Milaha Begins Year on Strong Note

Qatar Navigation (Milaha) Q.S.C. is off to a strong start based on its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Milaha’s operating revenues reached QR 786 million against QR 699 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of 12% quarter over quarter.

The company’s operating profit of QR 279 million was 2% quarter over quarter, whereas its net profit reached QR 365 million against QR 349 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of 4% quarter over quarter.

“Strong year on year growth in the core businesses more than offset a decline in the returns from Milaha’s investment portfolio. Each of Milaha’s core segments – Maritime & Logistics, Gas & Petrochem and Offshore – improved their combined bottom line by 71% relative to Q1 2014,” the report said.

Continued strong growth in trade volumes, driven by the ramp up in project activity in Qatar, resulted in a 25% increase in revenue and 175% increase in net profit for Milaha Maritime & Logistics, with a positive impact on Port Services and Container Shipping units in particular.

Milaha Gas & Petrochem’s revenue grew by 39% and its net profit by 45%, on the back of stronger performance in its fully owned and operated product tanker and gas carriers, as well as higher VLGC rates relative to Q1 2014. In addition, the segment benefited from the full year effect of 19 harbour vessels, some of which were received through mid year 2014.

Milaha Offshore posted significant improvement from Q1 2014 despite weaker market conditions driven by the steep decline in oil prices and the cutbacks on capital spending by oil majors in the region and beyond.

The actively managed investment portfolio of Milaha Capital, despite outperforming the Qatar Exchange index, was negatively impacted by the volatility in Qatar’s equities market in the first quarter, driving a 31% decrease in the segment’s net profit.

“We are very pleased to have started 2015 so strongly overall,” said Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Milaha. “And while we hope to maintain the momentum, we know that general market conditions for our Offshore segment are weakening, and that our Capital segment is heavily tied to uncertainties in the local equity market. It will be a challenging year.”