Charlie Boero Hughes
Analyst
Thank you, Mariano. Good morning, everyone. Let’s start on Page 4 with a brief analysis on the rains in Mato Grosso do Sul. As seen on the top charts, rains in our cluster during the second quarter of 2021 were 45% lower than during the same period of last year, and 53.5% lower than the 10-year average. This was particularly notable during the month of April when virtually no precipitation was observed. However, as can be seen on the graph, we experienced a humid first quarter. This means that our sugarcane was better prepared to go through the dryer weather with no implication of productivity. Before turning to the following slide, I would like to briefly comment on the weather in Brazil. The Central South region of Brazil has been experiencing dry weather for a prolonged period of time, which negatively impacted its productivity. Due to the fact that the region accounts for approximately 85% of Brazil’s sugarcane production, this has put pressure on the supply and demand, and has led to an increase in the prices of both sugar and ethanol. In addition to this, as Mariano mentioned in his introduction, during June and July, Brazil’s main productive areas were hit by a frost. We believe this will put further pressure on the supply side, and thus, continue to improve the outlook on prices going forward. Now, let’s continue with Slide 5, where I would like to discuss our sugarcane crushing strategy. During the second quarter of 2021, the dryer weather led to 7.9% increase in effective milling days compared to the same period of last year, and enabled us to accelerate our crushing pace, resulting in a 10.9% increase in milling per day. In this line, total crushing during the quarter amounted to almost 3.5 million tons, 0.6 million tons or 19.6% higher during the same period of last year. In addition to the favorable weather, which favored harvesting activities and to enhance efficiencies at the industry level, the increase in crushing volume was also explained by the dynamics of the second quarter of 2020, namely the fact during that time, we temporarily slowed down our crushing pace in light of the COVID-19 pandemic as markets were fairly liquid, especially in the case of ethanol. As of June 30, crushing volume reached 5.6 million tons, 1.3 million tons or 31.7% higher year-over-year. This increase was explained both by the second quarter dynamics as well as by the good cane availability and early start of crushing activities during the first quarter of the year as opposed to last year. Please jump to Page 6, where I would like to walk you through our agricultural productivity. During the quarter, TRS content marked 6.7% increase, reaching 135 kilograms per ton and 7.6% increase during the semester, reaching 126 kilograms per ton. This increase is explained by the fact that dry weather favors the concentration of sugar juice in the cane. I would like to point out that the increase in crushing volumes, coupled with higher TRS content, resulted in an increase in TRS equivalent of 29.1% during the quarter and 42.2% during the semester. This, in turn, was translating the greater production of both sugar and ethanol as we will see next. Continuing with productivity indicators, sugarcane yields reached 80 tons per hectare during the quarter, in line with last year, and 78 tons per hectare during the semester, marking a 3.6% increase compared to the same period of last year. Going forward, it is expected that yields will be negatively impacted by the effect of the regional frost in Brazil. The combined effect in TRS content and yields resulted in a TRS production per hectare of 10.8 tons during the quarter and 9.8 tons during the semester, 4.7% and 11.4% higher year-over-year. Let’s move ahead to Slide 7, where I would like to discuss our production mix. As you can see on the top left chart, during the second quarter of 2021, anhydrous and hydrous ethanol in Mato Grosso do Sul traded at an average price of $0.186 and $0.172 per pound sugar equivalent, representing an 11.4% and 2.7% premium to sugar, respectively. However, it is worth pointing out that the evolution of sugar prices during the quarter was also very positive. In line with our strategy to maximize production of the product with the highest marginal contribution, during the quarter, we diverted 59% of TRS to ethanol to profit from higher relative prices compared to 46% last year. Ethanol production increased by 66.4% compared to the second quarter of 2020, due to the combined effect of ethanol maximization and the increase in TRS equivalent produced. In-hand with the increase in TRS produced is that sugar production was in line with last year’s volume, despite having diverted a lower percentage of TRS. On a year-to-date basis, production mix was in line with the first semester of 2020, standing at 59% ethanol and 41% sugar, although volumes produced deferred on account of the higher production of TRS equivalent. While we maximized sugar production during the first quarter of the year to benefit from higher relative prices and switched to ethanol during the second quarter, the opposite was observed in 2020 as ethanol prices plunged during the second quarter due to the pandemic. This high degree in flexibility constitutes one of our most important competitive advantages since it allow us to make a more efficient use of our fixed assets and profit from higher relative prices. Year-to-date, ethanol accounted for 64.7% of total adjusted EBITDA generation in the Sugar, Ethanol and Energy business considering other operating income, while Sugar accounted for 28.6%. Let’s please turn to Slide 8, where I would like to discuss quarterly sales. As you can see on the top left chart during the second quarter of 2021, ethanol sales volumes increased by 49.4% year-over-year. This increase is mainly explained by the lockdown measures adopted during the second quarter of 2020 in response to the COVID-19, which negatively affected demand for fuels and resulted in fairly liquid markets. The increase is also explained by our decision to maximize ethanol production in the current quarter and capture higher relative prices. Despite the increase in cubic meters sold in absolute figures carryover increased by 77.5% to take advantage of higher expected prices in the second semester of 2021 and beginning of 2022, driven by adverse weather conditions. Average selling prices for ethanol were higher measured both in reals as well as in U.S. dollars, standing at $0.179 per pound in sugar equivalent, representing a 67% year-over-year increase. On account of the higher selling volumes and higher average prices, net ethanol sales during the quarter amounted to $64.9 million, almost 3x higher year-over-year. In the case of energy, selling volumes reached 277,000 megawatt hour, marking a 6.7% year-over-year increase. Average selling prices were higher, both measured in reals as well as in U.S. dollars, standing at $40.8 per megawatt hour, implying a 16.5% increase compared to the same period of last year. This was driven by the low levels of water reservoirs, which reduced the supply of hydroelectric energy. All-in-all, net sales of energy in the second quarter of 2021 were $11.3 million, 24.3% higher year-over-year. Net sales of sugar during the second quarter of 2021 reached $71.6 million, over 2x higher year-over-year. This increase was driven by a 47.6% increase in selling volumes, which reached 198,000 tons and a 52.1% increase in average prices, which reached $0.164 per pound. Sugar prices were added during the quarter, mainly driven by the continuous dry weather observed in the Central side of Brazil. As mentioned before these hike in prices is expected to be accentrated in the upcoming months as the market factors and the impact of the frost. In this regard, we are in a good position to capture the increasing prices as our estimated see production for the current campaign remains mostly unhedged, and we have yet to begin hedging ‘22, ‘23 campaigns. Finally, to conclude with the Sugar, Ethanol and Energy business please turn to Slide 9, where I would like to discuss financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA during the second quarter of 2021 was $73.6 million, 62.1% higher compared to the same period of last year. The main driver behind the EBITDA growth was the $92.9 million increase in net sales due to higher selling volumes and prices of all three of our products. This was partially offset by an increase in selling expenses explained by the increase in sugar and ethanol selling volumes, which derived in higher freight costs and an increase in PIS/COFINS taxes, respectively, and a loss in the mark-to-market of our sugarcane. Even though our harvested cane experienced again in its mark-to-market due to the greater volume and higher Consecana prices, this was fully offset by a loss in the mark-to-market of our unharvested cane caused by a negative impact of the frost and future expected yields. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA stood at $131.7 million, a 52.6% increase year-over-year. Higher results were explained by and increase in net sales driven by higher volumes and average selling prices measured in U.S. dollars for all three products, coupled with, again, derived from the mark-to-market of our sugar cane, mostly related to harvested cane. This was partially offset by a loss in our commodity hedged position and an increase in selling expenses in line with the increase in sales. End-of-the-period stocks amounted to over $70 million, marking an increase of 2x year-over-year, led by our commercial strategy to carry over stocks in order to benefit from higher expected prices. Regarding EBITDA margin, it is worth highlighting that the decrease is not indicative of awards performance, but rather by the fact that the last year’s figures were an outlier especially during the second quarter of 2020, net sales experienced a sharp decrease driven by the pandemic, and we embarked into a strict cost reduction plan in addition to achieving higher results of our biological assets. I would now like to move on to the Farming business. Please direct your attention to Slide 11. As of the end of July of 2021, over 240,000 hectares were successfully harvested, representing 93% of our total planted area. This amounts to almost 1 million tons of agricultural products harvested and transported across 10 provinces in Argentina and in Uruguay. The remaining hectares are expected to be harvested by early August. Let’s move to Page 12, where I would like to walk you through the financial performance of our Farming and Land Transformation businesses. Adjusted EBITDA in the Farming and Land Transformation businesses reached 32. in the second quarter of 2021, $7.7 million lower year-over-year. The decrease in financial performance was fully explained by the sale of farms we made in 2020 compared to no farm sales this year. Adjusted EBITDA solely from the farming business stood at $32.8 million, marking an increase of $4.2 million or 14.7% year-over-year. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA in the Farming business marked 64.7% increase compared to the first semester of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA in our Crops segment was $16.3 million during the quarter, 4.8% higher compared to the same period of last year. This was explained by an increase in average selling prices, $100 per ton increase in the case of soybean and $60 per ton in the case of corn, partially offset by a reduction in selling volumes as a consequence of our commercial strategy to carry stocks forward in order to benefit from higher expected prices. The increase in gross sales was partially offset by an increase in costs driven by inflation in dollar terms, and a net loss in the mark-to-market of our inventories on account of decrease in prices since the time of August compared to an increase during the same period of last year. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA amounted to $34.2 million, 75.7% higher compared to the first semester of 2020. In the case of Rice, most of the margin was already captured during the first quarter of the year. In this line, adjusted EBITDA reached $9.6 million during the second quarter and $37.9 million during the semester marking a year-over-year increase of 16.2% and 61.9%, respectively. The positive financial performance was mostly explained by an increase in yields, which reached a record high of 7.8 tons per hectare, an increasing area and an increase in prices, which led to a year-over-year gain in the value of our biological assets and agricultural produce. These results were possible due to our continuous focus on productivity, enhance efficiencies and the consolidation of our team. The Dairy business generated an adjusted EBITDA of $7.3 million during the second quarter of 2021 and $12.1 million during the first semester, an increase of 46.7% and 47.5% compared to the same period of last year, respectively. In both cases, higher results were explained by an increase in sales volumes, which fully offset the increase in average prices and achieved efficiencies in our vertically integrated operations, including high productivity at the farm level and flexibility of our industrial assets. Let’s now turn to Page 14, which shows the evolution of Adecoagro’s consolidated operational and financial performance. On a year-to-date basis, gross sales reached $460 million and adjusted EBITDA, $211 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 34.5% and 48%, respectively. During the quarter, gross sales reached $286 million, while adjusted EBITDA totaled $101 million, marking up 54.2% and a 24.9% increase compared to the same period of last year. From an operational point of view, we continue increasing our planted area both in our farming Sugar, Ethanol and Energy business. This, in line with our enhanced efficiencies at the farm and industry levels, has led to 5.4% increase in our production of crops and rice and 31.7% increase in crushing volume, as previously mentioned. To conclude, please turn to Slide 15 to take a look at our net debt position. As you may see in the bottom left chart, our net debt as of June 30, 2021 reached $744 million, $12 million or 1.7% higher than the previous quarter. This was fully explained by an 11.2% decrease in our cash position. This reduction in our cash position was mostly explained by an increase in working capital on account of an increase in prices and our commercial strategy to carry stock in order to benefit from higher expected prices, especially ethanol. On a year-over-year basis, net debt was in line with the second quarter of 2020, as the decrease in gross debt was offset by a decrease in our cash position, also explained by the increase in working capital. In fact, marketable inventories as of the second quarter of 2021 amounted to $147.6 million, $73 million higher than during the same period of last year, driven by our carryover strategy and the impact on prices. The year-over-year increase in working capital was also driven by an increase in planted area in the crops, rice and Sugar, Ethanol and Energy businesses as well as an increase in milking cows in our Dairy business. We believe that our balance sheet is in a healthy position, not only based on the adequate overall debt levels, but also on the term of our indebtedness most of which is long-term debt. As of June 30, 2021, our net debt ratio reached 1.81x and presented a downward trend comparable to the previous quarter as well as the second quarter marking a reduction of 3.3% and 26.1%, respectively. At the same time, our liquidity ratio, which is calculated as cash and equivalents plus marketable inventories divided by shortened debt reached 1.84x, in line with the previous quarter and 49.7% higher than last 1.23x ratio. This clearly shows the full capacity of the company to repay certain debt with cash balance without raising stronger capital. Thank you very much for your time. We are now open to questions.