Press Release

Aurubis achieves good full-year result of € 349 million despite extraordinary effects caused by criminal activities

Aurubis AG, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide, achieved operating earnings before taxes (EBT) of € 349 million for the past 2022/23 fiscal year as at the balance sheet date of September 30 (previous year: € 532 million). Operating ROCE (return on capital employed) amounted to 11.3 % in the reporting period (previous year: 19 %). After the record result in fiscal year 2021/22, the deviations were mainly attributable to the financial impact of the criminal activities directed against Aurubis. IFRS consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT) were € 165 million (previous year: € 935 million).*

“We can be pleased with the result of the past fiscal year, considering that it is the third-best result in company history – especially in light of the damages caused by the criminal activities directed against Aurubis. Good operating performance coupled with high market demand for our products are clear proof of Aurubis’ potential. We are confident that we will continue to profit from powerful global developments like electrification, the circular economy, and the transition to more sustainability in the current fiscal year,” Aurubis CEO Roland Harings emphasized.

In view of the fiscal year result, the Supervisory and Executive Boards will propose a dividend per share of € 1.40 (previous year: € 1.80) at the Annual General Meeting on February 15, 2024. This corresponds to a payout ratio of 23 % of operating consolidated net income (previous year: 18 %).

Treatment charges for concentrates and recycling materials key earnings drivers

Increased treatment and refining charges for copper concentrates along with higher income from refining charges for processing recycling materials positively influenced the past fiscal year result. Aurubis also profited from higher wire rod revenues with increased product surcharges, and the significantly higher copper premium also drove earnings.

A considerably lower metal result at decreased metal prices, especially for the industrial metals copper, tin and zinc, had the opposite effect. Lower sales prices for sulfuric acid considerably cut revenues from the Aurubis by-product, and demand for flat rolled products also dropped. Additionally, inflation-related higher Group costs and launching expenses for the strategic projects currently in implementation lowered earnings. The financial impact on the result deriving from the criminal activities directed against Aurubis was significant as well. On September 30, 2023, this resulted in a € 169 million metals shortfall, € 16 million less than the assessed inventory difference of € 185 million disclosed on August 31, 2023. Insurance reimbursements amounting to € 30 million also had a compensating effect.

“We’re working at full speed on investigating the criminal activities directed against us,” Aurubis CEO Roland Harings emphasized. "We responded to the heightened threat assessment immediately, and we’ve significantly increased the level of security so that we can rule out similar cases on this scale in the future with a high degree of probability. We are also comprehensively investing in new facilities with tighter, multistage security areas at our Hamburg site."

Significantly increased security level: consistent response to criminal activities

In response to the criminal cases, Aurubis established a series of immediate measures and initiated long-term improvements to considerably increase security. These include more frequent spot checks of personnel and vehicles along with intensified surveillance of risk areas. Additional approval levels were also introduced in raw material purchasing for specific material groups. Furthermore, in a Group-wide project, individual teams worked with external expert support to analyze ongoing security-relevant processes and prevention potential with the aim of implementing additional measures across sites.