Nutrien misses third-quarter profit estimates as lower crop prices weigh
Nutrien fell short of Wall Street expectations for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, as the fertilizer producer struggled with lower crop prices, sending US-listed shares of the company down 2.3% after the bell.
Tight global supply, low channel inventories and seasonal demand in several key markets have kept prices for nutrients such as potash and phosphate high at a time when crop prices have declined, forcing farmer to curb spending on fertilizers.
"Global phosphate markets remain tight supported by Chinese export restrictions and production outages in the US. We anticipate some impact on global demand due to tight supply and weaker affordability," the company said.
Nutrien lowered its outlook for annual phosphate sales volumes to be in the range of 2.4-million to 2.5-million tonnes from 2.5-million to 2.6-million tonnes previously.
However, Nutrien raised its annual forecast for potash sales volumes, owing to expectations of stronger demand in key markets. Other producers are also hopeful about a rebound in demand and prices during the second half of 2024.
The company's net profit fell nearly 70% to $25-million in the third quarter, while net sales declined 5% to $5.35-billion.
Lower sales volumes and a decline in seed margins in key markets led to a 23% fall in adjusted core profit at Nutrien's retail segment - its largest by revenue.
Nutrien's results are in contrast to peers including CF Industries, and Norwegian firm Yara International, both of which posted higher quarterly profits.
The Saskatoon, Canada-based firm posted an adjusted profit of 39 cents per share for the three months ended September 30, compared with analyst's estimates of 46 cents per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation