AD Ports Group has reported a revenue growth of 14% year-on-year to AED3.9 billion ($1.1 billion) in full year 2021, compared with AED3.4 billion ($933 million) in 2020, driven by volume growth, business diversification and new partnerships.
Net profit increased to AED845 million ($230 million) in 2021 from AED397 million in 2020, the group said.
EBITDA, on a reported basis, rose to AED1.6 billion during 2021, up from AED1.5 billion in 2020, according to its 2021 financial results based on preliminary, unaudited financials.
As of December 31, 2021, the total assets of the group stood at AED28.5 billion, while the equity increased to AED10.7 billion. These do not reflect recent events in 2022 that resulted in an increase in total assets and equity.
In January 2022, the group received ownership stakes from ADQ in two listed companies comprising a 22.32 percent stake in logistics firm Aramex and a 10 percent stake in UAE-based contractor National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC). The combined market value of these stakes was approximately AED2.4 billion based on the closing price of Aramex and NMDC shares on February 7, 2022.
Additionally, in February 2022, the group raised equity of AED4 billion ($1.1 billion) through a pre-listing primary issuance. AD Ports Group received credit ratings of A+ by S&P and A+ by Fitch in 2021.
Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of AD Ports Group, said: “These excellent results demonstrate that AD Ports Group has consolidated its leadership position during a period where global trade and supply chains have experienced many challenges. Buoyed by our culture of innovation and our key strategic partnerships with global companies, we continue to deliver robust results and maintain our positive momentum. These results were possible thanks to the direction of our wise leadership and for their unwavering support for our endeavours to drive the economic growth, diversification, and industrialization of the UAE.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamsi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “AD Ports Group delivered strong growth in 2021, driven by excellent performance across our business. Our Ports and Economic Cities continue to deliver excellent returns, while the expansion of our logistics services and growth in shipping also made a significant contribution. As we continue to build the knowledge and expertise required to take our business to the next level and utilize the AED4 billion in cash proceeds from the pre-listing issuance this month, we believe that the Group is well positioned to accelerate its local and international expansion plans in 2022 and beyond with transformational impact across a broad range of industries.”
Operational highlights from 2021 included signing of a 35-year concession with CMA terminals to build a new container terminal in Khalifa Port with a total JV investment of AED565 million; strategic collaboration agreement with Turkey’s sovereign wealth fund, Turkiye Varlik Fonu, to explore major investment opportunities within Turkey; and a series of agreements with the Aqaba Development Corporation to support the development of tourism, logistics, transport, and digital infrastructure within Aqaba in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Martin Aarup, Group Chief Financial Officer, AD Ports Group, said: “At the core of these results is the stability of our long-term contract business and our prudent investment strategy. AD Ports Group benefits from our well-balanced capital structure, investment-grade credit ratings, and stable long-term cash flows. This was evidenced by 14% Revenue growth compared to 2020.”
General cargo volumes rose to highest recorded annual levels achieved by AD Ports Group of 45 million metric tonnes in 2021, up from 30 million metric tonnes in 2020, while industrial zones leased 3.0 million sq m of land during the period, reflecting the wider economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Container throughput grew to 3.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2021, up from 3.2 million TEUs in 2020, despite the ongoing supply constraints faced in the global shipping and container market.
The group’s shares have been listed on the main market of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and are set to begin trading on February 8, 2022 under the ticker symbol “ADPORTS”, it said.
