Intrepid Potash Inc. reported a 34 percent increase in potash volumes for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2020, though it posted a loss for both the quarter and year, citing COVID-19, particularly with respect to the company’s sales to the oil and gas industry.
“We are excited to move into 2021 and put the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic gradually behind us as strong farmer economics will allow us to fully take advantage of higher potash and Trio® prices, which are currently $140 per ton and $60 per ton above summer-fill price levels, respectively,” said Bob Jornayvaz, Intrepid Executive Chairman, President, and CEO.
“The fourth quarter was highlighted by solid cash flow and a significant increase in EBITDA compared to the prior two quarters as fertilizer markets and oilfield activity both rebounded sharply from this past summer. Under-application of potash from recent seasons, favorable weather, and very strong commodity pricing will continue to support our fertilizer markets through the spring season,” Jornayvaz added.
While prices are moving up now, fourth quarter potash prices were lower than the year-ago average, while those for Trio were up on slightly lower volumes. In the year-ago period, Trio volumes represented a higher amount of lower-priced international tons.
Despite the large potash volumes in the fourth quarter, Intrepid still expects 2021 volumes to increase 5-10 percent. The company said it is seeing low potash inventories across the entire U.S., as demand is being spurred on by higher prices for all major crops. The company expects a strong spring well into April and May. Intrepid also said it is seeing fewer imports from European competitors.
Intrepid expects average realized potash prices to move from $248/st in the fourth quarter to $300-$310 in the second quarter, with the first quarter somewhere between the two. The company expects average realized Trio prices to go from $188/st FOB in the fourth-quarter to $220-$230/st in the first and $230-$240/st FOB in the second.
Intrepid posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $711,000 ($0.05 per diluted share) on sales of $48.4 million, down from the year-ago net income of $2.1 million ($0.16 per share) and $48.8 million, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA was $9.7 million, down from the year-ago $12.4 million.
The company reported a full-year loss of $27.2 million ($2.09 per share) on sales of $197 million, compared to 2019’s net income of $13.6 million ($1.04 per share) and $220.1 million, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA was $20.3 million, down from $52.8 million.
| Potash | 4Q-20 | 4Q-19 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Sales ($000) | 27,556 | 27,556 | 108,060 | 124,648 |
| Gross Margin ($000) | 3,847 | 5,746 | 11,551 | 27,787 |
| Production (000 st) | 106 | 110 | 308 | 328 |
| Sales Volume (000 st) | 78 | 58 | 317 | 319 |
| Avg Realized Price ($/st) | 248 | 278 | 250 | 284 |
| Trio | 4Q-20 | 4Q-19 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Sales ($000) | 15,565 | 15,669 | 70,287 | 69,551 |
| Gross Margin ($000) | (375) | 23 | (8,505) | 1,100 |
| Production (000 st) | 58 | 45 | 213 | 228 |
| Sales Volume (000 st) | 50 | 53 | 230 | 225 |
| Avg Realized Price ($/st) | 188 | 170 | 195 | 195 |
| Oilfield Services | 4Q-20 | 4Q-19 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Sales ($000) | 5,390 | 8,323 | 18,929 | 27,894 |
| Gross Margin ($000) | 2,342 | 4,421 | 7,484 | 14,591 |