China XLX Fertiliser's Net Profit for 1H 2013 Grows 9% Y-o-Y to ...

Press Release(For immediate release)China XLX Fertiliser’s Net Profit for 1H 2013Grows 9% Y-o-Y to Approximately RMB191 millionResults Highlights for 1H 2013:• Net profit attributable to owners of the Company grew 9% year-on-yearto approximately RMB191 million.• Revenue slightly decreased 3% year-on-year to approximately RMB1,965million.• Gross profit margin increased 3 percentage points to 21% from a yearago.(13 August 2013, Hong Kong) China XLX Fertiliser Ltd. (“China XLX Fertiliser”or the “Company”) (HKSE: 01866.HK; SGX: B9R.SI) is pleased to announcethat net profit attributable to owners of the Company for the six monthsended 30 June 2013 (the “Period”) grew 9% year-on-year to approximatelyRMB191 million. Basic earnings per share were RMB16.23 fen, up 9% from ayear ago.Revenue of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the Periodslightly decreased 3% year-on-year to approximately RMB1,965 million mainlydue to lower average selling prices of urea, compound fertiliser and methanol.The Group's overall gross profit margin increased from 18% for 1H 2012 to 21%for 1H 2013 on weaker coal prices. Its gross profit for the Period wasapproximately RMB405 million, up 8% year-on-year.“The urea sector faced various challenges in the first half of this year –traditionally the annual peak for urea sales - due to a combination of factors.Urea prices trended downwards as coal prices plummeted amid a slowdown inthe Chinese economy and the market was swamped by new capacity. Inaddition, crop plantings were adversely affected by a spell of cold weather inspring. Moreover, softer international urea prices dampened the confidenceof China’s exporters, which in turn dragged down domestic prices. Faced withcomplicated conditions, the Group stepped up marketing efforts and activelyexpanded its sales network, while further strengthening its risk managementand cost leadership. Our coal and electricity consumptions per tonne of ureaproduced remained below market average. And a number of our financialindicators were maintained at manageable levels," commented Mr. Liu Xingxu,Chairman and CEO of the Group.Enhanced Marketing Efforts Led to Higher Sales Volume of All MajorProductsDuring the Period, revenue from urea slightly declined 2% year-on-year toapproximately RMB1,239 million, as the average urea selling price dropped8% to RMB2,046 / tonne from a year ago. However, urea sales volume grew 6%1

year-on-year to 606,000 tonnes, which partly offset the negative impact oflower average selling price.Revenue from compound fertiliser for the Period decreased 3% year-on-yearto approximately RMB490 million, while its average selling price dropped 8%year-on-year to RMB 2,314 / tonne due to lower costs of major raw materials.As the Group pursued an established strategy to expand its sales network,sales volume of compound fertiliser advanced 5% year-on-year to 212,000tonnes, which partly offset the negative impact of lower selling price.Revenue from methanol for 1H 2013 dropped 8% year-on-year toapproximately RMB231 million mainly attributable to a 10% decline ofaverage selling price to RMB2,014 / tonne. However, the negative impact oflower selling price was partly offset by a 2% year-on-year increase in its salesvolume to 115,000 tonnes.Continued Improvement in Gross Profit Margin and A Sound FinancialPositionThe Group's gross profit margin further improved in the first half of 2013thanks to higher gross profit margins of urea and methanol. The average costof urea sales for the Period declined 11% year-on-year due to weaker coalprices. As a result, gross profit margin of urea improved from 24% in 1H 2012to 26% in 1H 2013. Meanwhile, gross profit margin of methanol improved from-2% in 1H 2012 to 6% in 1H 2013 owing to a 17% year-on-year decline in itsaverage cost of sales. However, gross profit margin of compound fertiliserdecreased 1 percentage point to 15% from a year ago because its average costof sales decreased at a lower rate than its average selling price.The Group maintained a sound financial position. As of 30 June 2013, its netasset reached RMB2,458 million, up 6% from the year end of 2012. Its netgearing ratio was 55.4%, representing a modest increase of 4.6 percentagepoints from the year end of 2012. Henan Xinlianxin Fertiliser Co., Ltd, asubsidiary of the Company, completed the issuance of second tranche ofRMB300 million short-term notes in June 2013. The annual coupon rate is 60basis points lower than that of first tranche, reflecting the market’s fullconfidence about the Group's future developments.OutlookLooking forward, Mr. Liu Xingxu said, “Given the demand and supplyconditions in the market, urea prices are likely to go down further in thesecond half of this year, which will negatively impact on domestic urea sector.The Group’s operating results in the second half will thus be unavoidablyaffected. However, we will strive hard to retain our cost leadership andovercome various difficulties. The development of our fourth urea plant isgoing smoothly, which will start trial-production in the third quarter of thisyear as scheduled and start full operations in the first half of next year.Moreover, the development of the fifth plant in Xinxiang is progressing well.2

It is expected to be completed in 2016. Upon commencement of operation ofthese new facilities, we will further strengthen our scale, technological andcost leadership, which enable us to benefit from market consolidation and toachieve robust business growth."~ The End ~About China XLX Fertiliser Ltd.China XLX Fertiliser Ltd., one of the largest and most cost efficientcoal-based urea producers in China, is mainly engaged in the production andsale of urea, compound fertiliser and methanol. Its current productioncapacity of urea, compound fertiliser and methanol is 1.25 million tonnes,750,000 tonnes and 200,000 tonnes, respectively. The Group is developing itsfourth urea plant in Xinxiang City, Henan Province. Upon completion in thesecond half of 2013, the Group’s annual production capacity of urea willincrease to over 2 million tonnes. Meanwhile, it forged a strategicpartnership with Primavera Capital, an internationally renowned privateequity fund, at the end of 2011. The Group will lever its extensive experienceand resources network in the capital market to drive continuous businessgrowth. The Company’s shares are dually traded on the main boards of theStock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (stock code: 01866.HK) and theSingapore Stock Exchange (stock code: B9R.SI).Investor and Media Enquiries:China XLX Fertiliser Ltd.Stephan YaoTel: 852-2855 6920Email: stephan.yao@chinaxlx.com.hkPRChina LimitedDavid Shiu / Henry Chik /Camille XiongTel: 852-2522 1368 / 852-2521 2823Email: dshiu@prchina.com.hkhchik@prchina.com.hkcxiong@prchina.com.hk3