Yahoo Finance

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was greatest in the second quarter of 2020, which resulted in a decrease in revenue, adjusted EBITDA and profit of AS Tallinna Sadam (hereafter: “the Group”). In Q2 2020, the revenue amounted to EUR 22.4 million decreasing by 31.8% compared to the same period previous year. The adjusted EBITDA was EUR 10.2 million decreasing by 45.7%. The loss in Q2 amounted to EUR 831 thousand.

The results of Q2 were mostly affected by the restrictions on passenger movement due to the corona pandemic. The restrictions mainly affected the Passenger harbours segment, as the number of passengers as well as passenger vessel calls decreased significantly due to cross-border traffic restrictions. Also, there were no cruise ship calls in the second quarter. According to Valdo Kalm, Chairman of the Management Board, COVID-19 had no effect on the revenue of Cargo harbours, as the volume of liquid bulk increased in the first half of the year, compensating for the decrease in dry bulk and container cargo. “Because of lower operating volumes and revenue, primarily related to passengers, we also reduced operating expenses, but due to a large share of fixed costs, the cut in operating expenses was not comparable in size to the decline in revenue, therefore the profitability decreased. However, due to the diversification of business areas, we were able to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the Group's financial results, and the negative impact of the second quarter was offset by the strong result of the first quarter, which resulted in a profit of more than EUR 9 million for the first half of the year,” stated Kalm. Kalm considers it substantial that even in a difficult economic environment, the company was able to adhere to the dividend policy and pay dividends of EUR 30.2 million and continue with ongoing investments.

Tallinna Sadam will present the financial results of the Group at a webinar on 14 August at 11:00, to attend, please register here. The webinar will be held in English.

Key figures (in million EUR):

Revenue
Revenue for the first six months of 2020 decreased by EUR 11.1 million, i.e. 18%. The decrease occurred almost entirely in Q2 mainly influenced by the decline in revenues from ferries and cruise ships due to restrictions on cross-border passenger movements imposed in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenues increased only from the icebreaker Botnica's charter fee through the indexation of contractual fees and a slightly earlier start of the summer work. In both Q2 and the first half of the year, revenue increased in the segment Other, but decreased in the segments of Passenger harbours, Cargo harbours and Ferry.
The revenue of the Cargo harbours segment was not significantly affected by the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue declined because the ferries operating on the Muuga-Vuosaari route were temporarily rerouted to the Old City Harbour (Passenger harbours segment). In the first half of the year, revenue decreased by 6% due to the combined effect of various items of revenue, mostly because the volume of electricity sold (as an agent) and cargo charge revenue decreased. Cargo charge revenue declined due to the combined effect of an increase in the volume of liquid bulk cargo whose cargo charges are lower and a decrease in the volumes of other cargo types.
The revenue of the Ferry segment decreased slightly because the Estonian state did not order an additional vessel for extra trips during the summer season. Instead, the additional trips are made by an existing replacement ferry Regula. The decline was partly offset by a rise in fee rates, which are linked to the Estonian consumer and fuel price indices and wage inflation.
The revenue of the segment Other increased through the indexation of the contractual fees of the icebreaker Botnica to the Estonian and Canadian consumer price indices and a slightly earlier start of the work in Canadian waters during the summer season.