The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is under the spotlight today after the ASX lithium share reported its December 2023 update.
Pilbara Minerals is one of the biggest lithium miners in Australia with its Pilgangoora operations.
December update
For the three months to December 2023, Pilbara Minerals produced 176kt of spodumene concentrate (raw lithium), which was 22% higher compared to the September 2023 quarter. It sold 159.9kt of spodumene concentrate in the December quarter, up 9% quarter on quarter.
Revenue fell by 46% to $264 million, after the realised price for its production was US$1,113 per tonne (a decline of 50%).
However, it wasn’t all bad news. The December quarterly unit operating cost (free on board (FOB)) improved by 14% quarter on quarter to A$639 per tonne. This excludes freight and royalties but includes mining, processing, transport, port charges, and site-based general and admin costs.
Quarterly unit operating costs (COF) improved by 20% to A$805 per tonne, this is FOB costs plus freight and royalty costs.
Pilbara Minerals’ cash balance declined by 29% to A$2.1 billion. It achieved a positive cash margin from operations of $176 million, but it declined largely because of $758 million of tax payments.
Half-year numbers
Pilbara Minerals was also able to tell investors about its half-year numbers for the six months to December 2023 (HY24), compared to the six months to December 2022 (HY23).
HY24 production increased by 4% to 320kt, the sales increased by 7% to 306.3kt and the realised price for its lithium was down 67% to US$1,645 per tonne.
FOB costs were 16% higher to A$691 per tonne, while CIF costs improved 21% to A$900 per tonne. The cash balance fell 4% year on year to A$2.1 billion.
Project progress
The company revealed that with the P680 project, the crushing and ore sorting facility structural, mechanical, piping and electrical works construction contract was awarded to Primero. The fabrication and installation works remain “on schedule and budget.”
The P1000 expansion project concrete construction contract awarded to Whittens Group. The delivery of the P1000 project is tracking to plan for schedule and budget.
Dividend
Pilbara Minerals said “in order to further preserve the group’s balance sheet position while it continues to invest in the P680 and P1000 projects, it is unlikely that a dividend will be paid for the half-year ended 31 December 2023.”
Final thoughts on the Pilbara Minerals share price
It is disappointing to see how much the lithium price has fallen, which is hurting the company’s ability to make profit. The reduction of costs is a good thing and offsets some of the pain.
It makes sense to consider not paying the dividend – it needs the cash to achieve its large investment plans.
If the lithium price were to rebound in the future, then this could be a good, (very) contrarian opportunity. But, my crystal ball isn’t working at the moment, so it’s impossible to know.
