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ACL - Trading Statement and Business Update for the year ended 31 December 2023
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration Number 1989/002164/06)
Share Code: ACL
ISIN: ZAE000134961
("ArcelorMittal South Africa" or "the Company")
TRADING STATEMENT, UPDATE ON THE DILIGENCE AND CONSULTATION
PROGRESS IN RELATION TO THE LONGS BUSINESS, AND OVERALL BUSINESS
UPDATE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
TRADING STATEMENT
In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements ("JSE Listing
Requirements"), the Company is required to publish a trading statement as soon as there is a
reasonable degree of certainty that the financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023
("the period") are expected to differ by at least 20% or more from the financial results for the
previous corresponding reporting period ("the comparative period").
Based on information currently available, shareholders are advised that the Company expects:
• The earnings per share to decline from a R2.36 profit per share for the comparative period
to a loss within a range of R3.25 and R3.80 per share for the period (representing a
decrease of between 238% and 261%).
• The headline earnings per share to decline from a R2.34 headline profit per share for the
comparative period to a headline loss per share within a range of R1.55 and R1.85 per
share for the period (representing a decrease of between 166% and 179%).
Included within the above range of the earnings per share guidance, is the recognition of an
impairment charge primarily relating to Company's Longs steel operations ("Longs Business").
The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed and
reported on by the Company's external auditors.
UPDATE ON THE DILIGENCE AND CONSULTATION PROGRESS IN RELATION TO THE
LONGS BUSINESS
On Thursday, 28 November 2023, shareholders were advised that ArcelorMittal South Africa's
Board and Management had no option but to embark on a process that contemplates the wind
down of the Company's Longs Business. This would be subject to a due diligence and a
consultative process involving key customers, suppliers, organised labour, and other
stakeholders.
It was explained that despite best efforts, the initiatives implemented up to that point were not
able to counter the combined effect of the following:
• A slow economy and difficult trading environment including low demand.
• National constraints beyond the control of the Company and in particular, high transport
and logistics costs as well as energy prices, exacerbated by the well-publicised logistics
failures and their resultant cost impact, and the prevailing electricity challenges which the
country faces.
• Scrap advantage over iron ore with respect to steel production as a consequence of
policy.
Since making the announcement, ArcelorMittal South Africa has been engaging with various
stakeholders, including Government, represented, by among others, the Minister of Trade,
Industry and Competition, Transnet, the IDC, numerous industry associations and institutions,
organised labour, affected and interested customers, suppliers, and community forums,
amongst others.
These stakeholders have expressed widespread concern regarding the negative economic
impact of the closure. The Company was requested to consider what support was needed to
change the closure decision. ArcelorMittal South Africa reiterated that it did not need any
preferential treatment or subsidies, rather it required Government to ensure that a level playing
field exists for South Africa's primary steel producers, by addressing the structural constraints
affecting the steel industry.
The engagement process has been constructive. Understandably, however, finding solutions
to the structural shortcomings highlighted above is complex. Reversing the closure decision
holds substantial risks and requires the commitment of, at a minimum, the Company, its
customers and suppliers, the Government, state-owned enterprises, and our employees.
ArcelorMittal South Africa expects to be in a position to make a further announcement
regarding the Company's Longs Business in the near future.
OVERALL BUSINESS UPDATE
In the six-month outlook for the second half of 2023 as published on Thursday, 27 July 2023,
the Company indicated that it anticipated that steel demand was expected to improve as
economic indicators improved aided by renewable energy and regional infrastructure projects
coming to market. Against a market backdrop that has remained extremely challenging, the
anticipated improvement in steel demand did not materialise unfortunately. Internationally,
global steel production was stagnant. There is slow growth in China. Steel spreads remained
unsustainably low resulting in severe profit margin squeeze. Additionally, decarbonisation
pressure is necessitating that careful consideration be given to the effort, time and cost to both
create and deploying new steel making technologies.
The South Africa steel market is experiencing real demand weakness. Business confidence
also deteriorated as the year progressed. Key steel consuming sectors remained weak, with
low to no growth. Inventory levels in the market are high, impacted by higher imports further
negatively disrupting the supply/demand equilibrium. Elevated imports from China, where the
majority of the steel industry is loss-making, is impacting not only South Africa significantly,
with its low trade protection measures, but also the Africa overland and Sub-Saharan Africa
markets, in general.
As a result of the very challenging trading environment, earnings levels were severely
pressurised, aggravated further by a substantial impairment charge of R2,1 billion recognised
against the property plant and equipment and other intangible assets of the Longs Business
only. No closure-related nor retrenchment costs were provided based on the current
consultation process that is still ongoing.
Despite these major earnings challenges, the intense focus on cash management yielded
notable benefits, enabling the Company to maintain debt levels within tolerable levels.
ArcelorMittal South Africa's reviewed condensed consolidated financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2023 will be released on SENS on Thursday, 8 February 2024, with
a virtual presentation on the same day. The presentation will be made available to all
stakeholders on the Company's website at www.arcelormittalsa.com.
Vanderbijlpark
29 January 2024
For further information please contact:
Tami Didiza: Senior Manager: Corporate Communications
Tel: (016) 889 4523
Company Secretary: FluidRock Co Sec (Pty) Ltd
Sponsor to ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited
Absa Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)
Date: 29-01-2024 04:33:00
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