HZPC analysts expect the volume of seed potatoes traded by their company and its licensees to reach a tonnage just above 900,000 tons, about the same as the tonnage in 2020-2021when the results were strongly affected by the economic impact of the corona crisis.
However, it is 1% lower than the volume estimate after the second quarter. This expected drop in sales was largely caused by the war in Ukraine.
“Normally HZPC delivers seed potatoes to Ukraine. Also for this year orders have been placed. However, until now only a limited part has been delivered and the major part has been canceled. In the press, HZPC has openly expressed its solidarity with Ukraine and its people. Nevertheless, most deliveries to Russia have continued. Potatoes are an important food crop. Seeds and seedlings are an irreplaceable start to all food production. As such, they are a requirement for food security. This is essential for political and economic stability and the well-being of people all over the world,” the company officials admit.
According to Gerard Backx, CEO of HZPC Holding, the war in Ukraine has a big influence on the prices of several products and with that the choice of many growers, especially in Europe.
“After the second quarter, it was clear that potato growers in Europe are somewhat reluctant to plant potatoes for harvest 2022 as a result of the higher prices of other major agricultural products. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, sales of seed potatoes in Europe have been stagnant. Nearly no additional sales have been realized or the additional sales compensate for canceled orders. In normal years we always realize a few percent of the European sales in the months of March and April. Those are missing this year,” Backx declared.
EUR324m turnover for 2021-2022 Financial Year
For the entire fiscal year, HZPC expects to achieve a turnover of EUR342m (in 2020-2021 this was EUR314m) with a gross margin of almost EUR62m (9% more compared to the previous fiscal year).
“Operating expenses are expected to be slightly above EUR49m (EUR1.9m lower than the previous financial year). These expectations result in an EBITDA of EUR12.6m (EUR7m more than the previous fiscal year),” according to a recent company press release.
Over the year 2021-2021 HZPC has realized a net profit of EUR1.4m. This financial year a net profit of EUR6.6m is expected. This is limited lower than the profit that was expected after the second quarter. These profit figures do not yet include the costs of the Connecting Growers program, in which certificates of shares are purchased and offered to active seed potato growers of HZPC Holding B.V. in the European Union. Last year more than EUR1.3m was spent on this. The agreement is that per year a maximum of EUR1.5m will be spent.
Intellectual Property China
In the 2020-2021 annual report, HZPC shared that it is important to keep a sharp eye on its intellectual property and that HZPC intervenes when its varieties are used illegally. The above is happening and has happened in China. During the last few years, HZPC has conducted various lawsuits about its intellectual property and related matters. These often lead to payments of fines and overdue licenses. Only when these matters have been fully completed will the income from them be recorded in the books. On the basis of the current state of affairs HZPC expects a payment of EUR3-4m in the future.
Predictions for the Future
The current situation in the world makes the future uncertain, the company analysts say. High inflation is mostly affecting companies in the agricultural sector with a market of full competition. The political instability and de-globalization make that international trade is restricted and transports become more expensive. HZPC is convinced that the potato acreage in the world will increase even further. Seed potatoes are needed for this. HZPC is active in various continents and expects that the use of her varieties in the world will continue to increase.
During the past year, HZPC has built large-scale yield trials into its hybrid potato breeding program for the first time at several locations around the world. HZPC is very satisfied with the results of these trials. The selected hybrid potato varieties will be provided with resistance genes in the coming years. After that HZPC will start with the market introduction of these varieties. HZPC can supply both seed potatoes of these varieties and botanical seeds. The last creates a large potential, especially for the markets to which currently no seed potatoes can be delivered.
HZPC has been working on the hybrid potato breeding program for more than ten years and it is still going according to the original plan. Externals attribute great economic value to such a program.
