Aurubis AG, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide, achieved operating earnings before taxes (EBT) of € 349 million for the past 2022/23 fiscal year as at the balance sheet date of September 30 (previous year: € 532 million). Operating ROCE (return on capital employed) amounted to 11.3 % in the reporting period (previous year: 19 %). After the record result in fiscal year 2021/22, the deviations were mainly attributable to the financial impact of the criminal activities directed against Aurubis. IFRS consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT) were € 165 million (previous year: € 935 million).*

“We can be pleased with the result of the past fiscal year, considering that it is the third-best result in company history – especially in light of the damages caused by the criminal activities directed against Aurubis. Good operating performance coupled with high market demand for our products are clear proof of Aurubis’ potential. We are confident that we will continue to profit from powerful global developments like electrification, the circular economy, and the transition to more sustainability in the current fiscal year,” Aurubis CEO Roland Harings emphasized.

In view of the fiscal year result, the Supervisory and Executive Boards will propose a dividend per share of € 1.40 (previous year: € 1.80) at the Annual General Meeting on February 15, 2024. This corresponds to a payout ratio of 23 % of operating consolidated net income (previous year: 18 %).

Treatment charges for concentrates and recycling materials key earnings drivers

Increased treatment and refining charges for copper concentrates along with higher income from refining charges for processing recycling materials positively influenced the past fiscal year result. Aurubis also profited from higher wire rod revenues with increased product surcharges, and the significantly higher copper premium also drove earnings.

A considerably lower metal result at decreased metal prices, especially for the industrial metals copper, tin and zinc, had the opposite effect. Lower sales prices for sulfuric acid considerably cut revenues from the Aurubis by-product, and demand for flat rolled products also dropped. Additionally, inflation-related higher Group costs and launching expenses for the strategic projects currently in implementation lowered earnings. The financial impact on the result deriving from the criminal activities directed against Aurubis was significant as well. On September 30, 2023, this resulted in a € 169 million metals shortfall, € 16 million less than the assessed inventory difference of € 185 million disclosed on August 31, 2023. Insurance reimbursements amounting to € 30 million also had a compensating effect.

“We’re working at full speed on investigating the criminal activities directed against us,” Aurubis CEO Roland Harings emphasized. "We responded to the heightened threat assessment immediately, and we’ve significantly increased the level of security so that we can rule out similar cases on this scale in the future with a high degree of probability. We are also comprehensively investing in new facilities with tighter, multistage security areas at our Hamburg site."

Significantly increased security level: consistent response to criminal activities

In response to the criminal cases, Aurubis established a series of immediate measures and initiated long-term improvements to considerably increase security. These include more frequent spot checks of personnel and vehicles along with intensified surveillance of risk areas. Additional approval levels were also introduced in raw material purchasing for specific material groups. Furthermore, in a Group-wide project, individual teams worked with external expert support to analyze ongoing security-relevant processes and prevention potential with the aim of implementing additional measures across sites.

A new precious metals processing plant will also make a decisive contribution to security at the Hamburg site in the future. With the € 300 million investment in the PMR (Precious Metals Refinery) scheduled to come online at the end of 2026, Aurubis is mapping out the entire precious metal processing chain in a closed security area – and incorporating the findings from the comprehensive investigation into the criminal activities directed against Aurubis into the facility’s design. In addition to highlighting plant and precious metal security and occupational safety, the newly developed process will also raise efficiency, considerably reduce throughput times for materials containing precious metals, and lower operating costs by around 15 %.

Investing in the future: € 1.7 billion for the further strategic development of the smelter network

Along with improving plant safety, Aurubis also continues to consistently realize its “Metals for Progress: Driving Sustainable Growth” strategy: Around € 1.7 billion is currently approved for strategic projects. In addition to the Precious Metals Refinery, these include the large-scale growth project, Aurubis Richmond, in Georgia, the expansion of recycling capacity with the Complex Recycling Hamburg project, and the extension of the Industrial Heat project in Hamburg. With these and other projects, the multimetal supplier is securing its core business, consistently leveraging growth opportunities, and further expanding its leadership role in sustainability. Over the coming three to five years, the strategic projects will contribute a total of around € 260 million to EBITDA per year.

“We are committed to investing – in the US and in Europe – in growth, strength, security, safety and sustainability. By consistently realizing our strategy, we are driving Aurubis’ transformation: We’re delivering on our promises! And as we do, we’re making an important contribution to meeting the growing demand for metals that are essential to the energy and mobility transition,” Roland Harings emphasized.

Optimistic about fiscal year 2023/24

The consistent implementation of the Aurubis strategy even in challenging times clearly shows: Aurubis continues to enjoy a very robust financial position. The company’s outlook on the new 2023/24 fiscal year is optimistic. For the current 2023/24 fiscal year, the multimetal supplier anticipates an operating EBT of between € 380 and 480 million. This current forecast is in line with the high average earnings level of the past three years. The company expects an operating ROCE of between 10 and 14 %.