SINGAPORE: Singapore Exchange (“SGX”) mainboard-listed COSCO Corporation (Singapore) Limited (“COSCO” or the “Company”), a leading offshore marine engineering, shipbuilding, ship repair & conversion and dry bulk shipping group, today announced its 3rd quarter financial results for the 3 months ended 30 September 2016. Group turnover decreased 30.2% to $662.3 million in Q3 2016, from $949.6 million in Q3 2015 owing to decrease in shipyard and shipping revenues.
Turnover from shipyard operations decreased 30.3% to $654.7 million in Q3 2016 from $939.9 million in Q3 2015 due to lower revenue contribution from ship repair, ship building and marine engineering. The Group delivered 1 emergency response rescue vessel, 2 jack up rigs, 1 livestock carrier and 1 platform supply vessel in Q3 2016. Turnover from dry bulk shipping and other businesses decreased 21.0% from $9.7 million in Q3 2015 to $7.7 million in Q3 2016 on lower charter rates. Gross profit for Q3 2016 was $49.3 million as compared to gross loss of $10.7 million in Q3 2015 due to profits from shipyard operations, partially offset by losses in shipping operations on account of lower charter rates.
Other income comprising gain from the disposal of scrap metal, interest income and others increased 2.4% to $19.8 million in Q3 2016 mainly due to higher government grants and sundry income partially offset by lower sale value of scrap materials and lower interest income. Administrative expenses increased by 161.2% to $296.3 million mainly due to higher allowance for impairment of trade and other receivables of $261.7 million in Q3 2016 as compared to $75.9 million in Q3 2015. Interest expense increased 26.5% to $55.9 million in Q3 2016 due to higher bank borrowings to fund shipyard operations. Overall, the Group recorded net loss attributable to equity holders of the Company of $102.3 million in Q3 2016 compared to net loss of $82.1 million in Q3 2015. For the first nine months 2016, net loss attributable to equity holders of the Company increased to $153.5 million from net loss of $86.1 million for the corresponding period in 2015 on losses across its shipyard and shipping businesses on depressed market conditions. Mr. Gu Jing Song, Vice Chairman and President of the Company said, “It has been another difficult quarter for our industry.
Persistent weakness in crude oil prices has taken its toll on the offshore marine industry and is showing no sign of letting up. Shipbuilding order books and contract prices are suffering under the heavy weight of the industry over-capacity amidst a weak global economy which has also depressed shipping rates. Given the continuing weaknesses in the macro-economic environment, we do not see any sign that the bearish industry outlook will turn around anytime soon. As such external headwinds are beyond our Group’s control, we are working hard to keep a tight lid on our internal costs and to increase efficiencies and productivity.” As at 30 September 2016, the Group’s gross order book stood at approximately US$6.8 billion with progressive deliveries up to 2019. These include modules of drillship and FPSO contracts for certain Brazilian customers which amount to approximately US$1.3 billion.
