From 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units handled back in FY2019, the company handled 1.3 million TEUs last year, thanks to a “sharp turnaround” in container shipping activity in the second half of the year.
As at Dec 31 2020, cash and bank balances stood at US$80.8 million, significantly higher than US$56.5 million as at end-FY19, due to better operating profits and lower receivables.
The company plans to pay a final dividend of 0.75 cents, and a special dividend of 0.3 cents, bringing FY2020 total to 1.05 cents. In contrast, it paid just 0.75 cents per share for FY2019.
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The company notes that the pandemic has “greatly disrupted” global supply chains in the first half of FY2020, causing “pent up” demand for container services in the second half of the year.
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“While freight rates have been sustained at higher levels as a result, the group is nevertheless mindful of the impact of port delays and the volatile bunker price on operating costs,” the company says.
“In addition, the rising demand for container shipping services has also led to an increase in vessel charter cost as charter hire rates begin to pick up,” says the company in its earnings commentary,” Samudera adds.
Samudera closed Feb 24 at 28 cents, down 1.75%. In March last year, it was trading at around 11 cents.
