Allkem shares flop on expansion delays and cost pressures
Bullish lithium prices for the quarter was offset by expansion delays and revisions to capex.
Source: iStock
Mentioned
KEY POINTS
- Allkem's average selling prices for lithium spodumene and carbonate continued to trend higher in the September quarter
- The company pushed back the timeline for its Olaroz Stage 2 expansion due to delays in key materials
- Olaroz's total capital expenditure was bumped up by 12% to reflect the delays and inflation impacts
Allkem (ASX: AKE) posted another strong quarterly performance and said its business is set to enter a period of 'significant growth' with three new projects set to come online in the next two years.
Group revenue was US$298m in the September quarter compared to US$337m in the previous quarter and US$69.8m a year ago.
Production at the Olaroz Project in Argentina improved 17% to 3,289 tonnes of lithium carbonate, which supported a record $150m in quarterly revenues. This was underpinned by further strength in lithium carbonate prices, with third party sales averaging US$43,237 a tonne compared to US$41,033 in the previous quarter.
Lithium spodumene production at the Mt Cattlin project tapered off in the quarter due to ongoing labour and equipment shortages as well as 'temporary unfavourable fine-grained mineralisation.' These expectations were made clear in late August. Allkem expects production to be heavily skewed towards the second half of FY23.
Mt Cattlin production was down -29% quarter-on-quarter to 17,606 tonnes of spodumene. Though, spodumene prices continued to climb, averaging US$5,028 a tonne compared to US$4,992 in the previous quarter.
'Significant growth' on the horizon
Allkem's development projects at a glance:
Olaroz Stage 2: Currently at 93% completion. Delays in the delivery of key components has delayed first production to the second quarter of 2023 instead of December 2022. This will also result in a 12% jump in total capex to US$425m. The Stage 2 expansion is expected to double Olaroz production to 25,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per annum.
Naraha: The Naraha lithium hydroxide plant is well advanced in commissioning activities and first production is expected to occur in-line with expectations, in the December quarter. The plant has an annual production of 10,000 tonnes of high value battery grade lithium hydroxide.
Sal de Vida and James Bay are greenfield projects scheduled to come online in late 2023 and mid-2024 respectively.
"Capital expenditure for James Bay and Sal de Vida remain subject to the same cost pressures that all resource projects are experiencing globally," noted Allkem.
Lithium market outlook
Allkem said EV sales for the September quarter experienced 'robust demand growth across all major regions'.
EV sales in China accelerated to 1.9m units during the quarter, up 107% compared to a year ago. Sales in Europe and US remain resilient despite high inflation and supply chain disruptions, up 3% and 44% respectively.
Allkem noted that the supply side tightened in the quarter due to power rationing in China's Sichuan province. Although Australia is picking up the slack, with spodumene concentrate shipments in July and August 2022 up 89% compared to the prior period.
"Despite this increase, a significant shortage in spodumene concentrate remains highlighted by record high prices and increase in demand for lower grade lithium products," said Allkem.
The company expects the race to secure the supply of critical materials to continue to intensify as "auto and battery manufacturers seek to leverage the significant incentives on offer as part of the Inflation Reduction Act."
Allkem 12 month price chart
