Manila, Philippines/August 13, 2021. Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI), the country’s second-largest nickel ore producer, recorded H1 net income of P640.8 million against the P195.8 million it posted during the same period last year. Revenues are up by 68.9% to P2.61 billion compared to P1.54 billion during the same period last year mainly due to higher nickel ore prices and increased shipment volume.
“We garnered more favorable results this year as the market experienced a big jump in the price of low-grade nickel ore. We did not experience a stoppage of operations as what happened in April last year,” said FNI President Dante R. Bravo.
The Group completed 32 nickel ore shipments in H1 2021 against 23 shipments during the same period last year resulting in a 38.3% increase in shipment volume to 1.740 million WMT against the 1.258 million WMT in 2020. These were 100% exported to China and consisted of 1.465 million WMT low-grade nickel ore and 0.275 million WMT medium-grade nickel ore. The resulting sales mix is 84% low-grade ore and 16% medium-grade ore in 2021 compared to 52% low-grade ore and 48% medium-grade ore in the previous year.
The overall average realized nickel ore price for the period ending 30 June 2021 was USD 31.10/WMT compared to USD 24.38/WMT for the period ending 30 June 2020, higher by USD 6.72/WMT or 27.6%. The price of low-grade ore went up by 61.7% to USD 31.01/WMT in 2021 against the 2020 price of USD 19.18/ WMT. Medium-grade ore, on the other hand, was USD 31.58/WMT or 5.2% higher than the 2020 price of USD 30.03/WMT.
To date, FNI has spent over 35 million pesos on its COVID-19 response. It works closely with various local government units in helping the local communities combat the spread of the virus and providing relief during this time of need. It has donated PPE supplies, test kits, disinfectants, vitamins, medical equipment, medical services, rice and other essential goods, and participated in building a molecular laboratory in Surigao and a COVID-19 test center in Palawan.