Despite the disruptions to the economy by coronavirus pandemic, Dangote Sugar Refinery recorded an increase in production of 13.7 percent to 743,858 tonnes in the financial year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 654,071 tonnes in 2019.
The sugar group also posted increase in sales volume which rose by 6.9 percent, from 684,487 tonnes to 731,701 tonnes.
According to the audited result released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the improvements were attributable to operations optimization strategy despite momentary disruption caused by civil unrest in last quarter of the year. Growth continued to benefit from the sustained efforts to drive customer base expansion and several trade initiatives and investments.
A breakdown of the results indicated that Group revenue increased by 33 percent to N214.30 billion in contrast to N161.09 billion in 2019. Gross profit increased by 40.4 percent to N53.75 billion, compared to N38.29 billion in 2019 while Group profit after taxation for the year increased by 33.2 percent to N26.70 billion as against N22.36 billion in 2019, reflecting management’s unrelenting goal to deliver consistent shareholder value.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mr. Ravindra Singhvi, speaking on the results said that despite the socio-economic uncertainties occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic during the year under review, the sugar group continued on the growth path with commitments to improve o performance and generate value for all stakeholders.
This was reflected in the sales volume delivery of 731,701 tonnes, and production of 743,858 tonnes being 6.9% and 13.7% increase in volumes over the comparative year 2019.
According to him, “our focus on the implementation of our key strategies in the face of the several challenges posed by the COVID Pandemic, the peculiarities of the Apapa traffic situation amongst others we achieved a topline growth in revenue of N214.30 billion, a 33.0% increase over 2019; a 53% YOY increase in PBT, and 33.2% increase in PAT.
2020 was indeed very eventful for our company ranging from the weak macroeconomic fundamentals caused by the underlying impact of COVID-19 pandemic which saw to the steady rise in FX rate, high inflation and the significant rise in our cost of production, to the worsening traffic gridlock on the Apapa Wharf road which led to delays and at times disruption of the distribution and deliveries to customers.”
Mr. Singhvi added that the company activated its Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) during the lock down periods due to the COVID pandemic and disruptions caused by EndSARS protests, which helped to minimize the adverse impact the situation had on businesses in the country.
He noted that one of the key highlights of during the year was the successful completion of the Scheme of Arrangement – merger of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) and Savannah Sugar Company Limited (SSCL) with effect from September 1, 2020 to operate under one unified entity.
