Oslo, 13 November 2024 – Rana Gruber (the “Company”), Norway’s only iron ore supplier, today presents its financial results for the third quarter of 2024 as well as long-term ambitions, strategies and priorities for the coming years at its annual Capital Markets Day.
Since 2020, Rana Gruber has lifted its production grade from 62% iron content, to 64% in Q3 2024. Moving forward, the company’s main strategic priority is to transform its production to high-grade iron ore, with a target of reaching around 67% iron content by 2030.
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“The global steel industry needs high-grade iron ore to decarbonise production and meet global emission targets,” said Rana Gruber CEO, Gunnar Moe, “With our vast resources, highly efficient production and already industry-leading carbon footprint, we are in pole position to capitalise on the growing demand for high-grade iron ore.”
Rana Gruber’s key strategic priorities:
• Further advancing high-grade iron ore strategy to meet strong and growing market demand, targeting around 67% iron content by 2030
• Increase magnetite production further from 150k mt annually, realising premium prices and meeting rising demand from specialised industries
• Mine exploration and development to ensure sustainable, high production over the coming decade
• Enhance cost focus and maintain robust balance sheet to support continued value creation and free cash flows
• Uphold consistent and attractive shareholder returns in line with dividend policy of 50 to 70 percent of adjusted net profit.
Since its listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2021, Rana Gruber has delivered solid value creation, supported by the distribution of more than NOK 1.3 billion to its shareholders through quarterly dividends while building a strong balance sheet and liquidity position. The backbone of this performance has been the company’s stable and efficient production, achieved while continuously increasing iron content and successfully executing on the company’s strategic priorities. Rana Gruber’s robust production and financial position enables the company to fully take part in the massive opportunity embedded in the market for higher grade iron ore.
Capitalising on the high-grade market opportunity
The price of iron ore concentrates is linked to its iron content, with two key indexes, tied to iron ore of 62% (Fe 62 Index) and 65% (Fe 65 Index) respectively. The Fe 65 Index is a quality level that historically has carried a significant price premium compared to the standard 62% iron content.
“We have delivered on our promise since listing four years ago – now producing iron ore concentrates with iron content close to 65%. With higher-grade iron ore, we enhance our competitiveness for the future, which again will yield higher prices for our products. Strong efforts from the entire team makes us comfortable that we have the resources and capabilities to continue towards 67%,” added Moe.
Rana Gruber has recently concluded full scale pilot tests, showcasing that Rana Gruber’s iron ore resources hace the necessary properties to be processed into a high-grade concentrate.
Increased magnetite production
Rana Guber has over the past years worked to increase its magnetite production, realising premium prices and meeting rising demand from specialised industries such as water purification. The company expects to produce above 150 000 mt in 2024, an uplift of ~50% compared to 2023, and has potential to further increase production over the coming years.
“Rana Gruber has been a preferred partner for industries and companies dependent on clean water, and our magnetite products offer impressive features in support of their water purification efforts,” said Moe.
A strong third quarter with a robust platform for continued value creation
Rana Gruber today also announced its results for the third quarter 2024, marked by solid production and sales figures, albeit softer prices for hematite concentrate. One of the company’s strategic initiatives to increase magnetite production has materialised in the quarter with an increase of 70% compared to the quarterly average over the past 12 months.
Highlights from the quarter:
• Strong production with record magnetite sales volumes. Production ended at 478,000 mt
• Stable and efficient production brought cash cost down from high levels seen in the second quarter
• Revenues came in at NOK 389 million (NOK 470 million). Lower realised prices for hematite due to macroeconomic outlook and strong production volumes from Australia and Brazil
• The board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of NOK 1.45 per share, marking the 15 consecutive quarter of dividends since the Company’s listing in 2021.
Rana Gruber’s management will present the financial results on 13 November at 09:00 CET in connection with the Company’s Capital Markets Day. Please find enclosed the materials relating to the third quarter financial reporting as well as the Capital Markets Day presentation.
The presentation will be held at Haakon VIIs gate 2 in Oslo. Please register using the following link: https://shorturl.at/UnNiY
You can watch the event live, following this link: https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20241113_6
For more information, please contact:
Gunnar Moe, Chief Executive Officer: +47 941 47 650
Erlend Høyen, Chief Financial Officer: +47 902 02 741
About Rana Gruber
Rana Gruber is a Norwegian iron ore producer established in 1964, with operations based on more than 200 years of mining experience. The company’s products are based on natural mineral resources, which are processed and exported to customers worldwide. Key customers include steel producers and participants in the chemical industry. The company has about 370 employees and a production capacity of 1.8 million metric tons of iron ore concentrates. Rana Gruber was listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2021.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Vegard Nerdal, IR at Rana Gruber ASA on 13 November 2024 at 07:00 CET.
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