Press Release

Olam Group H1 2024 Financial Performance 

• Revenue grew 9.1% to S$26.9 billion mainly on higher sales volumes.
• EBIT grew 8.3% to S$888.0 million, driven by strong growth in ofi.
• PATMI held steady as EBIT growth was offset by the increase in net finance costs and higher taxes.
• Excluding exceptional items, Operational PATMI decreased 60.1% to S$73.5 million.
• Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE) ended at negative S$5.4 billion (H1 2023: -S$483.7 million) on significantly higher working capital deployed amid unprecedented price increases for certain commodities and higher interest costs over the period.
• Net gearing as at June 30, 2024, stood at 2.60 times, compared to 1.74 times a year ago, on funding the sharply higher working capital requirements, particularly in cocoa and coffee. Adjusted net gearing¹ was 1.04 times (H1 2023: 0.86 times).
• Interim dividend of 3.0 cents per share declared for the period (H1 2023: 3.0 cents)

H1 2024 Performance by Operating Group

ofi⁽²⁾

• Revenue increased by 24.9% to S$9.6 billion driven by volume growth in the Ingredients & Solutions segment and higher average selling prices across both segments.
• EBIT grew 71.5% YoY to S$475.5 million on the back of a strong performance in the Ingredients & Solutions segment, which further reinforced the benefits of an integrated business model, a well-diversified portfolio, differentiated supply chain strengths and balance sheet flexibility to its customers.
  

CEO of ofi, A. Shekhar said: “We are very pleased with our EBIT performance in H1 2024, which is testament to the huge strengths of our integrated supply chains, and also reflective of the ability to optimise our margins and returns for the significantly elevated levels of capital deployment and unprecedented levels of volatility across many of our markets this year. We are grateful for the continued support of our customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, as we navigated these tough market conditions to consistently deliver an increasingly diversified portfolio of food ingredients and solutions, with enhanced levels of innovation and sustainability impact.”

“The recent opening of a new and expanded customer solutions centre in Chicago and the launch of the refreshed sustainability strategy – ‘Choices for Change’ – are examples of our continuing investments to deepen our capabilities and enhance the differentiation that we can offer to our customers.

“While the commodity markets are, and may continue to remain volatile, ofi is well-positioned to support and add value to its customers and we remain cautiously optimistic of delivering our medium-term guidance of high single-digit adjusted EBIT growth.”
 

Olam Agri⁽³⁾

• Revenue increased 2.7% to S$16.7 billion, as sales volume growth was offset by lower commodity and selling prices compared to H1 2023.
• EBIT decreased 8.4% to S$512.0 million as growth in the Food & Feed - Processing & Value-Added segment was offset by lower contribution from the Food & Feed - Origination & Merchandising and the Fibre, Agri-Industrials & Ag Services segments.

Mr Verghese, who is also CEO of Olam Agri, said: “Despite lower operational growth, Olam Agri continues to deliver EBIT margin per metric tonne that is at the higher end of the historical range during 2021-2023. The Food & Feed - Processing & Value-Added segment has delivered a steady performance even against an exceptional H1 2023.

“Our recent partnership with SALIC will help us scale our global origination and trading operations, as we increase our investments in value-added destination processing across Africa and Asia to deliver superior growth and returns.” 

Remaining Olam Group⁴

• Revenue declined across all segments.
• Reported an EBIT loss of S$99.5 million (H1 2023: -S$16.7 million) on losses from De-prioritised/Exiting Assets and Continuing/Gestating businesses. Incubating businesses narrowed losses over the prior half year.

Outlook and Prospects

The Group expects operating conditions in H2 2024 to continue being affected by various geopolitical and macroeconomic factors. However, it also expects to see inflationary pressures softening.

ofi expects markets to remain volatile and challenging in the near term, particularly for some raw materials like cocoa and coffee. It will continue to exercise due caution as it balances and optimises between risk, return, and cash flows to navigate through this volatile and high-priced environment, while protecting its risk-adjusted margins and returns and supporting its customers. ofi’s medium-term guidance remains unchanged at low- to mid-single digit total volume growth and high single-digit adjusted total EBIT growth.

Olam Agri continues to execute its strategy of scaling up its global origination and trading operations while investing in value-added destination processing across Africa and Asia. The Strategic Supply and Cooperation agreement with SALIC is also expected to catalyse its growth.

The Remaining Olam Group businesses continue to tap the growing market opportunities for digital and sustainability solutions to transform the food and agri-business sector. The Group is reviewing strategic options for these businesses to unlock and realise value for shareholders.

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¹ Net gearing adjusted for readily marketable inventories that are liquid, hedged and/or sold forward, operating as near-cash assets on the balance sheet, and secured receivables supported by letters of credit or documents through banks.

² Consisting of the Cocoa, Coffee, Dairy, Nuts and Spices businesses, ofi is made up of two segments – Global Sourcing and Ingredients & Solutions.

³ Consisting of Grains & Oilseeds, Freight, Integrated Feed & Protein, Edible Oils, Rice, Specialty Grains & Seeds, Sugar, Cotton, Rubber, Wood Products and Commodity Financial Services. Olam Agri has three segments – Food & Feed - Origination & Merchandising; Food & Feed - Processing & Value-added; and Fibre, Agri-Industrials & Ag Services.

⁴ Comprises Olam Global Holdco, which houses De-prioritised/Exiting Assets well as Continuing/Gestating businesses, including Mindsprint that offers shared services, digital solutions and technology services to the operating groups and third parties, and Incubating Businesses led by Nupo Ventures, which incubates new sustainability and digital platforms to drive future growth.