FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2023 PERFORMANCE
In the following paragraphs, all references to “quarterly” periods or to “the quarter” refer to the fourth quarter of 2023, unless specified otherwise.
Year over Year Quarterly Comparison
Overall production in the quarter was 745,000 tons, up 7% from the same period of 2022. The Elk Creek complex produced 412,000 tons, down 23% from 537,000 tons last year. This was in-line with the Company’s plan to reduce its above normal inventory levels at Elk Creek. The Berwind, Knox Creek, and Maben complexes increased production to 333,000 tons in the quarter, up 111% from the same period last year. The main Berwind mine produced at a roughly 600,000 ton per annum run rate (adjusted for vacation periods) in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Production and costs were positively impacted by economies of scale on the back of higher year-over-year tons produced and sold. This cost reduction came despite annual inflation rates running well above recent historical averages. Total quarterly sales were 988,000 tons, up 46% from 675,000 tons sold in the fourth quarter of 2022. This was the second straight quarter that the Company shipped at a 4 million ton per annum run rate.
Quarterly pricing was $173 per ton on Company produced coal sold, which was 5% lower compared to $182 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2022. This mirrored the year-over-year decline in U.S. metallurgical coal price indices. Company produced cash mine costs were $107 per ton sold, excluding transportation costs, which was a 6% decrease from the same period in 2022. As a result of the lower realized prices, cash margins on Company produced coal were $66 per ton during the quarter, down from $68 per ton in the same period of 2022. This was based on non-GAAP revenue (FOB mine) and non-GAAP cash cost of sales (FOB mine).
Quarter over Quarter Comparison
Fourth quarter production was 745,000 tons, up 26,000 tons compared with the third quarter of 2023. The primary driver was the main Berwind mine ramping up production to a normal annualized run-rate of roughly 600,000 tons. Total quarterly sales volume of 988,000 tons was roughly comparable to the third quarter of 2023. Significantly, this was the second consecutive quarter where the Company both reduced inventory and shipped at a 4 million ton per annum run rate.
The realized price of $173 per ton during the fourth quarter was up from $157 per ton in the third quarter 2023 reflecting stronger overall market conditions. On the back of stronger production, fourth quarter cash costs of $107 per ton on Company produced coal compared favorably to $114 per ton in the third quarter of 2023. Correspondingly, cash margins on Company produced coal were $66 per ton during the fourth quarter, increasing from $43 per ton in the third quarter, based on non-GAAP revenue (FOB mine) and non-GAAP cash cost of sales (FOB mine).
BALANCE SHEET AND LIQUIDITY
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had liquidity of $90.6 million, consisting of $42.0 million of cash plus $48.6 million of availability under our revolving credit facility. This was almost double the total liquidity of $49.1 million as of December 31, 2022.
At year-end 2023, accounts receivable increased year over year by $55.7 million, reflective of the material increases in both overall and seaborne sales. Fourth quarter of 2023 capital expenditures totaled $18.0 million. This was down materially from $31.6 million in the same period of 2022, as the majority of capital expenditures for the Company’s near-term growth projects had been incurred.
The Company’s effective quarterly tax rate was 23%. For the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recognized income tax expense of $8.8 million. The Company anticipates an overall tax rate of 20-25% in 2024.