EX-99.1 3 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED 04/24/2003 PRESS RELEASE DATED 04/24/2003

[LOGO FOR TERRA]




    

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

    

Terra Industries Inc.

600 Fourth Street

P.O. Box 6000

Sioux City, IA 51102-6000

www.terraindustries.com


NEWS


For immediate release

  

Contact: Mark Rosenbury

(712) 279-8756

mrosenbury@terraindustries.com

 

 

Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. reports first quarter results

 

Sioux City, Iowa (April 24, 2003)—Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNCLP) (NYSE symbol: TNH) today reported a net loss of $7.0 million, or $.37 per limited partnership unit, on revenues of $70.9 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003. This compares with net income of $2.2 million, or $.12 per unit, on revenues of $57.4 million for the 2002 first quarter. The profitability decline was due to higher natural gas unit costs and production curtailments, partially offset by higher selling prices.

 

TNCLP’s natural gas unit costs for the 2003 first quarter, net of about $4.7 million of cost reductions realized from forward purchase contracts, were 74 percent higher than those incurred in the 2002 first quarter. This increase was due to colder-than-expected weather and lower industry-wide natural gas inventories. These high natural gas costs led to first quarter 2003 production curtailments, including the shutdown of the Blytheville, Ark. facility and one of the two ammonia plants at the Verdigris, Okla. facility in late February, when spot natural gas prices exceeded $10 per million British thermal unit. All plants had resumed production by the end of the quarter.

 

Ammonia, nitrogen solutions and urea selling prices for the 2003 first quarter were 62, 37 and 47 percent higher, respectively, than 2002 first quarter selling prices. The higher prices were due mainly to lower global ammonia and other nitrogen product supplies.

 

TNCLP’s forward purchase contracts at March 31, 2003, fixed prices for about 14 percent of its next 12 months’ natural gas requirements at about $2.5 million above the published forward market prices at that date.

 


TNCLP announced that there would be no cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. Cash distributions depend on TNCLP’s earnings, which are driven primarily by product selling prices, sales volumes, natural gas costs and production levels, as well as working capital requirements and capital expenditures. TNCLP’s quarterly earnings are usually highest in the quarter ending June 30 due to the seasonal demand for fertilizer.

 

Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. is a leading manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizer products.

 

Information contained in this release, other than historical information, may be considered forward-looking. Forward-looking information reflects management’s current views of future events and financial performance that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in financial markets, general economic conditions within the agricultural industry, competitive factors and price changes (principally nitrogen fertilizer selling prices and natural gas costs), changes in product mix, changes in the seasonality of demand patterns, changes in weather conditions, changes in governmental regulations and other risks described in the “Factors That Affect Operating Performance” section of TNCLP’s current annual report.

 

#  #  #

 

Note:  Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. news announcements are also available on Terra Industries’ web site, www.terraindustries.com.

 

(Tables follow)

 


Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands except per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


    

2003


    

2002


Product revenues

  

$

70,855

 

  

$

57,109

Other income

  

 

82

 

  

 

291

    


  

Total revenues

  

 

70,937

 

  

 

57,400

    


  

Cost of goods sold

  

 

72,660

 

  

 

49,798

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

3,301

 

  

 

3,268

    


  

Total cost of sales

  

 

75,961

 

  

 

53,066

Total gross profit (loss)

  

 

(5,024

)

  

 

4,334

Operating expenses

  

 

2,019

 

  

 

1,995

Interest expense—net

  

 

(10

)

  

 

103

    


  

Net income (loss)

  

$

(7,033

)

  

$

2,236

    


  

Earnings (loss) per limited partnership unit

  

$

(0.37

)

  

$

0.12

    


  

 

The amount of net income allocable to the Limited Partnership’s interest is based on the Partnership’s net income and the proportionate share of cash distributed to the Limited Partners and the General Partner.

 

 

Nitrogen Volumes and Prices

 

 

    

2003


  

2002


Quarter


  

Sales Volumes (000 tons)


  

Average Unit Price (per ton)


  

Sales Volumes (000 tons)


  

Average Unit Price (per ton)


Ammonia

  

50

  

$

219

  

75

  

$

135

UAN

  

438

  

 

86

  

420

  

 

63

Urea

  

102

  

 

153

  

120

  

 

104

 

 


Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

    

March 31,


    

2003


  

2002


Assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

13,458

  

$

10

Accounts receivable

  

 

18,778

  

 

22,774

Inventories

  

 

43,863

  

 

43,393

Other current assets

  

 

2,745

  

 

11,030

    

  

Total current assets

  

 

78,844

  

 

77,207

               

Property, plant and equipment, net

  

 

123,616

  

 

133,631

Other assets

  

 

9,597

  

 

5,408

    

  

Total assets

  

$

212,057

  

$

216,246

    

  

               

Liabilities

             

Short-term note and current portion of long-term debt

  

$

56

  

$

2,762

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

 

45,372

  

 

24,721

    

  

Total current liabilities

  

 

45,428

  

 

27,483

               

Long-term debt

  

 

8,319

  

 

8,200

Long-term payable to affiliates

  

 

5,316

  

 

5,316

    

  

Total liabilities

  

 

59,063

  

 

40,999

               

Partners’ equity

  

 

152,994

  

 

175,247

    

  

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

  

$

212,057

  

$

216,246