Interim report Q2/2022: Record results for all business segments

The second quarter

• Revenue was SEK 35,516 (23,673) million
• Operating profit, excluding items affecting comparability, was SEK 10,395 (4,083) million
• Earnings per share were SEK 7.79 (3.13)
• Net cash was SEK 7,163 (net debt SEK 6,461) million
• Transformation to fossil-free steel production on plan

Comments by the CEO – record result for all business segments

SSAB’s operating profit exceeded SEK 10 billion for the first time for a single quarter and amounted to SEK 10.4 (4.1) billion. All business segments posted strong results, driven by a combination of high steel prices and solid internal performance. Cash flow generation was strong. SSAB strengthens its position as the leader in the green transition in the steel industry and continues to deliver pilot volumes for a number of selected partnership projects. During the second quarter, the world’s first construction machine built using SSAB fossil-free steel was delivered by Volvo.

SSAB Special Steels reached a new record for shipments and operating profit increased to SEK 2,392 (1,175) million. The operating margin rose to 26.6% (20.1%). High-strength steel is SSAB’s primary area of growth and it supports our customers’ ambitions to improve productivity and sustainability performance in machinery and other equipment. SSAB Europe’s operating profit for the second quarter increased to SEK 4,070 (1,512) million and the operating margin rose to 28.3% (14.8%). SSAB Americas’ operating profit increased to SEK 3,512 (1,084) million and the operating margin rose to 39.7% (22.5%).

Higher steel prices were an important factor behind the improved results, in combination with stable production and continued good cost control. Safety performance continued to improve and Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) decreased to 1.56 (2.30).

In conjunction with the invasion of Ukraine, SSAB stopped sales to Russia and Belarus as well as discontinued new purchases of ore and coal from Russia. Ruukki Construction has minor operations in Ukraine and these could be partly re-started during the second quarter.

The market outlook is uncertain, due to rising inflation, component shortages and bottlenecks in logistics chains, among other things. There are also risks for disruptions relating to sanctions and other fallout from the war in Ukraine.

Customer demand for fossil-free steel continues to increase. During the quarter, Volvo Construction Equipment delivered the world’s first construction machine built of SSAB fossil-free steel and during the third quarter of 2022, Volvo Trucks will start small-scale introduction of fossil-free steel in heavy-duty electric trucks. SSAB also began collaboration with Alfa Laval on the world’s first heat exchanger to be made using fossil-free steel, with the first unit planned for 2023. The second quarter saw the inauguration of HYBRIT’s pilot facility for hydrogen gas storage, the first of its kind, in Svartöberget, Luleå. Work on the feasibility studies for SSAB’s planned mini-mills in Luleå and Raahe is proceeding towards the goal of fossil-free production at around 2030, but the transition requires sufficient availability of fossil-free electricity in the right place at the right time.

SSAB invites you to a presentation of the report for the second quarter 2022 at 9.30am CEST on Friday, July 22, 2022. The briefing will take place by combined webcast and conference call that will be webcast on SSAB’s website.

The report will be presented by SSAB’s President and CEO Martin Lindqvist, and CFO Leena Craelius. The briefing will be held in English.

Teleconference numbers:
Sweden:                        +46 8 505 100 30
United Kingdom:         +44 1 212 818 004
United States:              +1 718 705 8796

Please ask the operator to be connected to “SSAB”. There is no conference ID or code required.

Link to webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/bkpem7do

For further information, please contact:                                                                                 
Investor Relations: Per Hillström, Head of IR, per.hillstrom@ssab.com, +46 70 2952 912
Media: Viktoria Karsberg, Head of Corporate Identity and Group Communications, viktoria.karsberg@ssab.com, +46 8 4545 734

This information is inside information that SSAB AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and information that SSAB AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 7.30am CEST on July 22, 2022.

SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.ssab.com.
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