TEN strategy in the reporting period. The primary focus in the coming years is on the implementation and execution of set climate targets and investment projects in Thailand and Brazil. Lenzing aims to increase the share of high-quality specialty fibres in fibre revenue to 75% by 2024 and the share of internally produced pulp to more than 75 percent. In line with its strategic commitment for 2024, Lenzing strives to reduce CO2 emissions per ton of product by more than 40% compared with 2017. The EBITDA target for 2024 is EUR 800 million.

“The solid development in recent years despite very difficult market environment at times, reassures Lenzing in its strategic direction. Today, the company is substantially more resilient than it was a few years ago due to its specialty strategy and its strong brands based on innovation and acting sustainably. Lenzing continues to see strong structural growth in the global fibre market over the coming years, with demand for wood-based cellulosic fibres expected to grow 4 to 6 percent per year until 2024, thus nearly twice as fast as the global fibre market,” the company says.

Outlook

“The International Monetary Fund expects a slight recovery of global economic growth to 3.3% in 2020, while at the same time warning of several risks. The increased frequency of extreme weather events and currently also the coronavirus crisis could have a strong impact on the global economy in 2020. The currency environment in the regions relevant to Lenzing is also expected to remain volatile,” Lenzing reports.

“Demand on the global fibre markets is currently difficult to predict due to the spreading of the coronavirus, which is paralyzing large parts of the textile value chain, especially in China. According to preliminary calculations, cotton stock levels will remain high in the 2019/2020 season. The price levels for cotton and polyester are expected to remain subdued.”

“Capacity expansions for standard viscose are expected to be lower than in 2019 but will nevertheless lead to an increase in surplus capacity. The pressure on prices, which have been at a historic low for a considerable period of time, should therefore persist in 2020. Despite additional lyocell capacities in China and low visibility, the Lenzing Group expects the comparatively positive development of its specialty fibre business to continue.”

“Driven by the challenging situation in standard viscose and low paper pulp prices, prices for dissolving wood pulp are expected to remain at low levels. Caustic soda prices in Asia have already declined significantly over the past months; this development is now also noticeable in Europe.”

“The above effects significantly impact earnings visibility for 2020. The Lenzing Group currently expects the result for 2020 to be below the level of 2019.”

“The market developments reassure the Lenzing Group in its chosen corporate strategy sCore TEN. Lenzing will continue to put a particular focus on the strategic investment projects which will yield a significant contribution to earnings starting from 2022,” concludes Lenzing.

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