ADM Reports “Mixed”Quarter, Boosted by Oilseeds

“Our first-quarter segment results were mixed,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. “Oilseeds performance was strong, the ethanol industry experienced sustained negative margins, and Agricultural Services managed well through a complicated quarter, challenged by the drought.

31 Oct 2012 --- Archer Daniels Midland Company has reported financial results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2012. The company reported net earnings for the quarter of $182 million, or $0.28 per share, down from $0.68 per share in the same period one year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share1 were $0.50, primarily reflecting a $0.16 charge related to ADM’s planned divestment of Gruma. Segment operating profit1 was $498 million, including a $146 million charge related to Gruma.

“Our first-quarter segment results were mixed,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. “Oilseeds performance was strong, the ethanol industry experienced sustained negative margins, and Agricultural Services managed well through a complicated quarter, challenged by the drought.

“During the first quarter, we focused on actions that will improve returns. We made progress in our ongoing portfolio management efforts. And I’m proud of our efforts and the results of our work to reduce costs and capital.

“As we look ahead to 2013, we are bringing online our large Paraguay soybean processing plant as South American farmers are responding to market conditions with record plantings, and we are implementing plans to navigate the tight U.S. crop supply.

“Longer-term, we remain optimistic as we see continued growth in global demand for protein meal and other agricultural products. We continue to execute our strategy, aligning our business to serve rising demand from customers around the world.”

Oilseeds operating profit in the first quarter was $336 million, up $116 million from the same period one year earlier.

Crushing and origination operating profit was $256 million, up $150 million from the year-ago quarter on strong improvements by all three geographies. ADM’s U.S. soybean operations delivered very strong results amid good U.S. demand and meal exports. In Europe, soybean and rapeseed crushing earnings improved significantly.

Refining, packaging, biodiesel and other generated a profit of $28 million for the quarter, down $27 million, with steady results in North and South America offset by weaker European biodiesel results.

Cocoa and other results increased $27 million. Weaker cocoa press margins were offset by the absence of last year’s significant negative mark-to-market impacts.

Oilseeds results in Asia for the quarter were down $34 million from the prior year’s first quarter, principally reflecting ADM’s share of the results from its equity investee Wilmar International Limited.

Corn processing operating profit was $68 million, a decrease of $115 million from the same period one year earlier.

Sweeteners and starches operating profit increased $64 million to $94 million, as tight sweetener industry capacity supported higher year-over-year selling prices. The year-ago quarter’s results were negatively impacted by higher net corn costs related to the timing effects of economic hedges.

Bioproducts results in the quarter decreased $179 million to a loss of $26 million. Weak U.S. ethanol exports, strong Brazilian imports and slow E15 implementation kept industry margins negative.