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Last checked at 
24 Jul 2020 07:00
M.P.EVANS GROUP PLC
("MPE" OR "GROUP")
2020 first-half trading update
The Group is pleased to announce the following crop and production information for the six months ended 30 June 2020:
2020 | Increase | 2019 | |
Tonnes | % | Tonnes | |
Crop of fresh fruit bunches | |||
Own crop | 334,100 | 16 | 287,200 |
Scheme smallholder crop | 84,600 | 16 | 72,900 |
Independent smallholder crop | 130,900 | 157 | 50,900 |
549,600 | 34 | 411,000 | |
Production* | |||
Crude palm oil | 124,800 | 31 | 95,000 |
Palm kernels | 27,800 | 28 | 21,800 |
* Figures include production from the Group's crop sold to third-party mills.
Crop and production figures continued to rise during the first half of 2020. This results from increasing yields in the Group's areas as its palms mature. Palms' yields improve through their early years, and the Group has a low average palm age of only a little over seven years. In addition, the Group is harvesting a larger area as plantings on its newer estates come into harvesting for the first time. All estates and mills have continued to work normally during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the period to the end of June 2020, the Group realised an average price at mill gate of US$541 per tonne compared with US$462 per tonne in the first half of 2019, an increase of 17%. Prices for palm kernels averaged US$298 per tonne (mill gate), higher than the US$263 per tonne in 2019. After a strong start to the year, the price of crude palm oil fell as the global Covid-19 pandemic took hold to reach a low point of US$510 per tonne cif Rotterdam in the middle of May. Since then the price has recovered on an upward trend to reach more than US$650 by the middle of July. Futures markets point towards prices at above this level for the remainder of the year and into 2021, but may experience some variability whilst the Covid-19 crisis persists.
Following the end of the first half, as announced on 20 July 2020, the Group signed an agreement to dispose of 70 hectares of land in Malaysia for US$23.5 million, in line with the valuation published in its 2019 annual report. The proceeds will support investment in its Indonesian oil-palm projects.
In light of the reported crop growth and strengthening CPO price, the board anticipates that the Group will be in a position to maintain its dividend.
Enquiries:
M.P. Evans Group PLC | Telephone: +44 (0) 1892 516333 |
Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, Chairman Tristan Price, Chief ExecutiveMatthew Coulson, Finance Director
Peel Hunt LLP (Nomad and joint broker) | Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900 |
Dan WebsterGeorge Sellar
Andrew Clark
finnCap (Joint broker) | Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7220 0500 |
Tim RedfernChris Raggett
Hudson Sandler (Financial PR) | Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7796 4133 |
Charlie Jack
Elfie Kent
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