Greenbrier sees boost in global fertilizer, grain markets from Ukraine invasion

The invasion of Ukraine has developed “tremendous opportunities” in Europe and North The us for bulk commodities this kind of as grain and fertilizer, executives with Oregon-based railcar producer The Greenbrier Firms said on an earnings get in touch with for its 2nd fiscal quarter that ended on Feb. 28.

“The tragedy in Ukraine and its impact on commodity prices are probable to have considerably-achieving repercussions to the worldwide railcar sector, which include growth in rail freight in numerous sectors,” Government Chairman Bill Furman reported in Greenbrier’s release announcing quarterly benefits.

While Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) has not seasoned any major results on its company as a result of the invasion, the organization anticipates the world wide current market for foodstuff and fertilizers to be impacted for the reason that Ukraine and Russia are significant producers of fertilizer, wheat and grain, Furman advised buyers in the course of the earnings call on Wednesday.

Despite the fact that Greenbrier has services in Romania and Poland, they’re in NATO nations around the world and the enterprise doesn’t anticipate the war in Ukraine to extend westward for now, Furman told buyers.

Meanwhile, most of Greenbrier’s European shoppers are from Western Europe, and so whilst there are impacts to the source chain mainly because the bulk of elements — iron and steel — arrive out of Russia and Ukraine, Greenbrier’s sourcing groups are “determining regions exactly where we can source commodities and the ideal parts in other regions,” said President and CEO Lorie Tekorius.

“We are concentrated on keeping our generation, producing selected that we have bought the ideal inventory on the floor to construct the wagon and fulfill our customers’ desires,” Tekorius mentioned on the earnings simply call.

Apart from grain and fertilizer, switching vitality guidelines in North The us and Western Europe could create prospects for rail transportation of crude oil, ethanol and other solutions, Furman stated in organized remarks in the course of the phone. 

“The commodity marketplaces are traditionally leading indicators for growth into rail freight. Most commodities delivered by rail are dealing with upward pricing force from desire constraints because of to possibly sanctions on Russia or lowered production from Russia and in the Ukraine,” Furman reported. “We anticipate rising world wide commodity selling prices and shifting trade patterns to elevate rail auto desire in North The united states and Brazil and somewhere else in the globe.”

2nd fiscal quarter monetary success

Greenbrier saw a internet next fiscal quarter profit of $12.8 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, when compared with a net reduction of $9.1 million, or a reduction of 28 cents for every diluted share, in the next fiscal quarter that finished on Feb. 28, 2021.

Higher revenues helped strengthen quarterly earnings. Overall revenues ended up $682.8 million, in comparison with $295.6 million in the prior calendar year. 

Price tag of profits was $628 million, in comparison with $278 million, although advertising and administrative expenses ended up $54.7 million, in contrast with $43.4 million. 

In the 2nd fiscal quarter, Greenbrier delivered 4,800 railcar units. The deliveries are up 17% from the prior quarter and “driven by our core North American sector,” Tekorius reported. Lease fleet utilization amplified to 98%, whilst the railcar backlog as of Feb. 28 was at 32,100 units with a benefit of $3.6 billion. New railcar orders totaled 8,500 and ended up valued at $930 million,

“There’s no doubt that the industry backdrop will keep on being dynamic, specially with the war in Europe, inflation, source chain problems and the continuing human impression of the pandemic [persisting] for some time,” Tekorius said in prepared remarks through the earnings contact. “We are managing the small business accordingly and preserve our optimistic current market outlook. We expect our functioning metrics to carry on to strengthen as we transfer through the subsequent quite a few quarters and past.”

Subscribe to FreightWaves’ e-newsletters and get the most up-to-date insights on freight correct in your inbox.

Click listed here for far more FreightWaves article content by Joanna Marsh.

Relevant posts: