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Q2 FY2026 · Earnings Call TranscriptAugust 4, 2026

Operator

Welcome to Milaha conference call. Please know that this call is being recorded.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions to our speakers later on during the Q&A session. If you would like to ask a question by that time, please press *1 on your telephone keypad.

Now, I would like to hand the call over to Bobby. You may now begin.

Bobby Sarkar

Thank you, Operator. Hello, everyone.

This is Bobby Sarkar, Head of Research at QNB Financial Services. I wanted to welcome everyone to Milaha's second quarter 2026 results conference call.

On this call, we have Akram Iswaisi, who's the EVP of Finance and Investments; and Sami Shtayyeh, who's the VP of Financial Planning and Analysis. We will conduct this conference with management first reviewing the company's results, followed by a Q&A.

I would like to turn the call over now to Akram. Akram, please go ahead.

Akram Iswaisi

Thank you so much. Thank you, everyone, for joining Milaha's first half of 2026 earnings call, and your interest in the company.

When we had our first quarter call, we were just about 2 months into the regional conflict, with a lot of uncertainty about how things would play out. Here we are today, over 5 months since the start of the conflict, and although a lot of the same uncertainty remains, two key priorities are constant.

First, for us, ensuring the safety of our people, and continuing to provide services to our clients, and the state of Qatar at large. We are grateful that there have been no conflict-related injuries among our staff, and we remain committed to their safety.

Our operational resilience has also stood out as we continue to serve our customers, move goods, and operate effectively in an uncertain environment. Much of what I said on our first quarter call still holds true.

We remain confident in our business and expect a rebound once things settle down. From what we are seeing, strong fundamentals and pent-up demand continue to support that view.

Now, on to our H1 results, and I'll start by going over our consolidated financial results, and move into our various individual business segments before turning it over to Sami to go over our outlook for the rest of the year. As usual, we will end the call with Q&A.

The key highlights of our financial results are as follows: Milaha's operating revenues came in at 1.68 billion for the first 6 months ended June 30th, 2026, compared with 1.59 billion for the same period in 2025, for an increase of 6%. Operating profit came in at 265 million for the 6 months ended June 30th, 2026, compared with 354 million for the same period in 2025, for a decrease of 25%.

Net profit for the 6 months ended June 30th, 2026, was 542 million, compared with 672 million for the same period in 2025, for a decrease of 19%. Lastly, our earnings per share was 0.48 for the 6 months ended June 30th, 2026, compared with 0.59 for the same period in 2025.

Now moving on to our segments, starting with Maritime & Logistics. Maritime & Logistics reported operating revenue of 384 million, up 4 43%, or 115 million, from 269 million reported in 2025, primarily driven by significantly higher project cargo volumes in our logistics business.

Operating expenses similarly increased by 62 million, largely reflecting variable costs associated with the higher revenue. Non-operating income decreased by 69 million due to lower contributions from our QTerminals joint arrangement, reflecting reduced port volumes resulting from the regional conflict.

As a result, net profit decreased by 16 million compared to 2025. In Offshore, the top line remained virtually flat at 874 million despite operating under difficult circumstances.

Vessel chartering posted higher revenue driven by a vessel that was added in mid-2025, whereas our harbor and industrial logistics units were both negatively impacted by the regional conflict. Overall expenses increased by 94 million, driven by a combination of conflict-related expenses, such as war risk insurance coverage and war risk allowances paid to crew, along with costs associated with the vessel added in mid-2025 and the use of higher cost chartered vessels.

The mismatch between revenue expenses is largely driven by lower overall vessel utilization versus last year due to the regional conflict, which impacted our top line and the higher war risk-related expenses. Reduced tax provisions, due to the one-time recording of deferred tax liability in 2025, drove non-operating expenses down by 11 million, and overall profit of the segment was down 54% 64%, or 85 million versus 2025.

In Gas & Petrochem, revenues dropped by 40 41 million, or 26%, going from 159 million in 2025 to 117 million in 2026, primarily due to the divestment of the VLGC vessels in 2025 and the nonrecurrence of dividend income received from our partially owned LNG vessels in the prior year. On the expense side, savings resulting from the VLGC divestment offset higher war risk insurance costs and the nonoccurrence of one-off items recorded in 2025, with total expenses decreasing by 7 million.

Non-operating income increased from 293 in 2025 to 316 million in 2026, with 15 million of the increase coming from reduced tax provisions due to the one-off recording of deferred tax liability in 2025, along with 12 million in net finance income driven by fixed deposits funded by the proceeds from the VLGC sale. All together, net profit for the segment decreased by 12 million, going from 367 in 2025 to 355 million in 2026.

With respect to the Marine & Technical Services division, we recorded a slight increase in revenue, going from 180 million in 2025 to 190 million in 2026, driven by proceeds from the sale of our Hino dealership, concluded in the first quarter of this year, higher mobilization work, and increased lubricant and bunker sales. Operating expenses went up by 24 million, primarily due to the higher cost of goods sold tied to the revenue growth along with increased provisions for bad debts.

Net profit for the segment declined by 16 million, going from 13 million in 2025 to a loss of 3 million in 2026. Lastly, in Capital, on the revenue side, higher investment income was offset by reduced real estate income following the internal transfer of warehouse assets to our Maritime & Logistics segment.

Expenses were broadly flat, as cost reductions associated with the warehouse transfer were offset by the nonrecurrence of a favorable one-time adjustment recorded in '25. Overall, Capital's net profit decreased by 2 million, going from 143 in '25 to 141 in 2026.

That wraps up the segments, and I now will turn it over to Sami to discuss the outlook. Thank you.

Sami Shtayyeh

Thank you, Akram. Starting with Maritime & Logistics, in container shipping, most of our vessels remain outside the Strait of Hormuz and are working on newly established routes, mainly from China and India to Oman.

The vessels in the Arabian Gulf are operating coastal and intra-Gulf routes. In logistics, we will continue to find creative solutions to move cargo for our customers.

In both container shipping and logistics, we expect growth driven by acquisition of new clients and the introduction of innovative supply chain solutions. Our QTerminals joint arrangement is financially exposed during the Strait of Hormuz closure, with limited ships calling Hamad Port.

Volumes are similarly limited, and that affects profitability. In Offshore, once the conflict is resolved, we expect to see strong recovery across the board.

However, up until that happen, the segment is expected to underperform. In Gas & Petrochem, we expect limited volatility due to long-term nature of contracts at Nakilat, our FSO, and our wholly owned LNG vessels.

The outlook on the partially owned LNG vessels, however, is uncertain the longer the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. In Marine & Technical Services, focus on this new segment will continue to be cross-selling services to existing and potential clients.

While the conflict is ongoing, ship services are impacted due to fewer vessel calls to Qatari waters, but the shipyard remains operational and is active, it's really a mixed bag on performance. Lastly, Capital, where we will continue to focus on yield enhancement of the financial portfolio, but we do expect a reduction in dividend income from our local equities portfolio.

With that, Operator will now open up for questions.

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session.

If you have dialed in and would like to ask a question, please press *1 on your telephone keypad to raise your hand and join the queue. If you would like to withdraw your question, simply press *1 again.

If you're called upon to ask your question and you're listening via loudspeaker on your device, please pick up your handset and ensure that your phone is not on mute when asking your question. Your first question comes from the line of Nikhil Phutane from CBFS.

Please go ahead.

Nikhil Phutane

Hey, good afternoon, gentlemen. Resilient performance.

That's what definitely one can say about Milaha now. My question actually pertains to your outlook, which you have mentioned on Maritime & Logistics, container shipping, in terms of it getting disrupted from the regional conflict.

I actually just wanted to enlighten us, suppose if possible, what happened in second quarter given the fact that you've mentioned that most of the vessels are outside the Strait of Hormuz, diverted to the new shipping lines, and what we expect in the third quarter. Are we going to be seeing a progressively increasing top line for container shipping?

Akram Iswaisi

Thank you so much for this question. I think you know that this container shipping business is a spot business, is a volatile business, and, for us, we've been able to grow, if you look at our revenue, and our top line effectively, we've been able to grow logistics, because we've been able to grow our client base, increase our service offering, and so, again, in reaction to this geopolitical situation, we've been able to serve our existing clients and been able to add additional clients.

If you look at container shipping, again, it's been a significant enabler to Milaha and to our clients to be able to support the new supply chain routes. For us, this is what we've been able to do, and we'll continue to serve our clients that way.

It's very difficult for us to give you a prediction on the revenue for next quarter. I think, again, the container shipping spot business, and there's so much volatility today in that space, I would say that we are quite comfortable that that business will continue to be relatively stable for the rest of the year.

Nikhil Phutane

Okay. Fine.

Regarding your LNG vessels, and is it possible, you've mentioned about most of the container vessels have been outside, similarly, can we have an understanding about your LNG vessels, both owned and joint ventures, how many vessels are there stuck up within the current conflict zone, and what are outside, and how do you see that? Yeah.

Akram Iswaisi

I can tell you that we've had some vessels that are outside of the region, and some that have been caught inside of the region. In and out, it's very difficult, and honestly, today we cannot really give comments on where these vessels are.

I can tell you that those vessels, some of them are the ones that we own 100% are still operating and still under contract, and some of the joint ventures that we have are on and off. Again, given the volatility of that situation, we prefer not to comment on where these vessels are today.

Nikhil Phutane

Thank you, sir.

Operator

Thank you. Again, if you would like to ask a question, please press *1 on your telephone keypad.

Your next question comes from the line of Ahmed Es'haqi from SICO Bank. Please go ahead.

Ahmed Es'haqi

Hello, am I audible?

Akram Iswaisi

Yes, you are.

Ahmed Es'haqi

Congrats on the great set of results. I have two questions from my end.

My first question is related to the offshore segment. In general, we've seen a bit of weakness on this quarter.

Was that because of vessels going off-hire? When do you expect the segment to pick up once again?

My second question is about your outlook for the maritime and logistics segment. As of now, in August, or let's say the second month of the third quarter, are the risk premiums for the container shipping still there?

Do you expect this to continue in the third and fourth quarter?

Akram Iswaisi

Thank you very much for the question. Let me start with the Offshore.

Again, Offshore operationally is still a solid business, with strong contracts and a strong asset base and strong capabilities. We were clearly impacted by the geopolitical situation, and some of our vessels were off-hired.

That off-hiring was not permanent, the vessels continue to come in and out. They might be on-hire for a while, but they get off-hired for various, let's say, operational reasons that have to do with the conflict and the safety of our assets and the safety of our people.

We continue to work with our clients to deploy those vessels when they need them and how they need them. Again, that business has been largely impacted by the geopolitical situation.

Now, in terms of the war risk premiums, they're still on. How long they will last, again, as I mentioned earlier, it's difficult for us to predict how long they will last.

I think everybody expected a resolution to the conflict a couple of months ago, and then we're back on. Given the volatility, and the fact that nobody can predict the future, we potentially expect that this war risk premium could continue for the next couple of months.

Again, this is a spot business and there's so much volatility, that it's difficult for us to give you an exact view on how we see the container shipping rates or the war risk premiums playing out for the rest of the year. Again, I've emphasized that in the first quarter, which is that, as an organization, we are actively working to expand our business.

If you look at Logistics, if you look at Offshore and all the different segments, Milaha has been actively working on expanding our top line to compensate for lost revenue. At the same time, we've been able to manage and contain costs, taking into consideration, though, that once this conflict is over, our business will rebound and we have to be on standby and ready to serve our customers.

Taking that into consideration, we are still operationally on standby and ready to serve our customers once this conflict is over.

Ahmed Es'haqi

Fair enough. Maybe a couple of follow-ups from my end.

Firstly, about the maritime and logistics, you always had this plan to turn around the business. What portion of this quarter's great results is attributed to the efficiencies being done in the maritime and logistics segment?

My second question is related to the off-hires you've mentioned in the offshore segment. As of the mid third quarter, have you seen better activities in terms of the offshore vessels, and, in general, how have been the rates looking for offshore vessels?

Akram Iswaisi

Let me start by talking about Maritime & Logistics. If you recall, I mentioned that we hired a new executive to run this business division, and part of that new hiring was a new strategy for that business division that involved restructuring the way we operate, the hiring of new staff, the creation of new solutions and strategies.

There's been a lot of work that was done pre-conflict, that actually, when the conflict happened, allowed us to be able to deliver client solutions to our clients faster. It made us much more nimble.

We've been able to even expand much more into Saudi Arabia. This is a plan that's been in place since last year, but as the conflict happened, we were able to react to that much more efficiently and much more effectively.

There's been a lot of cost cutting in that business division, but at the same time, as you're aware, Logistics is a volume business, one of the things that we've been working on is growing the top line, building new relationships, acquiring new customers, and so that's been a strategy that's been in place since last year, when we hired the new executive. The conflict has allowed us to reach out to new customers, so, but we wouldn't have been able to do that if we did not have the right team in place, the right solutions, and we weren't operationally ready for that.

We've been able to react very quickly to serve our customers. If you look at Offshore, I can't really give you, again, because the situation is volatile and we have to maintain some confidentiality in terms of what's happening on the offshore side, the assets are in and out, depending on how the clients need them.

Again, if you look at our top line, our top line is still relatively steady. The top line, given our asset base, the plans we had in place, had it not been for the conflict, our top line would have grown much more than this.

Again, we have been impacted by suspensions, given the geopolitical situation. That's honestly all I can say at this point, but again, if you look at the top line, it's still relatively steady, and our top priority right now is serving our clients, making sure that we're there, and secondly, making sure that our people, our employees are safe and sound.

Ahmed Es'haqi

Perfect. Thank you, and all the best.

Akram Iswaisi

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Your next question comes from the line of Ashish Agrawal with The First Investor.

Please go ahead.

Ashish Agrawal

Thank you, gentlemen, for the call and congratulations on the set of the results, considering what is happening around the region. My question pertains to your results of joint ventures.

Could you give us a split of how much profit was generated from one of the JVs, with Nakilat, Gulf LPG, and the remaining with QTerminals? Thank you.

Akram Iswaisi

I think if you look at Gulf LPG, we've already sold the assets last year. Effectively, that's gone.

What else are you asking for, Nakilat? We own 36% of Nakilat, it's easy for you to calculate that number.

What are you asking for as well? I'm not sure, I No,

Ashish Agrawal

my understanding was that the number, 21.430, it's inclusive of two joint ventures. I understand if you have sold the asset, now it entirely pertains to QTerminals, correct?

Akram Iswaisi

Nakilat is an associate, right?

Ashish Agrawal

Joint ventures are primarily

Akram Iswaisi

We have No, no,

Ashish Agrawal

I'm talking specifically about the 21. Share of results of joint ventures.

I understand that associates is bifurcated.

Akram Iswaisi

QTerminals, basically.

Ashish Agrawal

It's all QTerminals. All right, okay.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Operator

Thank you. Again, if you would like to ask a question, please press *1 on your telephone keypad.

Your next question comes from the line of Nikhil Phutane with CBFS. Please go ahead.

Nikhil Phutane

Yeah. Thank you for taking the question.

It's just a short one. Maybe it is postponing it in a way of seeing things, but given the current situation and other things which are evolving, do you could continue with your assessing your assets at the end of the year in terms of whether disposable or of your property, vessels, and equipments, are you could postpone this this year?

Akram Iswaisi

I'm not sure I understand the question. Could you repeat the question?

Expand on it.

Nikhil Phutane

Yeah. No, I'm looking at in terms of your normal exercise, which you undertake in the fourth quarter normally on your revaluing your vessels, your property, and other things, and which is affecting your fourth quarter results.

I just wanted to know whether do you could be taking an exception this year, do you see because of this conflict, you could be seeing larger impairments coming into picture, or again, it is depending upon the depreciation, other things which you've mentioned earlier.

Akram Iswaisi

Honestly, we don't provide guidance on impairments, and we've never done that, I cannot tell you here that we're going to take an impairment. We've taken impairments in the past, and I've mentioned that, but there's no reason for us to take an impairment right now, and at this point, again, it's an accounting exercise, and so that gets done every year, and so can't give guidance on that, to be honest with you.

Nikhil Phutane

Okay. Fair enough.

Thank you.

Akram Iswaisi

Again, our view is, once the conflict is over, our entire balance sheet is going to be back in full effect. I've said that before, and I repeat it again: we're on standby, operationally, to serve our customers.

We're quite optimistic that there will be a strong rebound once this conflict is over. There's so much pent-up demand.

At the end of the day, we've done everything we can to manage costs, contain cost, but at the same time, ensure that we are operationally ready to serve our customers, and that's our top priority. We're quite happy with the results that we've been able to achieve.

It's been a very, very difficult environment to operate in. Again, at the board level, at the management level, and at the operational level, we remain committed to serving our customers and ensuring that we react whenever we've been called upon.

Nikhil Phutane

Okay. Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Akram Iswaisi

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Again, if you would like to ask a question, please press *1 on your telephone keypad.

There are no questions. I will now turn the conference back over to Bobby for closing remarks.

Please go ahead.

Bobby Sarkar

Okay. Thank you.

If there are no further questions, we can end the call for today. I want to thank Akram and Sami for going over the presentation and answering our questions, and then we'll pick this up again next quarter.

Thanks, everyone. Thank you.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's call. Thank you all for joining.

You may now disconnect.