Neste sells record volume of renewable diesel in Q2

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Neste announced on July 23 that its renewable products business set a new quarterly sales volume record during the second quarter of 2020. Nameplate production capacity for renewable diesel also increased during the quarter.

“Despite the market turbulence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Neste’s performance was solid during the second quarter,” said Peter Vanacker, president and CEO of Neste, in the company’s second quarter report. “Renewable Products business proved to be very resilient and reached a new quarterly sales volume record. Oil Products’ suffered from an unprecedentedly weak refining market caused by the global COVID-19 related demand destruction, and the segment was loss-making. Marketing & Services performed well in the circumstances also considering the earlier divestment of our Russian business.”

Neste reported that its renewable products segment achieved EUR 314 million ($396 million) in operating profit for the second quarter, up from EUR 286 million in 2019. “The renewable diesel demand remained good, and our sales volumes reached a record 773,000 tons,” Vanacker said. “This new quarterly record was also supported by very good operational performance at the refineries,” he continued, noting nameplate capacity for renewable products increased to 3.2 million tons per year during the quarter.

Neste’s renewable diesel plants operated at an average utilization rate of 90 percent during the quarter, down from 105 percent during the second quarter of last year.

According to Neste, feedstock markets remained very tight during the quarter. Waste and residues accounted for 78 percent of total renewable raw material inputs during the three-month period, compared to 77 percent during the same period of 2019. The comparable sales margin, including the blenders tax credit, averaged $625 per ton, down from $674 per ton during the same period of last year.

During the second quarter, approximately 71 percent of Neste’s renewable products sales volumes were sold into the European market, up from 65 percent during the same period of last year. Approximately 29 percent of sales volumes went to the North American market, down from 35 percent.

Moving forward, Neste said it expects the COVID-19 pandemic to result in continued high volatility in the oil products and renewable feedstock markets. Sales volume of renewable diesel are expected to remain relatively stable in the third quarter despite impacts from the pandemic. The waste and residue feedstock markets are expected to remain tight. Although global availability of used cooking oil gradually recovered during the second quarter, it still remains below pre-COVID-19 levels. Neste also noted utilization rates of its renewables production facilities are expected to remain high, expect for scheduled catalyst changes in one Porvoo unit during the third quarter and at the Rotterdam refinery during the fourth quarter.

Overall, Neste reported EUR 255 million in operating profit for the second quarter, down from EUR 367 million during the same period of last year. Operating profit was EUR 208 million, down from EUR 359 million.