Rana Gruber Q3 2024 and CMD: Advancing high-grade iron ore strategy to capitalise on growing demand and rising premiums

13 Nov 2024 07:00 CET

Oslo, 13 November 2024 – Rana Gruber (the “Company”), Norway’s only iron ore
supplier, today presents its financial results for the third quarter of 2024 as
well as long-term ambitions, strategies and priorities for the coming years at
its annual Capital Markets Day.

Since 2020, Rana Gruber has lifted its production grade from 62% iron content,
to 64% in Q3 2024. Moving forward, the company’s main strategic priority is to
transform its production to high-grade iron ore, with a target of reaching
around 67% iron content by 2030.

“The global steel industry needs high-grade iron ore to decarbonise production
and meet global emission targets,” said Rana Gruber CEO, Gunnar Moe, “With our
vast resources, highly efficient production and already industry-leading carbon
footprint, we are in pole position to capitalise on the growing demand for
high-grade iron ore.”

Rana Gruber’s key strategic priorities:
• Further advancing high-grade iron ore strategy to meet strong and growing
market demand, targeting around 67% iron content by 2030
• Increase magnetite production further from 150k mt annually, realising premium
prices and meeting rising demand from specialised industries
• Mine exploration and development to ensure sustainable, high production over
the coming decade
• Enhance cost focus and maintain robust balance sheet to support continued
value creation and free cash flows
• Uphold consistent and attractive shareholder returns in line with dividend
policy of 50 to 70 percent of adjusted net profit.

Since its listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2021, Rana Gruber has delivered
solid value creation, supported by the distribution of more than NOK 1.3 billion
to its shareholders through quarterly dividends while building a strong balance
sheet and liquidity position. The backbone of this performance has been the
company’s stable and efficient production, achieved while continuously
increasing iron content and successfully executing on the company’s strategic
priorities. Rana Gruber’s robust production and financial position enables the
company to fully take part in the massive opportunity embedded in the market for
higher grade iron ore.

Capitalising on the high-grade market opportunity
The price of iron ore concentrates is linked to its iron content, with two key
indexes, tied to iron ore of 62% (Fe 62 Index) and 65% (Fe 65 Index)
respectively. The Fe 65 Index is a quality level that historically has carried a
significant price premium compared to the standard 62% iron content.

“We have delivered on our promise since listing four years ago – now producing
iron ore concentrates with iron content close to 65%. With higher-grade iron
ore, we enhance our competitiveness for the future, which again will yield
higher prices for our products. Strong efforts from the entire team makes us
comfortable that we have the resources and capabilities to continue towards
67%,” added Moe.

Rana Gruber has recently concluded full scale pilot tests, showcasing that Rana
Gruber’s iron ore resources hace the necessary properties to be processed into a
high-grade concentrate.

Increased magnetite production
Rana Guber has over the past years worked to increase its magnetite production,
realising premium prices and meeting rising demand from specialised industries
such as water purification. The company expects to produce above 150 000 mt in
2024, an uplift of ~50% compared to 2023, and has potential to further increase
production over the coming years.

“Rana Gruber has been a preferred partner for industries and companies dependent
on clean water, and our magnetite products offer impressive features in support
of their water purification efforts,” said Moe.

A strong third quarter with a robust platform for continued value creation
Rana Gruber today also announced its results for the third quarter 2024, marked
by solid production and sales figures, albeit softer prices for hematite
concentrate. One of the company’s strategic initiatives to increase magnetite
production has materialised in the quarter with an increase of 70% compared to
the quarterly average over the past 12 months.

Highlights from the quarter:
• Strong production with record magnetite sales volumes. Production ended at
478,000 mt
• Stable and efficient production brought cash cost down from high levels seen
in the second quarter
• Revenues came in at NOK 389 million (NOK 470 million). Lower realised prices
for hematite due to macroeconomic outlook and strong production volumes from
Australia and Brazil
• The board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of NOK 1.45 per share,
marking the 15 consecutive quarter of dividends since the Company's listing in
2021.

Rana Gruber’s management will present the financial results on 13 November at
09:00 CET in connection with the Company’s Capital Markets Day. Please find
enclosed the materials relating to the third quarter financial reporting as well
as the Capital Markets Day presentation.

The presentation will be held at Haakon VIIs gate 2 in Oslo. Please register
using the following link: https://shorturl.at/UnNiY

You can watch the event live, following this link:
https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20241113_6

For more information, please contact:
Gunnar Moe, Chief Executive Officer: +47 941 47 650
Erlend Høyen, Chief Financial Officer: +47 902 02 741

About Rana Gruber
Rana Gruber is a Norwegian iron ore producer established in 1964, with
operations based on more than 200 years of mining experience. The company's
products are based on natural mineral resources, which are processed and
exported to customers worldwide. Key customers include steel producers and
participants in the chemical industry. The company has about 370 employees and a
production capacity of 1.8 million metric tons of iron ore concentrates. Rana
Gruber was listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2021.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section
5-12 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement
was published by Vegard Nerdal, IR at Rana Gruber ASA on 13 November 2024 at
07:00 CET.

More information:
Access the news on Oslo Bors NewsWeb site

631999_RG_Q3_2024_Pres.pdf
631999_Rana_Gruber_CMD 2024_vFinal.pdf
631999_Q3 2024 Rana Gruber print.pdf