Q2 2025 CMB.TECH Earnings Call
Speaker 3: The meeting is now live. Raise hand if enabled. To raise your hand, press START.
Speaker #4: To To the CMB.TECH NV Q1 for the second quarter.
Speaker #3: The meeting is being transcribed.
Speaker 4: Thank you. This meeting is being transcribed.
Speaker #4: My name is Alexander Saverys. And I'm joined by my colleagues Ludovic Joris and Enya. We would like to discuss the CMB.TECH NV Q1 merger first.
Alexander Saverys: My name is Alexander Saverys, and I'm joined by my colleagues Ludovic, Joris, and Enya. We would like to discuss the CMB.TECH NV, Ludovic, and Joris Ocean merger first to start. That is the news of last week. We will zoom in on the second quarter financials and highlights, conclude, and have time for some questions and answers. Let me first start with the news of last week. On the 20th of August, we have completed the CMB.TECH NV, Ludovic, and Joris Ocean merger to create a leading diversified maritime group. For those of you who have followed us before, you will recognize this slide, but I do want to take you through the combined Joris Ocean and CMB.TECH fleet. We have today 206 modern eco-vessels on the water, with another 44 on order.
Speaker #4: To start, we will cover the news from last week. Then we will zoom in on the second quarter financials and highlights. We will conclude with time for some questions and answers.
Speaker #4: Let me first start with the news of last week, on the 20th of August. We have completed the CMB.TECH NV Q1 merger to create a leading diversified maritime group.
Speaker #4: For those of you who have followed us before, you will recognize this slide. But I do want to take you through the combined NV Q1 CMB.TECH fleet.
Speaker #4: We have today 206 modern eco-vessels on the water, with another 44 on order. Of our 250 ships, about one-third will be powered or will be capable to be powered by ammonia and hydrogen.
Alexander Saverys: Of our 250 ships, about one-third will be powered or will be capable to be powered by ammonia and hydrogen. Our contract backlog stands at close to $3 billion, and the average age of our fleet is a tick under six years. The total fair market value of the fleet is close to $11 billion. We have $1.9 billion of CapEx commitments still outstanding. We are listed on the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Euronext Brussels, and since last week as well on the Oslo Børs. You can see the detailed breakdown of our fleet at the bottom of the slide, with the major change being that Bossimaar now has incorporated the fleet of Joris Ocean. We have added 89 vessels to the fleet. Our dry bulk division now has 119 ships. After the merger with Joris Ocean, we are the largest listed diversified maritime group.
Speaker #4: Our contract backlog stands at close to $3 billion. And the average age of our fleet is a tick under six years. The total fair market value of the fleet is close to $11 billion.
Speaker #4: We have $1.9 billion of CapEx commitments still outstanding. We are listed on the NYSE in New York, Euronext Brussels, and since last week, as well on the Oslo Børs.
Speaker #4: You can see the detailed breakdown of our fleet at the bottom of the slide, with the major change being that Bosimar has now incorporated the fleet of NV Q1.
Speaker #4: We have added 89 vessels to the fleet. Our dryboat division now has 119 ships. After the merger with NV Q1, we are the largest listed diversified maritime group.
Speaker #4: You can see the comparison to some of our peers. The Pureplay peers and the more diversified peers. We have a market cap of over $2 billion.
Alexander Saverys: You can see the comparison to some of our peers, the pure play peers and the more diversified peers. We have a market cap of over $2 billion. Our free float is now a significant 38%, and recently we have had a 3.5 million turnover in shares, average daily turnover. Looking at our fleet and how it will evolve in the next quarters, we are adding new buildings nearly every month, every week. You can see that today our fleet stands at 206 ships. End of the quarter, fourth quarter 2025, we will be at 218 vessels, and we will add another 23 ships next year. Our fleet is growing and growing rapidly. Translated to available days, this is also an updated sheet after the integration of Joris Ocean into CMB.TECH. You can see that we have about 54,000 days in 2025, going to 60,000 days next year.
Speaker #4: Our free float is now a significant 38%. And recently, we have had a 3.5 million turnover in shares average daily turnover. Looking at our fleet and how it will evolve in the next quarters, we are adding new buildings nearly every month, every week.
Speaker #4: You can see that today our fleet stands at 206 ships. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, we will be at 218 vessels. Additionally, we will add another 23 ships next year.
Speaker #4: So, our fleet is growing rapidly. Translated to available days, this is also an updated sheet after the integration of NV Q1 into CMB.TECH.
Speaker #4: You can see that we have about 54,000 days in 2025. Going to 60,000 days next year. And you can also see the detailed breakdown between the different segments.
Alexander Saverys: You can also see the detailed breakdown between the different segments. The dry bulk division, Bossimaar, has become our largest division. What we are showing on this slide as well is the split between our spot days and time charter days. You can see that in our divisions, containers and chemical tankers, we are very well covered on the time charter side, and on dry bulk and tankers, crude oil tankers, we are very much spot oriented. The reason we're doing that has to do with many things, but primarily on our view on how we see the market in the next 12 to 24 months. On the right side of this slide, you can see the order book to fleet ratio in segments like dry bulk and tankers, where we see a low order book to fleet ratio. We're expecting better rates.
Speaker #4: The dryboat division, Bosimar, has become our largest division. What we are showing on this slide is the split between our spot days and time charter days.
Speaker #4: You can see that in our divisions, containers and chemical tankers, we are very well covered on the time charter side. And on dry bulk and tankers, crude oil tankers, we are very much spot-oriented.
Speaker #4: The reason we're doing that has to do with many things, but primarily our view on how we see the market in the next 12 to 24 months.
Speaker #4: On the right side of this slide, you can see the order book to fleet ratio. In segments like dry bulk and tankers, where we see a low order book to fleet ratio, we're expecting better rates.
Speaker #4: We are more spot-oriented. In segments where we believe there might be some oversupply, in the months and years to come, we have taken more cover on the time charter side.
Alexander Saverys: We are more spot oriented in segments where we believe there might be some oversupply in the months and years to come. We have taken more cover on the time charter side. I'd like to hand over to our CFO, Ludovic Saverys, to talk a little bit about the financials and starting with the free cash flow of CMB.TECH.
Speaker #4: I would like to hand over to our CFO, Ludovic Saverys, to talk a little bit about the financials, starting with the free cash flow of CMB.TECH.
Speaker #5: Yeah, thanks, Alex. This slide is trying to show, in connection with the operational strategy of being open on dryboat and tankers, what the hypothetical one-year free cash flow could be operationally.
Ludovic Saverys: Yeah, thanks, Alex. This slide is trying to show, in connection with the operational strategy of being open on dry bulk and tankers, what the hypothetical one-year free cash flow could be operationally. This is excluding the remaining CapEx to be paid, excluding the cash received from vessel sales. On the bottom right, we've made some assumptions. This is by no means a pure science, but we have presented three cases where you could see that, throughout the various segments, we would generate, in a bear case, a loss of $35 million cash, a medium case, $170 million cash, and on the upside, $380 million. Just to highlight the bull case, the high case we're showing here is actually the market today. If the market would continue in the current stage with our spot exposure, we would add roughly $380 million of free cash in the next 12 months.
Speaker #5: This is excluding the remaining CapEx to be paid, excluding the cash received from vessel sales. On the bottom right, we've made some assumptions. This is by no means pure science, but we have presented three cases where you could see that, throughout the various segments, we would generate, in a bear case, a loss of $35 million cash; in a medium case, $170 million cash; and on the upside, $38 million.
Speaker #5: Just to highlight the bull case, the high case we're showing here is actually the market today. So if the market were to continue in the current state, with our spot exposure, we would add roughly $38 million of free cash in the next 12 months.
Speaker #5: Going in through an update of the contract backlog, we have stayed at roughly 2.9 billion compared to last quarter. This is thanks to the additional long-term charters we have received from NV Q1, primarily on Kamzar Maxes and six Cape sizes that they originally had in their fleets.
Ludovic Saverys: Going in through an update of the contract backlog, we have stayed at roughly $2.9 billion compared to last quarter. This is thanks to the additional long-term charters we have received from Joris Ocean, primarily on Kamsarmaxes and six Capesizes that they originally had in their fleets. Moving then to the financials of Q2, we have ended the quarter of this year with a loss of $7.5 million, which is $7.7 million profit for the old CMB.TECH, and a $50 million loss on the Joris Ocean exposure. The liquidity stands at roughly $400 million as of today. The contract backlog we've discussed, the outstanding CapEx of $1.86 billion, that is from August forward till the end, from which $1.6 billion we have already committed financing, and $270 million is unfunded.
Speaker #5: Moving then to the financials of Q2, we have ended the quarter of this year with a loss of $7.5 million. This reflects a $7.7 million profit for the old CMB.TECH and a $50 million loss on the NV Q1 exposure.
Speaker #5: The liquidity stands at roughly $400 million as of today. The contract backlog we've discussed, along with the outstanding CapEx of $1.86 billion from August forward until the end, indicates that we have already committed financing of $1.6 billion.
Speaker #5: And $270 million is unfunded. So when people ask about this big order book how much we will need to use from operational cash flow or vessel sales, the answer is $270 million, which is broken down as follows: $30 million remaining in this year of unfunded equity, $270 million next year, and then $70 million in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Ludovic Saverys: When people ask on this big order book, how much will we need to use from operational cash flow or vessel sales, the answer is $270 million, which is broken down $30 million remaining in this year of unfunded equity, $170 million next year, and then $70 million in 2027, 2028, and 2029. If we focus a little bit more on the Q2 figures, on the left side, we show that our figures have indicated a higher revenue, a higher OpEx, higher G&A, and also higher depreciation. This is by the mere fact of putting the two companies together. On the right side, we are indicating that the figures have been impacted by some one-offs. I think there was $22 million on unrealized foreign exchange losses and interest rate swaps. We've had a loss on a sale of the Golden Zhushan.
Speaker #5: If we focus a little bit more on the Q2 figures, on the left side, we show that our figures have indicated a higher revenue, higher OPEX, higher G&A, and also higher depreciation.
Speaker #5: This is by the mere fact of putting the two companies together. On the right side, we are indicating that the figures have been impacted by some one-offs.
Speaker #5: I think there were $22 million in unrealized foreign exchange losses and interest rate swaps. We've had a loss on the sale of the Golden Zushan, and then obviously, when we merged, there were costs associated with audit, legal fees, and financial advisories that have brought down the P&L in the second quarter.
Ludovic Saverys: Obviously, when we merge, there is cost associated to audits, legal fees, and financial advisories that have brought down the P&L in the second quarter. On the highlights, we've mentioned the loss of $7.6 million and EBITDA of $224 million. We've completed the merger, as Alex mentioned. The board had decided to issue a dividend for the Q2 figures of $0.05, which will be payable as soon as practically possible, beginning October. The contract backlog we have discussed, we have signed in the combined entity a new $2 billion facility from which $1.25 billion had been used to refinance the whole fleet of Joris Ocean. We have $750 million of undrawn revolvers that we can use for repaying some of the other debt. We are listed on three exchanges, which we're pretty proud to be a member of the Oslo Børs as well.
Speaker #5: And on the highlights, we've mentioned the loss of $7.6 million in EBITDA DA of $224 million. We've completed the merger, as Alex mentioned. The board has decided to issue a dividend for the Q2 figures of $0.05, which will be payable as soon as practically possible.
Speaker #5: Beginning in October, the contract backlog we have discussed has resulted in the combined entity signing a new $2 billion facility, from which $1.25 billion has been used to refinance the whole fleet of NV Q1.
Speaker #5: And we have $750 million of undrawn revolvers that we can use for repaying some of the other debt. We are listed on three exchanges, which we're pretty proud to be a member of the Oslo Stock Exchange as well.
Speaker #5: The deliveries of the new buildings have continued unabated. We have five new Castle Maxes, one CSRV, and two CPVs. It's actually six new Castle Maxes; apologies.
Ludovic Saverys: The deliveries of the new buildings have continued unabated. We have five Newcastle Maxis, one CSLV, and two CPVs. It's actually six Newcastle Maxis. Apologies. The VLCC Iris has been sold. The Hakata and Hakone have been delivered to their new owners. I'm happy to report as well that we have sold the Sophia recently, where we will log a capital gain of $20.4 million in the last quarter of this year. The Joris Ocean team has delivered two Kamsar Maxis and one Cape Sizer to their new owners last quarter and in the next quarter. This is again what we mentioned, where as a promemory, you can see the P&L breakevens throughout the divisions and what we have fixed on the quarter to date. Alex will jump in those figures at a later stage.
Speaker #5: The VLCC Iris has been sold. The Hakata and Hakone have been delivered to their new owners. I am also happy to report that we have sold the Sofia recently.
Speaker #5: We will log a capital gain of $20.4 million in the last quarter of this year. The NV Q1 team has delivered two Kamzar Maxes and one Cape size to their new owners last quarter and will continue to do so in the next quarter.
Speaker #5: This is again what we mentioned where, as a pro memoria, you can see the P&L breakeven throughout the divisions and what we have fixed on the quarter to date.
Speaker #5: But Alex will jump in those figures at a later stage. Thank you very much. I will now zoom in on our marine division and segment by segment to talk about a market update and what has happened in our various divisions.
Alexander Saverys: Thank you very much. I will now zoom in on our marine division and segment by segment to talk about a market update and what has happened in our various divisions. Starting with Euronav on the crude oil front, the picture you see here is our very first VLCC being built at Qingdao Bayhai Shipyard in China, being launched. We will take delivery of the vessel in November of this year. Starting with some highlights, some of which have already been mentioned, just reminding you that we have 10 VLCCs and 18 Suezmaxes on the water today. We have another five VLCCs on order and two Suezmaxes. The result time charter equivalent for the second quarter for our Vs sat at $45,000. Q3 quarter to date, we are at $32,000. For the Suezmaxes, the number is $40,000 for Q2 and also $40,000 for Q3 to date.
Speaker #5: Starting with Euronav on the crude oil front, the picture you see here is our very first VLCC being built at Qingdao Bayhai Shipyard in China.
Speaker #5: Being launched, we will take delivery of the vessel in November of this year. Starting with some highlights, some of which have already been mentioned.
Speaker #5: Just reminding you that we have 10 VLCCs and 18 Suez Maxes on the water today. We have another five VLCCs on order and two Suez Maxes.
Speaker #5: The results time charter equivalent for the second quarter for our vessel sat at $45,000. For Q3 quarter to date, we are at $32,000.
Speaker #5: For the Suez Maxes, the number is 40,000 for Q2 and also 40,000 for Q3 to date. We have sold, as Ludovic just mentioned, four vessels.
Alexander Saverys: We have sold, as Ludovic just mentioned, four vessels. The Iris, Hakata, and Hakone have been delivered to their new owners, and the Sophia will deliver in the fourth quarter of this year. You can see our OpEx P&L breakevens on the right side of this slide. We also like to point out some important indicators for the market. You can see on the right side of the slide that there are some indicators on the demand side that are positive in green, like world oil demand, which is growing slightly, supply from OPEC and non-OPEC countries, OECD crude oil stocks, and then definitely the tanker fleet, which definitely in the short term is only going to grow by a very small amount. There are some negatives on U.S. crude oil exports, China oil imports, and then the global crude oil floating storage, which are all down.
Speaker #5: The Iris, Hakata, and Hakone have been delivered to their new owners. The Sofia will be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year. You can see our OPEX and P&L breakevens on the right side of this slide.
Speaker #5: We also like to point out to some important indicators for the market. You can see on the right side of the slide that there are some indicators on the demand side that are positive in green, like World Oil Demand, which is growing slightly, supply from OPEX and non-OPEX countries, OECD crude oil stocks, and then definitely the tanker fleet, which definitely in the short term is only going to grow by a very small amount.
Speaker #5: There are some negatives on US crude oil exports. China oil imports and then the global crude oil floating storage, which are all down. Looking at the mid-term tanker market, I'd like to talk about the supply of oil and the supply of ships.
Alexander Saverys: Looking at the midterm tanker market, I'd like to talk about the supply of oil and the supply of ships. Starting on this slide with the supply of oil, you have all been following the OPEC Plus cuts since 2022. They started off with cutting 2 million barrels per day, then 1.6 million barrels per day, and then the last one was 2.2 million barrels per day. In recent months, this has been turned around, and we are expecting by October that this voluntary second cut of 2.2 million barrels will be totally reversed. If that happens as per plan, and we are seeing some signs already of increased volumes, this will obviously be positive for the tanker markets. More oil coming out, more oil on VLCCs could support our market.
Speaker #5: Starting on this slide with the supply of oil, you have all been following the OPEC Plus cuts since 2022. They started off with cutting 2 million barrels per day, then 1.6 million barrels per day, and then the last one was 2.2 million barrels per day.
Speaker #5: In recent months, this has been turned around, and we are expecting that by October, this fallen tree second cut of 2.2 million barrels will be totally reversed.
Speaker #5: If that happens, as per plan, and we are seeing some signs already of increased volumes, this will obviously be positive for the tanker markets. More oil coming out and more oil on VLCCs should support our market.
Speaker #5: Looking forward to the next couple of years, if we take the IEA forecasts, you will see that the gap between supply and demand will be in favor of supply.
Alexander Saverys: Looking forward to the next couple of years, if we take the IEA forecast, you will see that the gap between supply and demand will be in favor of supply. There will be more oil. More oil means more storage. More oil should mean also lower prices, which could be very supportive for our tanker markets. If we're looking at the vessel side, the supply side of the ships, it's becoming a bit of a mixed story. Whereas the last two, three years, we didn't see any new building orders for crude oil tankers, and the order book was very low. We have seen an uptick in the order book over the last six months, also a little bit last year. The Suez Max order book to fleet now stands at 19%, the VLCC order book to fleet at 14%.
Speaker #5: So, there will be more oil. More oil means more storage, and more oil should also mean lower prices, which could be very supportive for our tanker markets.
Speaker #5: If we're looking at the vessel side, so the supply side of the ships, it's becoming a bit of a mixed story. Whereas the last two to three years, we didn't see any new building orders for crude oil tankers, and the order book was very low.
Speaker #5: We have seen an uptick in the order book over the last six months, also a little bit last year. The Suezmax order book to fleet now stands at 19%.
Speaker #5: The VLCC order book to fleet is at 14%. In the short term, we still see that there are very few ships coming to the market, but as of the second half of next year, we will see a pickup and more vessels coming to the market.
Alexander Saverys: In the short term, we still see that there's very few ships coming to the market, but as from the second half of next year, we will see a pickup and more vessels coming to the market. That contrasts a bit with a more fundamental analysis of the age of the fleet and the scrapping and recycling potential. When we look at the age of the fleet by 2030, 40% of VLCCs and 40% of existing Suez Maxes will be older than 20 years. There's a lot of potential to scrap and recycle vessels. It will be interesting to see in the next couple of months how the slightly increased order book will match with potential recycling and whether that will be in balance. Of course, we need to talk about dry bulk as well. Bossimaar, our dry bulk division, has become our biggest division.
Speaker #5: That contrasts a bit with a more fundamental analysis of the age of the fleet and the scrapping and recycling potential. When we look at the age of the fleet by 2030, 40% of VLCCs and 40% of existing Suezmaxes will be older than 20 years.
Speaker #5: So there's a lot of potential to scrap and recycle vessels. It will be interesting to see in the next couple of months how the slightly increased order book will match with potential recycling and whether that will be in balance.
Speaker #5: Of course, we need to talk about dryboat as well. Bosimar, our dryboat division, has become our biggest division. The picture you see on this slide is not a picture of a ship, but the picture of the very first ammonia engine that will be installed on one of our new Castle Maxes beginning of next year.
Alexander Saverys: The picture you see on this slide is not a picture of a ship, but the picture of the very first ammonia engine that will be installed on one of our Newcastle Maxes beginning of next year. In Bossimaar, we've split it for this quarter in two between CMB.TECH and Joris Ocean because it was, of course, a transition quarter. On the CMB.TECH side, we have 17 super eco Newcastle Maxes on the water, another 11 that need to deliver. We achieved a time charter equivalent to our fleet of $23,000 net, and Q3 TCE to date stands at $28,000 net. On the Joris Ocean side, we're talking about 89 vessels on the water. It's 18 Nukes, 41 Capes, and the rest are Kamzar Maxes and Panamaxes. We achieved in the second quarter for the Newcastle Maxes $18,500 a day. Q3 to date sits at $23,500.
Speaker #5: So, in Bosimar, we've split this quarter into two segments: CMB.TECH and NV Q1, because it was, of course, a transition quarter. On the CMB.TECH side, we have 17 Super Eco new Castle Maxes on the water.
Speaker #5: Another 11 that need to deliver. We achieved a time charter equivalent (TCE) through our fleet of $23,000 net. Q3 TCE to date stands at $28,000 net.
Speaker #5: On the NV Q1 side, we're talking about 89 vessels on the water. It's 18 nukes, 41 capes, and the rest are Kamsar Maxes and Panamaxes.
Speaker #5: We achieved in second quarter for the new Castle Maxes 18 and a half thousand dollars a day. Q3 to date sits at 23 and a half thousand dollars.
Speaker #5: And for the Kamzar Maxes and Panamaxes, the number is 10 and a half and 13 and a half. NV Q1 sold three vessels recently, the Golden Keen and Golden Ionara.
Alexander Saverys: For the Kamzar Maxes and Panamaxes, the number is $10,500 and $13,500. Joris Ocean sold three vessels recently, the Golden Kane and Golden Ionari, as Ludovic said already, were delivered to their new owners, and the Golden Zhusan will deliver in Q4. Indicators on dry bulk on the right side of the slide, a lot of green indicators. On the demand side, we see the China steel mill utilization, which is good. Steel inventories have come off tremendously, which is usually a good sign for extra demand. Iron ore inventories are down as well. Iron ore imports, on the other hand, are starting to increase. Brazil and Australia exports on iron ore are also up. The only negative, and then specifically for China, is that the coal imports are down by 8%. Fleet supply, we are looking at a number of a fleet increasing of 2% to 3%.
Speaker #5: Ionari, as Ludovic said already, were delivered to their new owners, and the Golden Zushan will deliver in Q4. Indicators on dryboat, on the right side of the slide, show a lot of green indicators.
Speaker #5: On the demand side, we see the China steel mill utilization, which is good. Steel inventories have come off tremendously, which is usually a good sign for extra demand.
Speaker #5: Iron ore inventories are down as well. Iron ore imports, on the other hand, are starting to increase. And then Brazil and Australia, and I'll talk about that in a second, exports on iron ore are also up.
Speaker #5: The only negative, and then specifically for China, is that the coal imports are down, are down by 8%. Fleet supply, we are looking at a number of a fleet increasing of two to 3%.
Speaker #5: Looking at the long-term dryboat market attractiveness, you can see on the supply side, the left side of the slide, that we are way below historical averages in terms of deliveries.
Alexander Saverys: Looking at the long-term dry bulk market attractiveness, you can see on the supply side, the left side of the slide, that we are way below historical averages in terms of deliveries today, but also in the next couple of years. Average age of the fleet is high. We're at close to 12 years. Order book of 9.4% is low. When we look at the fleet composition, you see that there are already 113 Capes that are older than 20 years. Another 500 will turn 20 years in five years from now versus 150 Capes on order. This is all very supportive. There are some extra elements that are supporting the supply story. One is that 500 Capes need to dry dock in 2025, 2026, and 2027. That's basically, on an annualized basis, 2% of capacity that is taken out of the markets in these years.
Speaker #5: Today, but also in the next couple of years. The average age of the fleet is high; we're at close to 12 years. The order book of 9.4% is low.
Speaker #5: And when we look at the fleet composition, you see that there are already 113 Capes that are older than 20 years. Another 500 will turn 20 years in five years from now.
Speaker #5: Versus 150 capes on order. So this is all very supportive. There are some extra elements that are supporting the supply story. One is that 500 capes need to dry dock in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Speaker #5: That's basically on an annualized basis, 2% of capacity that is taken out of the markets in these years. And then a recurring theme: the environmental legislation, which is becoming more stringent, will definitely impact Cape size and Newcastle Max speed and availability.
Alexander Saverys: A recurring theme, the environmental legislation, which is becoming more stringent, will definitely impact Cape Size and Newcastle Maxis speed and availability. When we look at the demand side, we see that iron ore in China domestically, the production is going down, meaning that the Chinese are importing more iron ore. We see extra supply of iron ore coming on stream in areas in Australia, Brazil, and of course, Guinea, which we have discussed in previous calls already, with an iron ore price which is still very much supported. If we look at that, there's still a positive sentiment for the global mining of iron ore. Adding to the demand side, we have the bauxite story, and I have a slide on that in a second, and also the grain, which are positive and show very healthy growth numbers. Here you see a slide on Brazilian iron ore trade.
Speaker #5: When we look at the demand side, we see that iron ore production in China is going down, meaning that the Chinese are importing more iron ore.
Speaker #5: We see extra supply of iron ore coming on stream in areas in Australia, Brazil, and, of course, Guinea. Which we have discussed in previous calls already.
Speaker #5: With an iron ore price, which is still very much supported. So if we look at that, there is still a positive sentiment for the global mining of iron ore.
Speaker #5: Adding to the demand side, we have the bauxite story. I have a slide on that in a second. Also, the grain segment shows positive trends and very healthy growth numbers.
Speaker #5: Here you see a slide on Brazilian iron ore trade. What we wanted to highlight here is showing that the seasonality, with the bad weather, of course always impacts iron ore exports out of the Atlantic.
Alexander Saverys: What we wanted to highlight here is showing that the seasonality with the bad weather, of course, always impacts iron ore exports out of the Atlantic. Now that the bad weather should be behind us, we will see an uptick in iron ore volumes coming out of Brazil. Even with the bad weather, we did see numbers that are at five-year highs. That's definitely supporting our markets. I think the same thing can be said on the Pacific iron ore. We have shown some more data on specific producers like BHP and FMG. When we look at what they have already produced and what they have as targets for the year, this should definitely be supportive for our market and has already supported the market in recent months, as you have seen with rates increasing.
Speaker #5: But now that the bad weather should be behind us, we will see an uptick in iron ore volumes coming out of Brazil. Even with the bad weather, we did see numbers that are at five-year highs.
Speaker #5: So, that's definitely supporting our markets. The same thing can be said about the Pacific iron ore. We have shown some more data on specific producers like BHP and FMG.
Speaker #5: When we look at what they have already produced and what they have as targets for the year, this should definitely be supportive for our market and has already supported the market in recent months, as you have seen with rates increasing.
Speaker #5: And then on Guinea, I think this will definitely be a theme that we will discuss in every quarterly call. Because we had the bauxite trade, which was already very important for the Capesize and Newcastle Max market.
Alexander Saverys: On Guinea, I think this will definitely be a theme that we will discuss in every quarterly call because we had the bauxite trade, which was already very important for the Cape Size and Newcastle Maxis market. We will add to that, hopefully, end of this year and definitely next year, all the iron ore volumes coming from Simandu. Also very supportive. This, as you know, from a ton mile perspective, is definitely supportive for the Cape Size story. Coal and grain, so negative on coal, positive on grain. You can see that the stock inventories in China are at record highs for the last five years. The Chinese are producing more coal domestically, also more coal coming from Mongolia. There's less Chinese coal being imported as we speak today.
Speaker #5: And we will add to that, hopefully by the end of this year and definitely next year, all the iron ore volumes coming from Simandou. This, as you know, from a ton-mile perspective, is definitely supportive for the Cape Size story.
Speaker #5: Coal and grain: negative on coal, positive on grain. You can see that the stock inventories in China are at record highs for the last five years.
Speaker #5: The Chinese are producing more coal domestically, and there is also more coal coming from Mongolia. As a result, there is less Chinese coal being imported as we speak today.
Speaker #5: The story globally is a little bit more positive. But overall, coal trade—seaborne coal—this year will have a contraction. On the grain trade, we are seeing positive numbers.
Alexander Saverys: The story globally is a little bit more positive, but overall, coal trade, seaborne coal this year will have a contraction. On the grain trade, we are seeing positive numbers. Even though technically it does not affect our Capes and Newcastle Maxis directly, it does affect them indirectly through the Kamzar Maxis and Panamax market. Of course, very important for our Kamzar Maxis and Panamaxis that we have from Joris Ocean. I want to move to the container division. Not a lot to be said on the container division in terms of the activities of Delphis because, as you know, our fleet is fully fixed. We are waiting for the delivery of one more new building next year in July.
Speaker #5: And even though technically it does not affect our Capes and Newcastle Maxes directly, it does affect them indirectly through the Kamzar Max and Panamax market.
Speaker #5: And of course, very important for our Kamzar Maxes and Panamaxes that we have from NV Q1. I want to move to the container division.
Speaker #5: Not a lot to be said on the container division in terms of the activities of Delphis. Because, as you know, our fleet is fully fixed.
Speaker #5: We are waiting for the delivery of one more new building next year in July. What I can say about the market is that we see a clear softening trend in the spot freight rates.
Alexander Saverys: What I can say about the market is that we see a clear softening trend on the spot freight rates, even though the time charter market is still very well supported. What we like a little bit less about the container market is the high order book, but that doesn't mean that we will not look at new projects with some of our close customers because there is still demand for certain sizes, specifically the feeder sizes. On the chemical tanker side, we have a fleet today of six vessels on the water. We have another two chemical tankers delivering to us in the next couple of weeks and months. In 2026, we take delivery of two bitumen tankers. In 2028 and 2029, we will take delivery of our ammonia ready and ammonia fitted chemical tankers with our long-term time charters.
Speaker #5: Even though the time charter market is still very well supported, what we like a little bit less about the container market is the high order book.
Speaker #5: But that doesn't mean that we will not look at new projects with some of our close customers because there is still demand for certain sizes, specifically the feeder sizes.
Speaker #5: On the chemical tanker side, we have a fleet today of six vessels on the water. We have another two chemical tankers delivering to us in the next couple of weeks and months.
Speaker #5: And then in 2026, we take delivery of two bitumen tankers. In 2028 and 2029, we will take delivery of our ammonia-ready and ammonia-fitted chemical tankers with our long-term time charters.
Speaker #5: As you know, most of our chemical tankers are fixed long-term. We have only two ships that are operating on the spot market through the pool.
Alexander Saverys: As you know, most of our chemical tankers are fixed long term. We have only two ships that are operating on the spot market through the pool. You can see the results in the pool in the second quarter were very satisfactory. We're at $22,000. The number you see for the third quarter was for the month of July. Meanwhile, rates have been ticking up a little bit higher. We're expecting Q3 to come in higher than that number. The big element on the chemical tanker markets will be what the MRs will do and how the MR and chemical tanker markets will relate to each other. Ending with our offshore wind division and Windcut, you see a beautiful picture of our Windcut Rotterdam. For some of you who are dialing in who were in Singapore yesterday, we have officially introduced and presented the Windcut Rotterdam to the broader public.
Speaker #5: And you can see the results in the pool in the second quarter were very satisfactory. We're at $22,000. The number you see for the third quarter was for the month of July.
Speaker #5: But meanwhile, rates have been ticking up a little bit higher, so we're expecting Q3 to come in higher than that number. The big element in the chemical tanker markets will be what the MRs will do and how the MR and chemical tanker markets will relate to each other.
Speaker #5: Ending with our offshore wind division and Wind Cut. You see a beautiful picture of our Wind Cut in Rotterdam. For some of you who are dialing in who were in Singapore yesterday, we have officially introduced and presented the Wind Cut Rotterdam to the broader public.
Speaker #5: That is our very first CSOV on the water, with another five to come. Activities in wind are cut. We have 56 CTVs on the water, and another seven are on order.
Alexander Saverys: That is our very first CSLV on the water with another five to come. Activities in Windcut, we have 56 CTVs on the water. Another seven are on order. Our CSLVs, as I just said, we have one delivered and five that are coming. We see the market on offshore wind, oil, and gas as healthy. We haven't seen the typical decline towards the end of the summer. The market is still very much okay as we speak. Our utilizations were very good. You can see the numbers that we have achieved both on time charters and what our breakeven rates are. On the CSLVs, we are seeing interest both from offshore wind projects, but also of oil and gas projects that need good and modern vessels to support their operations. We are expecting this trend to continue in the following months. This is a summary.
Speaker #5: Our CSOVs, as I just said, we have one delivered and five that are coming. We see the market in offshore wind, oil, and gas as healthy.
Speaker #5: We haven't seen the typical decline towards the end of summer. The market is still very much okay as we speak. Our utilizations have been very good, and you can see the numbers that we have achieved both on time charters and what our breakeven rates are.
Speaker #5: On the CSOVs, we are seeing interest both from offshore wind projects and oil and gas projects that need good and modern vessels to support their operations.
Speaker #5: And we are expecting this trend to continue in the following months. This is a summary; we are positive on tankers and dry bulk. This is also where our biggest spot exposure stands.
Alexander Saverys: We are positive on tankers and dry bulk. This is also where our biggest spot exposure stands. We are cautious. That has not changed compared to the last quarter on containers and chemicals. That does not mean that we will not look at projects, but we will make sure that these projects then are secured with time charters. On offshore wind, we are still very positive. There's still a lot of capacity being built. We see healthy demand in that market. To conclude, we discussed our numbers. Our loss in the second quarter, the blended loss between CMB.TECH NV and Joris Ocean was $7.6 million. Very important and very happy and satisfied that we could complete the Joris Ocean merger last week. We have our three listings, so very happy that we now have one more reason to go to Oslo. We have declared an interim dividend of $0.05.
Speaker #5: We are cautious that has not changed compared to the last quarter on containers and chemicals. That does not mean that we will not look at projects, but we will make sure that these projects are then secured with time charters.
Speaker #5: And that on offshore wind, we are still very positive. There's still a lot of capacity being built, and we see healthy demand in that market.
Speaker #5: To conclude, we discussed our numbers. Our loss in the second quarter, the blended loss between CMB.TECH and NV Q1, was $7.6 million. Very important, and I am very happy and satisfied that we could complete the NV Q1 merger last week.
Speaker #5: We have our three listings, so we are very happy that we now have one more reason to go to Oslo. Additionally, we have declared an interim dividend of $0.05.
Speaker #5: Our portfolio stands, as you know, with our contract backlog, with our modern fleet, and, very importantly, with our decarbonization optionality providing additional upside potential for our earnings.
Alexander Saverys: Our portfolio stands, as you know, with our contract backlog, with our modern fleet, and very important with our decarbonization optionality, providing additional upside potential for our earnings. Looking ahead, we are positive for tankers and dry. We have our long-term contracts and future-proofed tonnage that is gaining further traction. On the chemical and container markets, as you know, we have covered most of our exposure. We've added a slide with our new built delivery fleet list, 44 or 45 vessels with all the delivery dates. You can go through that at your leisure, but it's still a significant fleet to be delivered in the following quarters. With that, I would like to end this part and hand it over to Enya for the Q&A.
Speaker #5: Looking ahead, we are positive for tankers and dry bulk. We have our long-term contracts and future-proof tonnage that is gaining further traction. As for the chemical and container markets, as you know, we have covered most of our exposure.
Speaker #5: We've added a slide with our new built delivery fleet list: 44 or 45 vessels with all the delivery dates. You can go through that at your leisure.
Speaker #5: But it's still a significant fleet to be delivered in the following quarters. And with that, I would like to end this part and hand it over to Enya for the Q&A.
Speaker #3: Yes, thank you, Alexander. If you would like to ask a question, please raise your hand. Mary can get us to introduce yourself in a minute before asking your question.
Enya Derkinderen: Yes, thank you, Alexander. If you would like to ask a question, please raise your hand. Maybe you can be asked to introduce yourself and unmute before asking your question. If you can't unmute, you can also use the Q&A section to ask your question. If you are dialing in with a telephone, you can type STAR5 to raise your hand and STAR6 to unmute. If you still have any follow-up questions, you can always send an email to Joris with his contact details on the slides. We will now open the floor for questions. I see Evan Kolsgaard wants to ask a question. You can now unmute and ask your question, please.
Speaker #3: If you can't unmute, you can also use the Q&A section to ask your question. If you are dialing in with a telephone, then you can type *5 to raise your hand and *6 to unmute.
Speaker #3: And if you still have any follow-up questions, you can always send an email to Joris Daman, with his contact details on the slides. Then we will now open the floor for questions.
Speaker #3: I see Evan Kolskard wants to ask a question. You can now unmute and ask your question, please.
Speaker #6: Thank you. So, Evan Kolskard, trucks and securities. Starting with the dividend, I think some were quite surprised that you're reinitiating dividends. So, how should we interpret that dividend payment?
Evan Kolsgaard: Thank you. Evan Kolsgaard, Tarkston Securities. Starting with the dividend, I think someone was quite surprised that you're reinitiating dividends. How should we interpret that dividend payment? Is it primarily intended to satisfy the Joris Ocean shareholders, or is it something that we could see more of in the next coming quarters, like a recurring dividend of $0.05 per share?
Speaker #6: Is it primarily intended to satisfy the NV Q1 channel shareholders, or is it something that we could see more of in the coming quarters, like a recurring dividend of $0.05 per share?
Speaker #5: Yeah, thanks, Evan. I'll take that question, Alex. I think the board has decided that we wanted to pay a dividend. We will do that every quarter and analyze basically our balance sheets, our P&L, our cash flow needs, and then decide how we can reward our shareholders.
Ludovic Saverys: Yeah, thanks, Evan. I'll take that question, Alex. I think this is the board that decided that we wanted to pay a dividend. We will do that every quarter and then analyze basically our balance sheet, our P&L, our cash flow needs, and then decide how we can reward our shareholders or also continue to invest in new buildings or other opportunities. It is not that we have now a fixed $0.05 payout initiated. We have a full discretionary policy, but as previously said on earnings calls, we like dividends. We have paid them quite a lot in the previous quarters. Now we believe after the merger that we can pay this $0.05 dividend for the Q2 results.
Speaker #5: Or we may also continue to invest in new buildings or other opportunities. So it is not that we have now a fixed $0.05 payout initiated.
Speaker #5: We have a full discretionary policy, but as previously mentioned on earnings calls, we like dividends. We have paid them quite a lot in the previous quarters.
Speaker #5: And now we believe that after the merger, we can pay this $0.05 dividend for the Q2 results.
Speaker #6: Okay, thanks. And over to more of a strategy question. So you've finished the NV Q1 merger. So what do you think will be the focus for the company in the next few quarters?
Evan Kolsgaard: Okay, thanks. Over to more of a strategic question. You've finished the Joris Ocean merger. What do you think will be the focus for the company in the next few quarters? You've gotten a large tanker fleet and a dry bulk fleet. Are there any of the other segments that you're looking to do some things about, or is it just business as usual, selling assets and ordering new ones if you find great opportunities?
Speaker #6: Because you've gotten a large tanker fleet and the dry bulk fleet. Are there any other segments that you're looking to do something about, or is it just business as usual, selling assets and ordering new ones if you find great opportunities?
Speaker #5: Well, it's going to be indeed business as usual. We have five divisions that we like a lot. If we see opportunities in the five divisions, we will take them.
Ludovic Saverys: It is going to be indeed business as usual. We have five divisions that we like a lot. If we see opportunities in the five divisions, we will take them. Of course, the focus will also be to integrate this fleet properly. A lot of work needs to be done now operationally, technically, making sure that all our platforms can be put together. Evan, with the size that we have and the scope that we have, if there are any good large opportunities that we see, we will definitely investigate it.
Speaker #5: Of course, the focus will also be to integrate this fleet properly. A lot of work needs to be done now operationally and technically, making sure that all our platforms can be put together.
Speaker #5: But Evan, with the size that we have and the scope that we have, if there are any good large opportunities that we see, we will definitely investigate it.
Speaker #6: Okay, thank you. That's all from me.
Evan Kolsgaard: Okay, thank you. That's all from me.
Speaker #3: Then moving on to Krista somewhere. You may now unmute and ask your question, please.
Enya Derkinderen: Moving on to Kristof Samoy. You may now unmute and ask your question, please.
Speaker #7: Yeah, good afternoon Krista from our KBC securities. Thank you for taking my questions. Maybe first for Ludovic, is there something you can share some more detail you can share regarding the timing of the ongoing refinancing post-merger with NV Q1?
Kristof Samoy: Yeah, good afternoon, Kristof Samoy, KBC Securities. Thank you for taking my questions. Maybe first for Ludovic. Is there something you can share, some more detail you can share regarding the timing of the ongoing refinancing post-merger with Joris Ocean? Any insights there you could share regarding target LTVs and potential change in covenant structure? A second question, maybe for Alexander. What's your take? How do you gauge the U.S. presidential action against the expected stricter greenhouse gas rules of the IMO? Do you see already impacts on your pipeline for potential long-term charter conclusions, in particular for dry bulk? Finally, on SG&A, could you give like a normal quarterly run rate, excluding deal emergencies going forward for the pro forma group? Thank you.
Speaker #7: Any insights there you could share regarding target LTVs and potential changes in provenance structure? And then, second question, maybe for Alexander. What's your take?
Speaker #7: How do you gauge the U.S. presidential action against the expected stricter greenhouse gas rules of the IMO? And do you see any impact on your pipeline for potential long-term charter conclusions, particularly for dry bulk?
Speaker #7: And then finally on SGMA, could you give a normal quarterly run rate, excluding deal and merger fees, going forward for the pro forma group?
Speaker #7: Thank you.
Speaker #5: Yeah, great. Thanks, Krista. I'll start with the refinancing. So, we have refinanced the whole NV Q1 fleet. We had refinanced the former tanker fleet when we did the last M&A a year and a half ago.
Ludovic Saverys: Yeah, great. Thanks, Christoph. I'll start with the refinancing. We have refinanced the whole Joris Ocean fleet. We had refinanced the former tanker fleet when we did the last M&A on the Euronav. All the new building files and the modern vessels, we have roughly 8 to 10 facilities on bilateral or club deals, smaller sizes. All of these have been concluded. As I mentioned, on the remaining CapEx of the $1.86 billion, actually $1.6 billion has been signed or is being implemented on the ships. The heavy lifting on the financing and the refinancing of our fleet has been done. That is good. We have aligned a new set of covenants together with our banks, where we are stepping away from the book equity on total assets, which was relatively sharp, as you've seen in the last earnings releases, to a value-adjusted equity.
Speaker #5: All the new building files and the modern vessels we have roughly 8 to 10 facilities on bilateral or club deals of smaller sizes. So all of these have been concluded.
Speaker #5: And as I mentioned, of the remaining CapEx of $1.86 billion, actually $1.6 billion has been signed or is being implemented on the ships. So, the heavy lifting on the financing and the refinancing of our fleet has been done.
Speaker #5: So that is good. We have aligned a new set of covenants together with our banks. Where we are stepping away from the book equity on total assets.
Speaker #5: Which was relatively sharp, as you've seen in the last earnings releases. To a value-adjusted equity. So that has been implemented already throughout all the facilities.
Ludovic Saverys: That has been implemented already throughout all the facilities, except for the Norwegian bonds for the moment. That is on the financings. We're all set there. On the SG&A, just to pick up on the last question you asked to Alexander, obviously, our SG&A has grown by the growth of the sheer size of the company. There is obviously some exceptional costs that we have had with the prolonged M&A activity in the last three years due to legal fees, financial advisory fees, refinancing fees as well play in there. To give an actual run rate, the only sensible question answer I can give is it's going to be lower than what we see today in the second quarter.
Speaker #5: Except for the Norwegian bonds for the moment. So that is on the financings. We're all set there. On the SGMA, just to pick up on the last question you asked to Alexander.
Speaker #5: Obviously, our SG&A has grown due to the sheer size of the company. However, there are some exceptional costs that we have incurred from the prolonged M&A activity over the last three years.
Speaker #5: Due to legal fees, financial advisory fees, refinancing fees as well. Play in there. To give an actual run rate, the only sensible question answer I can give is it's going to be lower than what we see today in the second quarter.
Speaker #5: But as Alex mentioned, that has taken the time now in the next six months. To put all the platforms together, not just run them operationally to as well run platforms, sorry.
Ludovic Saverys: As Alex mentioned, let us take the time now in the next six months to put all the platforms together, not just run them operationally as a well-run platform, sorry, but also see where we can optimize the costs on SG&A. On President Trump, thank you very much, Christoph, for asking easy questions. You read in the press. What I read is that apparently U.S. interests will try to pressure people to vote against what we call the IMO 2028 regulations of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is very, very difficult to analyze today or to say something sensible about what the impact is going to be in October because this is, of course, a political game. There are more than 170 countries that can vote in the IMO.
Speaker #5: But also see where we can optimize the costs on SGMA.
Speaker #6: And then on President Trump, thank you very much, Krista, for asking easy questions. Look, you read in the press what I read. Apparently, U.S. interests will try to pressure people to vote against what we call the IMO 2028 regulations.
Speaker #6: Of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is very, very difficult to analyze today or to say something sensible about what the impact is going to be in October.
Speaker #6: Because this is of course a political game. But there's more than 170 countries that can vote in the IMO. Last time around it was voted with a small group of countries because a lot of people did not attend the vote.
Ludovic Saverys: Last time around, it was voted with a small group of countries because a lot of people did not attend the vote. This time, they all need to attend. The jury's out. It could go both ways. I would not interpret the resistance by the U.S. as it is not going to go through. There are a lot of different interests at play in the IMO. We still think there's a very good chance that this regulation will indeed pass, but we'll know beginning October whether it did or did not. Impact on our customers, I have to say that people that we are talking to about ammonia and hydrogen powered ships have not changed their view since President Trump came out in opposition of the IMO regulations. That has not changed.
Speaker #6: This time they all need to attend. The jury's out. It could go both ways. But I would not interpret the resistance by the US as it is not going to go through.
Speaker #6: There's a lot of different interests at play in the IMO. So, we still think there's a very good chance that this regulation will indeed pass.
Speaker #6: But we'll know beginning October. Whether it did or did not. Impact on our customers. I have to say that people that we are talking to about ammonia and hydrogen powered ships have not changed their view since President Trump came out in opposition of the IMO regulations.
Speaker #6: So that has not changed.
Speaker #5: It would actually be the opposite. If the IMO were to go through in October, this would be a catalyst for us to have renewed and higher interest in long-term charging opportunities.
Ludovic Saverys: It would actually be the opposite where if the IMO would go through in October, this will be a catalyst for us to have renewed and higher interest for long-term charging opportunities.
Speaker #6: Okay. Thank you. No further questions.
Kristof Samoy: Okay. Thank you. No further questions.
Speaker #5: Thanks.
Ludovic Saverys: Thanks.
Speaker #3: Okay, then Timo. Molens, you can unmute and ask your question now, please.
Enya Derkinderen: Okay. Timo Mullens, you can unmute and ask your question now, please.
Speaker #6: Hi, good afternoon and thank you for taking my questions. Following up on Evan's question, I also wanted to ask a bit about your fleet composition.
Timo Mullens: Hi, good afternoon, and thank you for taking my questions. Following up on Even's question, I also wanted to ask a bit about your fleet composition. Joris Ocean had a generally modern fleet, but the merger has also added some middle-aged Panamaxes and Capesizes. Could you talk a bit about your stance towards those vessels as well as to the older tankers already in your fleet? Should we expect the sale of a significant number of those assets over the coming quarters?
Speaker #6: NV Q1 had a generally modern fleet. However, the merger has also added some middle-aged Panamaxes and Cape sizes. Could you talk a bit about your stance towards those vessels, as well as the older tankers already in your fleet?
Speaker #6: Should we expect the sale of a significant number of those assets over the coming quarters?
Speaker #5: Well, as you know, we want to operate a modern fleet. So fleet rejuvenation will always be part of our strategy. If we see a good price for an older vessel, we will sell it.
Ludovic Saverys: As you know, we want to operate a modern fleet. Fleet rejuvenation will always be part of our strategy. If we see a good price for an older vessel, we will sell it. If we see interesting new building opportunities, we will go for it. If we see good modern second-hand tonnage, we will go for it as well. The thing I always say when we talk about this is this will not be done at any cost at any time. We will look at the price. We will look at where we are in the cycle. We will look at the counterparts. You saw that we just recently sold the Suez Maxis of 15 years old at $40 million. That is for us a very sound deal to do because it rejuvenates our fleets, but we're also getting a very interesting amount of money for that vessel.
Speaker #5: If we see interesting new building opportunities, we will go for it. If we see good modern second-hand tonnage, we will go for it as well.
Speaker #5: The thing I always say when we talk about this is that this will not be done at any cost at any time. We will look at the price.
Speaker #5: We will look at where we are in the cycle. We will look at the counterparts. You saw that we just recently sold the Suezmax of 15 years old.
Speaker #5: At $40 million, that is, for us, a very sound deal to do. Because it rejuvenates our fleet, but we're also getting a very interesting amount of money for that vessel.
Speaker #5: In short, Clement, if I can say, we like to operate a modern fleet. The older vessels in the NV Q1 fleet could be for sale.
Ludovic Saverys: In short, Clement, if I can say, we like to operate a modern fleet. The older vessels in the Joris Ocean fleet could be for sale, but not at any price. We are not going to set a target or a timeline on that.
Speaker #5: But not at any price. And we are not going to set a target or a timeline on that.
Speaker #6: Makes sense. Thanks for the color. And I also wanted to ask about the contract you signed with Fortescu for an ammonia powered new Castle Max.
Timo Mullens: Makes sense. Thanks for the cover. I also wanted to ask about the contract you signed with Fortescue for an ammonia-powered Newcastle Maxis. Should we expect the vessel to burn ammonia since the get-go? To what extent is the infrastructure for bunkering already there?
Speaker #6: Should we expect the vessel to burn ammonia since the get-go? To what extent is there infrastructure for bunkering already there?
Speaker #5: Good question. Which I cannot answer right now. We are working very hard to make sure that we can bunker the first vessels that are coming out of the yard.
Ludovic Saverys: Good question, which I cannot answer right now. We are working very hard to make sure that we can bunker the first vessels that are coming out of the yard. As soon as we have news on that, we will make that public. It is our aim to have that ship powered by ammonia. It's also Fortescue's aim to have the vessel powered by ammonia. A lot will depend whether the molecules will be available and whether the bunkering operation can work. We think it can, but it's a little bit too early to confirm that already set in stone today.
Speaker #5: As soon as we have news on that, we will make that public. But it is our aim. To have that ship powered by ammonia.
Speaker #5: It's also FMGs or Fortescue's aim to have the vessel powered by ammonia. A lot will depend whether the molecules will be available and whether the bunkering operation can work.
Speaker #5: We think it can. But it’s a little bit too early to confirm that it is already set in stone today.
Speaker #6: Makes sense. That's all from me. I'll turn it over. Thank you for taking my questions.
Timo Mullens: Makes sense. That's all for me. I'll turn it over. Thank you for taking my questions.
Speaker #5: Thank you.
Ludovic Saverys: Thank you.
Speaker #3: And then, Axel Stierman, you can now unmute and ask your question, please.
Enya Derkinderen: Axel Sturman, you can now unmute and ask your question, please.
Speaker #6: Thank you. Axel Stierman from Kepner Schebber. I have two questions. Regarding the growth in the iron ore volumes from Africa, in particular from during 26 and 27.
Axel Sturman: Thank you. Axel Sturman from Capital Shipper. I have two questions regarding the growth in the iron ore volumes from Africa, in particular during 2026 and 2027. Do you expect these volumes to replace existing volumes? If so, from where? The second question relates to potential share buybacks, given that the stock is trading at a significant discount to the net asset value. Is this something you consider? Thank you.
Speaker #6: Do you expect these volumes to replace existing volumes? And if so, from where? Second question relates to potential share buybacks, given that the stock is trading at a significant discount to the net asset value.
Speaker #6: This is something you consider? Thank you.
Speaker #5: Okay, I'll take your first question and hand it over to Ludovic for the second one. So do we think the iron ore volumes will replace other volumes?
Ludovic Saverys: Okay, I'll take your first question. I'll hand it over to Ludovic for the second one. Do we think the iron ore volumes will replace other volumes? The answer, if the market is not good, probably yes. If the market is supportive, I think all the volumes that we have sketched in our presentation can live next to one another. The price of iron ore will be an interesting element to follow, whether the Guinea volumes will push out, for instance, Brazilian volumes, or will compete with Australian volumes. So far, what we are expecting, and it's not only us, but also the analysts, is that this will be a net positive for our market.
Speaker #5: The answer, if the market is not good, probably yes. If the market is supportive, I think all the volumes that we have sketched in our presentation can live next to one another.
Speaker #5: So the price of iron ore will be an interesting element to follow. Whether the Guinea volumes will push out, for instance, Brazilian volumes or will compete with Australian volumes.
Speaker #5: So far, what we are expecting, and it's not only us, but also the analysts, is that this will be a net positive for our market.
Speaker #5: Yes, and on the share buyback question, Axel, share buybacks are one tool to reward shareholders and our different way of distribution. However, we have to say, in every big merger, there is a natural rotation of capital.
Timo Mullens: Yes, and on the share buyback question, Axel, share buybacks are one tool to reward shareholders and are a different way of distribution. However, we have to say, in every big merger, there is a natural rotation of capital, where you had maybe previous Joris Ocean shareholders, previous CMB.TECH shareholders that take a position and rotate their share register. We will always analyze this, but for us, the most important is that we have closed the merger. We have given certainty to all our shareholders now of the way to go. We will let now a couple of quarters let the number do the talking, see what operational leverage that we have as a company, how we can integrate all the fleets, enjoy the positioning that we have on the tanker and dry bulk markets. Like always, the value will start floating up.
Speaker #5: Where you had maybe previous NV Q1 shareholders, previous CMB shareholders, CMBTECH shareholders that take a position and rotate their share register. So we will always analyze this, but for us the most important is that we have closed the merger.
Speaker #5: We have given certainty to all our shareholders now of the way to go. And we will let, over the next couple of quarters, let the numbers do the talking.
Speaker #5: See what operational leverage that we have as a company. How we can integrate all the fleets. Enjoy the positioning that we have on the tanker and dryboat markets.
Speaker #5: And then, like always, a value will start floating up. But share buyback is always one of the possibilities.
Timo Mullens: Share buyback is always one of the possibilities.
Speaker #6: Thank you. No further questions.
Axel Sturman: Thank you. No further questions.
Speaker #3: I don't see anyone raising their hand anymore, and there are also no questions in the Q&A. Daniela de Lorenzo, you can now unmute and ask your question.
Enya Derkinderen: I don't see anyone raising their hand anymore, and there are also no questions in the Q&A. Daniela De Lorenzo, you can now unmute and ask your question. Hi, hello. Daniela De Lorenzo from ShippingWatch. Happy to see you coming to Oslo next time. I had a question in regard to the shadow fleets in relation to the slide on the midterm tanker market. I just wanted to know how you factor the shadow fleet when it comes to the scrapping. What do you think is going to be the result on the supply-side and demand? Thank you.
Speaker #7: Hi, hello. Daniela de Lorenzo from Shipping Watch. Happy to see you coming to Oslo then, next time. I had a question in regard to the shadow fleets in relation to the slide on the mid-term tanker market.
Speaker #7: I just wanted to know how do you factor the shadow fleet when it comes to the scrapping? What do you think is going to what do you think is going to be the results on the supply side demand and demand?
Speaker #7: Thank you.
Speaker #5: Thanks, Daniela. The short answer is we would like to see this shadow fleet disappear from the market as soon as possible. First, they are involved in an illegal trade.
Ludovic Saverys: Thanks, Daniela. The short answer is we would like to see this shadow fleet disappear from the market as soon as possible. First, they are involved in an illegal trade. Second, they are very old, and questions can be asked about the maintenance and the insurance of these vessels. Clearly, the sooner this shadow fleet disappears from the market, the better for us. We have to be realistic. We know about a shadow fleet since many, many years, even before the Russia-Ukraine war. You see that it is very difficult to push these ships out of our market. They are there. They have actually, over the last couple of years, cannibalized the white market or the official market. I think it would be naive to think that these ships will disappear overnight.
Speaker #5: Second, they are very old. Questions can be asked about the maintenance and the insurance of these vessels. So clearly, the sooner this shadow fleet disappears from the market, the better for us.
Speaker #5: But we have to be realistic. We have known about the shadow fleet for many, many years, even before the Russia-Ukraine war. You see that it is very difficult to push these ships out of our market.
Speaker #5: They are there. They have actually over the last couple of years cannibalized the white market or the official market. And so I think it would be naive to think that these ships will disappear overnight.
Speaker #5: One thing which is working to our advantage, I would say, is that these ships have been under sanctions now for a very long time.
Ludovic Saverys: One thing which is working to our advantage, I would say, is that these ships have been under sanctions now for a very long time and will become increasingly more difficult to operate just because of out-of-maintenance reasons, insurance reasons, and breakdowns that will eventually happen. Are we counting on it now? Are we hoping for them to disappear quickly? Yes. I hope that answers your question.
Speaker #5: And will become increasingly more difficult to operate. Just because of out-of-maintenance reasons. Insurance reasons. And breakdowns that will eventually happen. Our accounting on it now, are we hoping for them to disappear quickly?
Speaker #5: Yes. I hope that answers your question.
Speaker #7: Yes, thank you.
Enya Derkinderen: Yes, thank you. I don't see any hands at the moment.
Speaker #3: I don't see any hands at the moment.
Speaker #5: Okay. Well then, this closes our call. Thank you very much for joining us. And if you have any questions, you can reach out to us.
Ludovic Saverys: Okay. This closes our call. Thank you very much for joining us. If you have any questions, you can reach out to us and to my colleague Joris Daman. Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
Speaker #5: And to my colleague Joris Daman. Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
Speaker 3: The meeting will start shortly. Raise hand is disabled. This meeting is no longer being transcribed.