Tallinna Sadam AS

Tallinna Sadam AS

1.20
EUR
+0.00
(-0.33%)
0.07EPS
18.43P/E
335.06MMarket Cap
Nov 09Next Earn

Q4 FY2025 · Earnings Call TranscriptFebruary 26, 2026

Valdo Kalm

Good morning, dear investors, analysts. Welcome to our webinarium.

My name is Valdo Kalm. I am in charge of Port of Tallinn Group, and Angelika Annus, she is our leader of Investor Relations.

Angelika Annus

Good morning.

Valdo Kalm

I would like to start as usually with events from Q4. Very, very generally speaking, the whole year was quite okay, and then also happened a lot of events during the year.

Now let's focus on last quarter. There was increase of cargo volumes up to 6%, coming mainly from dry bulk and Ro-Ro.

There was also higher number of passengers in passenger business, supported by Helsinki, but more from cruise. Also, our ferry business showed increase in passenger numbers, in vehicles, and made quite a stable result.

Again, back to cruise, the last quarter was, I would call, very successful because we got 10 big and huge cruise ships to our port. That shows that, very clearly, that there is a prolongation of cruise season all over the world, same here in our basin or in the Baltic Sea, and hopefully that will continue this year.

At least we see the bookings for the year. Then we finalized technically, and we completed, South Paldiski Harbor new quay.

Nowadays, we have already license fixed to use that, and we're starting to use it now immediately. That means that we're waiting quite a huge ship already end of February, beginning of March to new quay.

That means there will be revenues from that quay. For us, it's very important that we got EU support for construction of onshore power supply for the cruises.

The investment altogether with transformation center, all the substations is up to €40 million, and then €10 million for that we got as a support. It helps a lot for the future business case for OPS, or onshore power supply.

Then we got approved price list of electrical network charges from Competition Authority. That's also important step, increases our revenue by half a million for this year.

Continuing with events on Q4, we got back 50 hectares property in Muuga Harbor from court dispute, and now the land is ours again, and we now preparing for the new international tender. It's old coal terminal area.

We use the quays all the time, but the land was basically occupied, but now we will try to find a new use, and that's definitely good news for us. We signed MoU for transit of Kazakh grain.

Technically, everything is ready. We are talking of about couple of millions of tonnes.

We really prepared transit corridor for that. We have excellent conditions in Muuga Harbor.

Quay for huge bulkers or big ships, and then very efficient terminal. Therefore, technically, is everything ready.

There was also important visit couple of weeks ago from Kazakhstan to Muuga Port, and now it's all about how Kazakhs will get the permission or license go through Russia with the trains. Then we signed in November Swedish-Estonian green corridor contract.

That's not only green project, it's definitely our infrastructure project, but also the activity list how to increase the passenger and cargo numbers between Port of Stockholm and Tallinn, between Kapellskär-Paldiski. Now, from next week, we're starting to steer this project, and we looking in a good hope to really increase the volumes between our two countries.

Icebreaker Botnica started their summer job quite late autumn this year, but then they got very good job in Canada waters with high charter fees. Everything went well.

It was very special rescue work, but they executed it very well. Some changes in our daughter companies: there is now new member of management board in TS Shipping, in company who owns the Botnica, new marketing and sales director with very good experience from offshore business, Margus Rahuoja.

He works already heavily with new leads and new contract possibilities for Botnica. Then we prolonged also the contract for Katrin Aron from TS Laevad for another three years.

Our sister company Green Marine was nominated as a circular economy promoter for year 2025. Now then to the segments more precisely.

As we mentioned, then we had nice increase in cruise vessels, but also increase of cruise passengers more than 100% that supported our total passenger number, although we had small increase in Helsinki link, and altogether then we increase in revenues 3%. On cargo side, I already mentioned that there is increase of volumes, less vessel calls, but the vessels were bigger.

Tankers were bigger, dry bulk or bulkers were bigger, and then we also managed to increase the revenue 2.4%. Ferry business shows very stable numbers.

Of course, they had increase in passengers and vehicles also. Then Botnica made couple of days less charter days than in last year Q4, therefore there is small decline also in revenues.

There are more precisely passenger volumes, as I mentioned, and if we're talking about yearly basis, then we continuously try to restore the number, the magic number 10 million what we had pre-COVID time. Last year, we gained an 8.3, and for us, it's very important to have stable vessel calls, passenger vessel calls.

Of course, there are quarters are different because there are docks for the vessels, but very important is overall number, that is 5.5 thousand calls per year. On cargo side, of course, we also follow the volumes in Q4.

We mentioned that the biggest increase came from liquid bulk and Ro-Ro. Then if you take the whole year, then, again, biggest increase came from liquid bulk, some 45% even, and from bulk, dry bulk cargo.

Ro-Ro stayed almost on the same level. Again, important to have stable cargo vessel calls, what we also saw in 2025.

Ferry segment doing very stably. If you take whole year, then, again, another increase of passengers and vehicles, these are record numbers again.

Our Regula, the fifth vessel, made many additional trips, therefore we have increase on revenues also in our ferry segment. Botnica, unfortunately, had quite a low utilization rate last year due to the quite late start, as I mentioned.

We try to sell it more this year. Of course, it depends a lot on overall strategy in green agenda, therefore there are some pros and cons, of course, but also Botnica is excellent ship for special different offshore jobs, as we did this rescue operation in last quarter, Canada.

Therefore, we would like to see better numbers on utilization this year. Future outlook: there are couple of important main trends and strategies.

We believe that we can still increase the number of passengers supported by cruise. We see the bookings for this year.

We see that the season also in a, let's say, prolonging trend. Therefore, that's important to support that.

On cruise side, we're personally working very heavily on sales. Last year, for example, we had 11 totally new ships in our harbor and one new operator.

We hope that we will have also this year some new players. Very important to negotiate and also sign certain agreement with new Ro-Ro and container lines.

Last year, we managed to have container line one in Muuga. We have continuous negotiation with some four, five companies.

It's, of course, heavy competition between the ports, but we have excellent infrastructure now. Thanks to this new quay in Paldiski, we have capacity now in Paldiski.

We have had capacity in Muuga. There is a separate free quay for Ro-Ro, therefore we have infrastructure in place.

Now it's important to really work hard on sales and negotiations. Strategically, we will develop further that maritime transport corridors.

We have to support Estonian export with maritime corridors. We have to support Scandinavian import-export with our corridors.

Therefore, two years ago, we signed Finnish corridor, and there are not only Tallinn and Helsinki involved, there is also Muuga-Vuosaari. Same with Stockholm corridor, where we also in a scope we have Tallinn and Stockholm plus Kapellskär-Paldiski.

Now we're negotiating German corridor between Tallinn or Muuga and Hamburg, and Paldiski-Lübeck. That's under the negotiation, and definitely the aim is to increase the volumes, to do it in sustainable way.

Of course, as I already mentioned, more utilize new quay. It's a multifunctional quay, as I said, explained first contract already in force, but definitely now we have possibilities to serve also Ro-Ro ships, military big ships on this quay, and of course, we're negotiating the bigger contract, longer contract with offshore wind farm developers or component producers.

That's under the negotiation. We are quite in interesting phase on this real estate business in Old City Harbour.

There are two detailed plans now for the final resolution in city council, and hopefully that happens before the summer, and then we are immediately ready to introduce first developing tenders for the 7 hectare what we have on this called D-terminal detail plan. Efficiency in a place still every year, and continuously it's process re-engineering, a lot of digitalization.

We have some 70 IT systems already in place. It's all about digitalization and automation, and I guess we are quite good on that, but there are more to develop.

Finally, to have results from 2025 on table, where we see clear increase of EBITDA and net profits, then we have outlook for this year that all allows to continue with dividend policy and even to exceed that. That's the final message.

We will preparing definite based on that the proposal for our supervisory board and then to the AGM in a nearest future. Thank you, and I would like to give floor now to Angelika.

Angelika Annus

Thank you, Valdo. Let's start with the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the revenues were higher compared to the last year by €360,000. All segments gave better results except for other, because of reduced number of charter days of Botnica.

Adjusted EBITDA, however, decreased by €1 million approximately, and the decrease was seen in all segments of activities. Mostly, it was related to maintenance and repair works, which took place in the fourth quarter as they were postponed throughout the year.

Adjusted EBITDA margin declined by 4.1 percentage points. Operating profit reduced €1.3 million, €1.25 million, almost the same amount as adjusted EBITDA.

However, profit for the period was declining less, only €700,000, and a positive effect came from smaller interest rates on the loans. For 12 months, we see, however, decline in revenue, approximately €900,000.

On the positive side, we can say that the results at the end of the year are really, really good. The revenue declined mostly in segment other due to Botnica, but all the other segments faced really good results.

The most of increase took place in passenger fees, cargo charges, and also lease revenues in all segments of our activities. Adjusted EBITDA was better by €3.4 million, and it increased mostly in passenger and cargo harbor segments, but also there were one-prime effects from insurance compensation for Botnica maintenance charges of last year.

The second one of change into our results was due to sales of property in Muuga for preparations to start building Rail Baltica terminal by the state. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 3.2 percentage points, and operating profit was even higher than adjusted EBITDA, it was €3.6 million.

We can see that income tax has increased in 2025, and it is due to changes in the legislation where we cannot anymore use reduced rate of income tax. Profit for the period increased by €3.3 million as a result of all these changes, and it is really, really good result, what we can see, also affected by reduced interest costs of approximately €2.5 million.

Investments in fourth quarter were higher due to ending the construction works of the quay in Paldiski Harbor. In 12 months, we can see that the total amount of investments has reduced by approximately €5.5 million.

In addition to Paldiski quay, we have invested into reinforcement of Muuga quays, into ships on power, shipping segment, and also into IT and other facilities. In the fourth quarter, we can see, as I told you, that the only segment that had less revenues was other, related to Botnica charter days.

Adjusted EBITDA of fourth quarter was reduced in passenger harbors, cargo harbors, and also in Botnica segment, but remained almost the same in the ferry segment. During 12 months, we can see that all segments are positive again.

Only the other segment carried less revenues than last year, approximately €4 million, which is quite a high amount. But 12 months results in passenger and cargo segments are showing really good results from EBITDA point of view.

For example, in passenger harbors, it was mostly influenced by our cruise ships, which we had more vessel calls and also more cruise passengers. In cargo harbor, although the vessel calls number was reduced, the ships that visited us were larger and with higher capacity, and therefore we received more charges from those calls.

In the ferry segment, we see a little slight decline in the adjusted EBITDA, and it is related also to some one-off consulting costs related to our ferries, where we try to find out if we can make them more effective, these research works were paid for. Cash flow: cash from operating activities increased by €5 million approximately, and it is mainly influenced by two issues.

We received more payments from our customers, and we paid less to our suppliers. That's the main difference.

The negative effect to this line was from payment of income tax, which was paid on dividends, approximately €2.3 million. Cash used in investing activities, you can see quite a big difference.

At the end of 2024, we deposited €22 million for a longer period to earn some interest. In the beginning of 2025, we received this amount back, this is the major influencer here on this line.

Also, we received €5 million, approximately €5 million from sales of the land in Muuga, and there are minor differences also on other lines. The free cash flow in total has changed €47.6 million.

Cash used in financing activities, you can see that it was much higher this year than last year, the difference of €20 million, but it is influenced also by the fact that in 2025 we did not take any additional loan, which we did in 2024, and we have repaid some loans, and we paid also dividends of €19 million. Net cash flow remains €14.8 million, and the net debt has reduced by €26 million approximately and remains €142 million.

Now the balance sheet: we can see that total assets have declined a little bit. Cash has declined by €7 million.

The decline was also in other current assets, which was related to non-current assets ready for sale, which we sold at the beginning of the year, so that's the difference coming from that. Non-current assets have increased by €8 million, which is the difference between investments and the amortization.

We have also reduced our debt by €11 million. Other liabilities remained at the same level, and the equity has increased by €3 million, which is the difference between €22 million profit earned during 2025 and €19 million dividend payout.

On the rest of the slides, you can just take a view to the revenue generation and EBITDA generation within our different segments during different quarters. Thank you for listening, and now you have possibility to let us have the questions if you have any.

We'll take a couple of minutes and come back to you.

Valdo Kalm

We are back. We got some questions in advance, and there is question about dividend proposal: have you already proposed a dividend payment?

Not yet. Just recently, we planning to do that to our council meeting, and then of course it goes to the AGM.

As I mentioned in my presentation, by the results from last year, by trends, prognosis to this year, we definitely making proposal at least 70% from our profits for the dividends. It's really a bit up to our council to decide what is the final proposal for the AGM.

Another question: would you be able to provide some updates on following areas, industrial parks in Muuga and Paldiski? In Paldiski, we have already situation that many plots are booked, and there is no a big space free.

In Muuga, we still have free plots. We had one tender.

We finished month ago. We got one interesting proposal.

We negotiating that. Then just in the beginning of the year, we got back 50 hectares from bankruptcy case land in eastern part of Muuga, and just now we preparing that for the new international tender.

What about new South Harbor quays in Paldiski? I covered that already.

There is one contract ongoing, that means we will have revenues from this quay already in Q1. Then we negotiating bigger contract with offshore wind developers or element production companies, but that's definitely takes a little bit time, and of course we inform then these kind of contracts via our stock system, how to say.

Then what is the timing for the first tender of Old Harbor development? If everything goes well, then we would like to announce this tender before summer.

Then question about the progress of the Yetgas LNG terminal development in Muuga. Yetgas got development or construction right end of last year.

If, again, everything goes by plan, they would like to start investment this year. That's—

Angelika Annus

We have a few questions also online.

Valdo Kalm

That's from that. Please.

Angelika Annus

Could you clarify outlook of exceeding the agreed dividend policy? As we have quite good results made in 2025, and our outlooks for 2026 are also positive, then our management might decide to pay out more than 70% from the profit.

Mhm.

Valdo Kalm

What are the main risks for 2026 in terms of revenue growth and profitability? Of course, the risk is how passenger business will grow.

It's up to macro situation, but, yeah, also demand of the passenger customers, owned by shipping operators, of course. There are still some smaller risks.

On profitability, again, I would like to mention that it's still difficult to estimate what kind of profitability we will have on TS Shipping or on Botnica side. It depends very much on a job.

Maybe there will be higher revenue, but it depends what kind of equipment we have to install, and that's quite costly. What is the manning on a ship for the special jobs in offshore?

Therefore, there are small risks also in terms of profitability.

Angelika Annus

What is the reasonable investment amount for 2026, given the Paldiski quay is now completed? What have we estimated for investment in 2026?

I think it's €30 million to €35 million approximately.

Valdo Kalm

Yes, correct.

Angelika Annus

Couple of more questions. Please remind us how will the real estate tenders be set up?

Will Tallinna Sadam take development risk?

Valdo Kalm

The main model that we are not going to be developer. We announcing the tender that will be definitely international tender for the investors, for developers.

They will invest. We will invest some smaller infrastructure investment, but that's it.

Angelika Annus

The last question—okay, there are some more coming up. Let's take this one first: do you expect to get an offshore developer tenant for new Paldiski quay in near future?

Actually, Valdo replied already.

Valdo Kalm

It's under the negotiation. It's very difficult to predict, but we working heavily on that.

Angelika Annus

There are three more questions from... Mhm.

It appears Botnica EBITDA margins were positively impacted this year by maintenance and repairs being €6 million versus prior year €8.5 million. Was this lower amount just a one-off?

Complicated to say because the ship is not very young anymore, we hope that we don't have to face any unexpected works, so...

Valdo Kalm

Correct.

Angelika Annus

What is the current demand for the new onshore electrical charging system, and are there many fully electric and hybrid vessels currently being built that will use the port?

Valdo Kalm

Yes, they are. There are on a shorter distance, and we can say the shorter distance is lower than 100 km.

There are these kind of systems, and it's, I guess, well known already that Viking Line preparing for such a ship also in Tallinn-Helsinki link. Therefore, of course, we consider that.

We have to be ready for the certain date. Of course, from Viking Line there is not final decision taken, but they anyway will build certain hybrid type of vessel.

We, yeah, again, have to be ready for that plus onshore power supply for the cruises. That's from our perspective, one solution and one investment.

Angelika Annus

The last question: could you provide an update on how cargo and passenger volumes are tracking currently year-to-date? We cannot give you any how to say estimates or prognoses, our KPIs we will publish at the beginning of April, then you will see the results of first quarter.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Valdo Kalm

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Angelika Annus

Bye.