I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Rico Christensen, CEO. Please go ahead.
Thank you, Ashley. Good morning, and thank you for joining us today for Nufarm's first half FY 2026 results. With me today, I have our CFO, Brendan Ryan, our Group Executive for Portfolio Solutions, Beth Lorsbach, and our General Manager for the Hybrid Seeds business, Rachel Palumbo. Over the past year, we have been very deliberate in sharpening our focus to improve earnings quality, strengthen the balance sheet, and increase capital discipline.
Today's presentation reflects good progress on that journey. I'll walk through the first half performance. Brendan will then discuss the financials in more detail. Lastly, I will talk about our strategy refresh and close with our outlook commentary. Before we begin, I encourage everyone to read the important notices on the next page regarding forward-looking statements and non-IFRS measures. As always, our comments today are subject to market conditions and the risks outlined in this presentation.
I'm pleased to report that we have delivered a strong result with 18% growth in EBITDA and 35% growth in NPAT over prior corresponding period. We also delivered a significant improvement in free cash flow of AUD 193 million, reducing our leverage to 3.6x net debt to underlying EBITDA, which is not only better than last year, but also on par with the first half of FY 2024. Revenue was lower year-on-year, reflecting a deliberate focus on improving mix and prioritizing margin over volume. Gross profit increased 7% and reached a margin of 33.1%, which is the highest gross profit percentage Nufarm has reported in the last 20 years. Later in the presentation, we will provide more detail on the strategic choices we have made to change our margin profile and our focus going forward.
Recently, this overall performance gives us the confidence to reaffirm our outlook for the full year in regards to strong growth in underlying EBITDA and two times leverage. Last November, we outlined our priorities for FY 2026. They were to focus on cost and capital discipline, drive profitable growth in crop protection, and deliver on our reprioritized seed strategy. We have done what we said we would. We improved cash flow and reduced leverage to 3.6 x, and we kept our operating expenses flat. In crop protection, we delivered profitable growth and improved margins. We grew our EBITDA by 6% in constant currency. Hybrid Seeds EBITDA grew by 8%, and we significantly improved performance in Emerging Platforms. We had a good crop protection result with growth driven by underlying regional strength, partially offset by currency translation and weather impacts.
While performance differed by region, what has been consistent is our emphasis on focusing resources on areas where we can generate sustainable margins and returns. That discipline is increasingly reflected in earnings quality and cash outcomes and result in an increase in EBITDA by 6% in constant currency. Europe was the standout contributor, with EBITDA up 17% on prior corresponding period in local currency, reflecting improved product mix and lower operating costs following the implementation of the performance improvement program.
North America EBITDA increased 11% on prior corresponding period in local currency. Turf and ornamental and Canada grew strongly. Volumes in U.S. crop protection reflected a continued focus on higher value products. Longer regulatory approval processes impacted the timing of new product revenue. APAC EBITDA declined 15% on prior corresponding period, primarily reflecting dry weather conditions in Australia and currency headwinds.
In Asia, underlying EBITDA grew strongly in constant currency, with Indonesia a key contributor. We are very pleased with Seed Technologies. The EBITDA grew 8%, driven by growth in Hybrid Seeds and a materially improved result in Emerging Platforms. Hybrid Seeds performed well across all crops, with expansion and scale-up in South America, strong Australian canola growth, and successful new product launches.
In Emerging Platforms, we expanded our offtake agreement with BP to 2050. It positions Carinata to grow at scale under a disciplined capital-light investment model. In Omega-3, we reduced cash cost and capital. We are repositioning Omega-3 to lower cost of production in South America. Europe and China deregulation are on track for 2028. Overall, Seed Technologies is delivering higher quality earnings with improved margins and lower capital intensity. Now, I will hand over to Brendan to take us through the financial result in detail.
Thanks, Rico. As Rico highlighted, this is a strong first half with improved earnings, cash flow, and reduction in leverage. The financials I'll walk through now demonstrate that this has been driven by an improvement in earnings quality and capital discipline, reflecting deliberate actions taken over the past 12 months to reshape the business. Turning to the profit and loss. While revenue was lower year-on-year, reflecting our deliberate focus on improving mix and prioritizing margin over volume, gross profit increased 7%, and margins expanded by 3.7 percentage points to 33.1%.
This reflects improved crop protection mix, strong Hybrid Seeds growth, and improved performance in Omega-3. Importantly, this margin expansion, combined with disciplined cost management, is now translating into strong operating leverage across the P&L, with margin gains flowing through to earnings. Operating expenses were broadly flat, with the benefits from the cost savings program offsetting inflationary pressures.
As a result, underlying EBITDA increased 18% to AUD 243 million, and underlying EBIT increased 32% to AUD 136 million. We also delivered strong growth in underlying Net Profit After Tax of 35% to AUD 52 million, demonstrating the earnings leverage now embedded in the business. Overall, this reflects an improvement in the quality and the resilience of our earnings profile, which is increasingly translating to cash. Turning to the balance sheet. We are now seeing a clear inflection from the cyclical peak in working capital seen in the first half of FY 2024, and this improved balance sheet efficiency is supporting stronger cash generation. Average net working capital reduced by 12%, with a 2.1 percentage point improvement in net working capital to sales reflecting disciplined working capital management.
At the same time, capital expenditure has reduced materially as we transition from a period of peak investment to a lower, more sustainable level. Combined with stronger profitability, this has driven a meaningful reduction in net debt and leverage. Net debt reduced 10% year-on-year, notwithstanding AUD 190 million higher opening net debt position entering FY 2026.
Leverage declined from 4.5 x to 3.6x , a reduction of around 20%. Overall, the balance sheet is strengthening with improved working capital efficiency, and the business is positioned to continue to deleverage, driven by earnings and cash generation. On net operating expenses, we are on track to deliver 2025 cost savings program, with the full period benefit of AUD 50 million captured by this financial year-end. As you can see on the slide, we have achieved AUD 32 million of cumulative savings in operating expenses to the first half of the year.
This has offset inflation. Importantly, a significant portion of these savings is now embedded in the current earnings base, contributing directly to underlying EBITDA expansion. These savings have been driven by targeted actions across the business, including performance improvement initiatives in Europe, reduced commercial and support spend, and headcount is 115 lower than the prior year. Overall, this program is supporting ongoing improvement in margins, cash flow, and returns. Turning now to cash flow. Free cash flow in the half reflects the typical working capital build in the first half.
We have delivered AUD 193 million year-on-year improvement in free cash flow, reflecting materially stronger underlying cash generation and disciplined capital management. This improvement has been driven by stronger profitability, improved working capital outcomes contributing to AUD 103 million, and lower capital expenditure. Importantly, this represents a strong lift in underlying cash generation and positions us well for positive free cash flow for the full year as working capital unwinds in the second half. On net working capital, we delivered a further year-on-year improvement as we continue to deliver sustained improvement from the cyclical peak in the first half of FY 2024.
Average net working capital reduced by 7%, with a six-day improvement in the cash conversion cycle driven primarily by lower receivable days, resulting in lower funding requirements and improved capital efficiency. As a result, net working capital to sales reduced by 2.1 percentage points and is now comfortably within our 35%-40% target range. This improvement reinforces the progress we are making in embedding capital discipline across the business, and working capital will continue to be a key lever supporting free cash flow generation.
On capital expenditure, the reduction in our capital expenditure this year reflects our transition from a period of peak investment to a lower, more sustainable level of spend. It also reflects our more focused strategy, which requires less capital intensity and increased discipline around capital allocation. This includes lower spending across manufacturing, a more focused crop protection R&D portfolio, and reduced investment in the Omega-3 Platform. We are targeting capital expenditure this year of less than AUD 200 million, down from AUD 246 million last year. As you can see, the weighting of spend will be in the second half due to timing of project delivery. The more sustainable capital profile of the business will support improved free cash flow generation over time.
On net debt, we've delivered AUD 135 million reduction year on year, notwithstanding a higher opening debt position and some benefit on currency translation. With leverage declining by approximately 20%, from 4.5 x to 3.6x . This reflects the combination of stronger earnings, disciplined working capital management, and lower CapEx. Importantly, deleveraging is now being driven by improved earnings and cash generation rather than balance sheet actions alone, marking a clear shift in the financial profile of the business. Our funding position remains strong with a diversified covenant-light capital structure. Liquidity remains solid after supporting the seasonal working capital build. Now to some information to help you with your models, giving guidance on some key line items for the full year of FY 2026. Depreciation and Amortization, approximately AUD 218 million. Net interest expense, approximately AUD 100 million.
Foreign exchange hedge expense, second half expense expected to be below that of the first half. Underlying income tax expense, we expect the AUD 20 million-AUD 30 million range reflecting country mix. Overall, this result demonstrates an improvement in earnings quality and materially stronger cash generation and a stronger balance sheet. This supports our confidence in delivering the full-year outlook. We are now building a more resilient financial profile with improving operating leverage and cash conversion. This provides a strong foundation for continued deleveraging, sustained free cash flow, and improved returns over time, and demonstrates that the strategy is already translating into financial outcomes. I will now hand you back to Rico to cover the strategy refresh and outlook.
Thank you, Brendan. I will now discuss our strategy refresh before covering outlook. When I think about Nufarm and talk to farmers and channel partners across the world, what stands out is the instant brand recognition and respect that people have for our business and the depth of the relationships we have built over more than 100 years of doing business. We are known for our solutions and our commitment to being easy to do business with.
We are a leader in key geographies in core crops and key product segments. We are known and respected for our innovations across crop protection and seeds, and supporting customers with solutions as the agricultural industry continues to evolve. Our strategy refresh will see us take the best of what we have and what we do, and apply more focus to drive better returns for our shareholders. Over time, our industry has evolved into an everything for everybody business model. We are choosing a different direction. What we are articulating is not only choosing what we will do, but also what we will not do.
We are sharpening the focus on where we can win and applying greater discipline to how we allocate capital and resources accordingly. First, we are prioritizing capital more effectively, reallocating toward markets where we have a track record of strong returns and a competitive advantage. This also means exiting assets and portfolios when they don't align with our strategy and returns discipline. Second, we are improving the quality of earnings and returns in crop protection. This is about narrowing our focus on crops and markets, and as has been evident in this result, we are placing a greater emphasis on margin over volume.
Our portfolio renewal will continue to come from partnerships that deliver innovation in a capital-light model. Third, in Hybrid Seeds, we have a high-quality business with a clear path for growth. In Emerging Platforms, we have a unique position with technologies that are sought after and supported by strategic partners such as BP. Here, we have taken a more disciplined approach to investments to support growth and group returns. Overall, this refresh is designed to support stronger cash flow and improved margins ROIC over time. In FY 2026, we remain focused on disciplined delivery, completing the previous AUD 50 million cost savings program announced in FY 2025, resetting our CapEx target to below AUD 200 million and continuing the path toward lower leverage. The strategy refresh creates the basis for additional efficiencies.
In April, we announced further cost savings of AUD 50 million and expect to achieve the run rate by the end of FY 2027 and the full benefit in FY 2028. In FY 2027, we expect to sustain CapEx at a similar level to FY 2026. Beyond that, our objective is to sustain positive free cash flow, continue improving ROIC, and operate the business within a leverage range of around 1.5x to 2x . Collectively, these objectives reflect the financial discipline embedded in the strategy refresh and our focus on improving returns and cash generation across the cycle. I want to share a bit more detail on the new cost savings program. The focus in the FY 2026 program is centered around two areas.
The first is the rationalization of assets and portfolio, and the second is around operational efficiency and changes in our operating model. The anticipated cost savings are spread across reductions in internal cost of goods and SG&A. I want to emphasize that we're not relying on external reductions in cost of goods to achieve the savings target. The FY 2026 program is expected to have cash implementation cost of AUD 15 million weighted towards FY 2027.
We expect to achieve the run rate savings by the end of FY 2027, with the full benefit coming through in FY 2028. In our Crop Protection business, we have taken several actions as a result of the strategy refresh. First, we are narrowing our portfolio focus around fewer crops and reprioritizing capital toward markets where we can consistently earn returns above our cost of capital. Second, we are actively rationalizing assets to better align the footprint with that portfolio.
This includes the closure of the Wyke manufacturing facility and closure and sale of the Kwinana site. Further footprint options are being assessed. We are also rationalizing the portfolio in North America to prioritize higher-margin products. In doing that, we are deliberately foregoing some revenue in the short term and focusing on growing higher-margin products, as evident from our first half results. Third, we are driving ongoing operational efficiency, reducing fixed cost, capital intensity, and complexity. Collectively, these actions are designed to redeploy capital to higher-returning activities and deliver more resilient margins and returns over time. In Seed Technologies, we are also taking action to improve capital discipline and returns while preserving the long-term upside. We restructured the portfolio into two distinct operating models, reflecting very different routes to market, customer archetypes, and capital profiles.
In Hybrid Seeds, the focus is on scaling our highest returning platform with a strong Southern Hemisphere bias. It is a traditional business-to-retail model where we influence grower decisions at the farm gate. Actions underway include streamlining the European sunflower business through a licensing model and expanding in South America, both aimed at improving margins and returns while capitalizing on the rising global demand for plant-based oils.
Emerging Platforms is a business-to-business model relying on selected and unique strategic partners. Here, we are taking a deliberately more disciplined approach. In Carinata, growth is being supported through our expanded partnership with BP under a capital-light model. In Omega-3, we have reset to a lower cash spend and are undertaking a staged approach with production and deregulation progressing in a measured way while keeping the long-term growth prospects intact. Together, these actions are designed to sharpen returns while maintaining strategic optionality.
This brings us to our strategic priorities that continues to be cost and capital discipline, drive profitable growth in Crop Protection, and deliver on the reprioritized seeds strategy. To help us do that, we have listed some specific actions which we are on. The first is the additional cost savings program of AUD 50 million, which we have provided detail. We've also made really good progress on resetting our CapEx to a healthier level and reallocating it towards our chosen markets. It also remains a continued focus to improve our earnings quality and lift free cash flow. In Crop Protection specifically, we are shifting portfolio mix towards higher-margin products. In the U.S., we built a solid plan to improve returns and now in the early stages of execution.
In Europe, we saw really good progress in improving our margins and returns this first half, and now we are focused on maintaining that momentum. In Seeds, we are building out the new operating model around the two distinct businesses while at the same time expanding our Hybrid Seeds business across the Southern Hemisphere. We are aligning our investments to a return-based focus without losing sight of the long-term growth prospects in Emerging Platforms.
This brings me to our outlook for FY 2026. We are reaffirming our outlook for this year, expecting strong growth in EBITDA. We are targeting a net debt leverage of 2x by the end of FY 2026, which compares to 2.7x by end of FY 2025. We also expect positive free cash flow driven by a normal seasonal unwind in working capital, and we are targeting capital expenditure of less than AUD 200 million.
In Crop Protection, we are expecting continuing growth in EBITDA, improving on the first half growth rate driven by continuing margin improvement and cost savings. In Seed Technologies, we are expecting strong growth in EBITDA from Hybrid Seeds and an AUD 40 million improvement in EBITDA from Emerging Platforms, resulting from our expanded offtake agreement with BP and improved Omega-3 performance. With that, Bren and I, together with Rachel and Beth, will be happy to take questions.
Thank you. If you wish to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. If you wish to cancel your request, please press star two. If you are on a speakerphone, please pick up the handset to ask your question. Your first question today comes from Owen Birrell with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.
Hey, good morning, guys. Rico, I wanted to draw you out on one of the comments you made around the U.S. crop protection market, where you've said you've got a plan to improve returns, and that's currently being executed. I'm wondering if you can give us a bit more color around what the strategies that you've implemented in that North American market?
Yeah, thanks for that question. It comes back to what we talked about during the presentation, which is really around focusing on our portfolio. We're changing the crop strategy and our portfolio strategy. In doing that, we are rationalizing the portfolio we have in the U.S. market and leaning towards more higher margin products. That's going to change the margin profile of the U.S. crop protection business.
Are you able to give us a sense of some of those products that you're leaning into?
There's a long tail of products in our portfolio in the U.S., I think what we're looking at are really the products that are more commoditized. Some products that have become more commoditized over the years and have lost their relevance in the market. Those would be the ones that we're looking at. I'll also ask maybe Beth to help expand a little bit about what we're doing on our portfolio and crop strategy.
Thanks, Rico. Maybe just a little bit more detail on our crop strategy. Our focus is aligning our crop strategy around three key markets: cereals, soybeans, and tree nuts and vines, globally to drive growth and margin improvements by concentrating resources on those key groups. This represents the most treated end market value within crop protection. It also leverages our strength in post-patent solutions and value-added mixtures across the regions, with particular emphasis on cereals and soybeans in major markets like Europe, North America, APAC and LATAM.
Most of our current pipeline sales are linked to these three crop groups, highlighting their importance, and focusing on these crop groups allows sharper portfolio prioritization, streamlined registrations, better ROIs, and concentrated R&D efforts. Specifically, our manufacturing footprint in phenoxies is equally important to us supporting these key crops. It's a key component of many cereal and soybean products currently on the market. Even when prices sway, acreage stability in these key two crop segments supports base volumes, which improves asset utilization and manufacturing and overhead.
That's excellent. Just one last question from me around the cost out programs. The FY 2026 cost out program, AUD 50 million. The FY 2027, another AUD 50 million. I'm just wondering, is this a line in the sand that we should think about going into the future as a cost out target required to continually offset inflationary pressures?
Yep. Thanks. Brendan here. On the 2026 cost out program, as you can see from what we presented today, we've made very good progress in the delivery to date. That was largely focused around SG&A, and we're on plan to deliver the remaining of that benefit in the second half. In regards to the additional AUD 50 million that Rico mentioned as part of the strategy refresh, that is more broader base in terms of going across the value chain. As Rico indicated, some of that benefit will be coming through in terms of cost of goods or manufacturing conversion costs, as well as in our SG&A. There will be some reduction in our fixed cost base. We'll continue to drive the efficiency in the cost base that we have. Some of those benefits will be offset by inflationary pressures.
That's an element that's hard to predict, but will be present, I guess, on the go forward. Overall, from a cost perspective in terms of a theme in the strategy refresh is controlling the controllables in terms of cost management, being disciplined around where we spend our money in terms of the benefit and the returns it provides, and we continue to be focused on our continuous efficiency right across our cost base as we go forward.
Okay, thanks.
Your next question comes from William Park with UBS. Please go ahead.
Good morning. Thanks, Rico and Brendan, for taking my question. Can I just ask about the trends that you've seen across different geographies in the first two months of second half to date, particularly around sort of the weather-related impacts and, I guess the farm economics there? Thank you.
Thanks, Will . As we mentioned, we are seeing good momentum in April and May in our business across all regions and businesses. In terms of the weather update, obviously we don't have that elusive normal year as we always talk about. There are always a mixed picture of things happening here and there. Largely speaking, the weather conditions have been normal to that extent.
In Europe, we've seen a little bit of late spring in parts of Europe and then flooding in a couple of southern markets. In North America, we also had a late spring this year. We're probably running three or four weeks behind from a normal season there. In APAC, we've seen also dry weather impact in the beginning of the year. Now in the last couple of months, including in March, we saw some good rainfalls at the right time of the season from our perspective and also in the right geographies.
Thank you. Can I just also ask about your strategy? You've talked about how you're now chasing I guess you're not chasing revenue, but you're more focused on earnings quality. If I look across your global peers, they're talking about somewhat muted revenue growth in the crop protection space, driven by volume. I'm not sure, it's kind of ties in with my first question around farm economics. Given the cost inflation and diesel prices and all these things that are outside of their control, is there a risk that there is a flight to lower price, more commoditized products versus some of the premium products or higher priced products you're talking to?
I don't think so. I think what's happening around the world is that, yes, there is a concern among farmers around rising cost of fuel and fertilizer costs, particularly. I think most farmers, they have options to reduce some of their fertilizer applications, if they have done their work in their previous years. You can skip for a year or reduce in a year, without a significant impact on yield.
They're doing that. They also have other options to reduce their cash spend on farm. They're going through all those different options, just as we do when we are running a business. They're looking at cash flow also. What they do not seem to be compromising on is the quality of the yields that they deliver on farm. Farmers continue to be focused on delivering high yields, which means that they are investing in seeds. They are investing in crop protection to help protect their crops, because once the investment is made, you planted your crop, you need to ensure that you can harvest it and get those yields you're looking for. I don't think we're not seeing a radical change in how farmers are spending on crop protection and seeds.
Thank you. Just in terms of how you're thinking about, I guess, your COGS in the crop protection business, if I look at some of the recent moves in the ag chem prices coming out of China, that there's been a pretty meaningful improvement there. Just how you're thinking about benefits of the prices moving upward, flowing through to the business?
Yeah. A lot of that change we're seeing out of China is obviously driven by the conflict in the Middle East that has an impact on their energy costs. What we've not really seen is a short-term impact on our business. Traditionally, we've been very good at translating those cost increases into higher prices of our products. We'll continue to manage that development coming out of China, not just this year, but also next year.
Thank you. Just one last question from me. I've noticed that the licensing revenue in the half has jumped. How should we be thinking about the licensing revenue profile going forward?
Licensing revenue is year-on-year, there has been some movement. It primarily relates to our Emerging Platforms segment of the business. That will trending typical to what you see in the first half going forward. That's additionally planned.
Thank you.
Thank you. Your next question comes from Ramoun Lazar with Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Good morning, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. Maybe just want to start with on the growth platforms. Could you just give us an idea of the initiatives to reduce those break-even costs for Omega-3, and where do you see those new costs relative to a break-even price? If you can maybe talk around that.
Yeah, thanks for that question. We've also talked about that in previous settings, and what we're doing is really two things. The first one, maybe start by saying it's not only about reducing cost of goods, it's also about reducing the CapEx. What we did last year was we took a hard look at the CapEx spend and also OpEx spend we have around the Emerging Platforms, and we took action on that, and we saw some of that also happening last year. In addition to that, we also decided to relocate production to South America. In doing that, we expect to see a lower cost to produce because of that decision. Lastly, we also are awaiting the deregulation in China, which will provide an additional cost savings to the Omega-3 products.
Okay. Any idea you can give us on that break-even price relative to where it's been previously given those initiatives?
We don't normally disclose the breakeven price. We obviously have competitors in the market that are also listening to these calls, so we don't normally talk about it.
Okay. Second question, just on the leverage guidance for the full year around that two times net debt to EBITDA. It does imply a significant net working capital unwind in the second half. Maybe if you can help us bridge that unwind in the second half, the key drivers, and how to think about leverage heading into the new year as well.
Yeah. Thanks. Brendan here. We've confirmed in terms of leverage for the end of financial year 2026, that we'll be at 2 x EBITDA. The drivers of the ability to achieve that leverage is from the net working capital, and as you mentioned, the working capital unwind in the second half. That's typical to what we've seen in past years, which is largely driven by cash collections, effectively the reduction in receivables from the sales made in the first half. There will be some inventory improvements also. As you can see from the first half, we've driven some working capital efficiency with a reduction in the cash conversion cycle. It'll be also supported by a lower level of CapEx year-on-year. The weighting of that is to the second half.
That's largely as a result of the project delivery, and it'll also be supported by your stronger earnings relative to last year also. In terms of looking beyond this current financial year, look, what our message is around the focus on the continued commercial levers around driving better cash conversion in the business, sustaining the lower level of capital expenditure, continuing the improvement pathway that we have now sustained over approximately two years in driving lower working capital for the business, and better cost control and lower cost profile. That's important, I guess, overall in terms of the strategy refresh. We're building a better quality business with a stronger balance sheet, which will be leading to continued deleveraging over time.
Okay. Thanks, Brendan. One other one just on the CapEx. That's now more aligned with D&A around that AUD 200 million level. Is that a sustainable level, you think, for the business for the foreseeable future, just given, I guess, some of the initiatives you've talked about in terms of rationalizing product SKUs and the focus on more efficient capital deployment in the seeds businesses?
Yes, we believe so. Maintaining a lower sustainable level of spend of less than AUD 200 is what we see for the business. Relative to the prior periods, which was following a period of sustained investment, particularly around the manufacturing asset base, that's passed in terms of the requirements there. We've also looked at the Emerging Platforms and communicated there will be lower investment, particularly around Omega-3, as we've repositioned that business.
Okay, thank you.
The next question comes from John Purtell with Macquarie. Please go ahead. John Purtell your line now live please proceed with your question. Let's move on to the next question. Your next question comes from Oliver Reg with Citi. Please go ahead.
Good morning. I was just wondering if you might comment on channel inventory balances across the supply chain. We're hearing these have been drawn down given the input cost inflation. I was wondering if you'd also just touch on how you guys are managing inventory with the risk that the tariff floor was opened and this could see AI prices fall sharply. Thank you.
We are also seeing that inventories are being drawn down across the world. Obviously, people are hesitant to replenish their inventories with the cost we see out of China. We're also doing the same. We're seeing the same in the channel partners that they are looking also at inventory management.
Okay. Could that have benefited your margins in the first half?
Sorry, could you repeat that? I couldn't really hear it.
You're drawing down this lower cost inventory. Could that have driven your margins in the first half, or is the timing not quite there?
The change in the margin in the first half is more related to our decisions around rationalizing portfolio. We also had a little bit of change in portfolio mix driven by some of the delays we saw in North America in the season.
Great. Thank you. Just the last one. The U.S. crop protection, you're going through the portfolio rationalization there. Australia's also quite a big market, and it is also quite competitive here. Is there further rationalization you're doing in other geographies?
We've been pretty disciplined in rationalizing the portfolio in Australia over the last few years. On a global level, on any given year, we typically rationalize around 10% of our SKUs. That's the normal rate. That number is going to be higher this year. Probably even closer to 20%, mostly driven out of what we are seeing in North America.
Thank you.
Your next question comes from Jonathan Snape with Bell Potter Securities. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, guys. Can you hear me okay?
Yes.
Great. Look, first question, can I just ask around Omega-3? Obviously, you've upgraded the guidance today on that side of the equation. That looks like it's somewhere around about a couple hundred bucks a ton on pricing, if I remember the sensitivities right. If I look at the market, when we were here in November last year, pricing in Peru and Chile was around that $2,000-$2,500, $2,700 a ton. If I look at it today, it's around $4,600, $5,000 a ton, there's just whole ton fishing off the coast of Chile, there's a whole ton of anchovies off the coast of Peru. It looks like the backdrop's getting better than it was six months ago relative as well to the pricing that it looks like you're taking up.
I guess my first question is, am I right in the sensitivities around pricing that it looks like has been incorporated to guidance? I guess the second question is, you had a $90 million facility that you fully utilized at balance date last year. How are you finding the markets are actually selling through this stuff at the moment? Are you finding anyone more interested in doing longer-term off-take agreements?
Yeah. Hi, Jonathan. Brendan here. In terms of the short pricing, as you said, we have seen an increase in the pricing from six months ago, and a firming overall. That benefit has flowed through in terms of the pricing for our product in terms of Aquaterra. We have sold some volume in the first half and plan to sell some more in the second half. There is a balance there in terms of optimizing between the short and the longer-term opportunities. Overall, in terms of the quarter prices, in terms of AUD, they are spot prices. They are somewhat volume dependent as well. Overall, no dispute in the fact that the fish oil pricing has been firming and has increased over the past six months.
In terms of our outlook lifting it from AUD 30 million - AUD 40 million on the Emerging Platforms, the predominant reason for doing that is related to that factor. In terms of the $90 million facility, we have been doing sales, and we plan to do some more sales in the second half. That will support the ability for us to repay that loan, part of that loan, $45 million in September of this year, and then with the full maturity of that in September 2027.
All right. Look, can I follow up some of the questions you've been around actives at the moment? If I think about your business, you maximum that loan in March each year. Prices since March have probably rallied in active markets nearly 20%, in an AUD sense, so I guess a little bit more in USD. I guess what people are trying to figure out is if there a almost like a free carry into the second half that, obviously people would have been landing or would be landing now higher priced stock that is competing against lower priced stock. Obviously, you wouldn't have seen any in the first half. Are you seeing any benefit for that in the second half at all, in that you're effectively carrying lower cost inventory relative to where spot pricing is right now?
As we talked about, there is a little bit of what we talked about earlier, which is that there is a little bit of an inventory unwind going on in the sense that people are hesitant to replenish cost. I don't see, certainly not in our case, we're not going out and doing what you could refer to as a predatory pricing, anything like that, taking advantage of the oil market situation by adding pricing.
That's not what we're doing. What we actually are doing is what we talked about earlier, is we're seeing the effects on the portfolio rationalization coming through in our margins by eliminating some of those lower margin products from our portfolio. That's really what's driving most of the margin increase. Combined, as I said, we have a little bit of phasing going on from the delay in the spring in North America. That's also reflected in that change in margin. That's really the situation we have.
Okay. Look, maybe just one last one, because I think I noticed in the accounts, I couldn't find the off-balance sheet facility utilization this time. Are you able to share what that number was in the first half, like if it's a material contributor?
Yeah
to cash flow or not?
Jonathan, that number was AUD 62 million at the half. That is a financing facility available to our suppliers. Also effectively, I would classify it as neutral in terms of cash flow impacts.
All right, great. Thank you.
Your next question comes from Belinda Moore with Morgans. Please go ahead.
Good morning, team, and great to see a strong improvement in the first half result. Just turning to the Omega-3 price, can you say what your new assumption is in guidance versus the previous AUD 2,600? Can you sort of turn to the crop protection and just sort of talk about where you think sort of the most upside, what regions in the second half? How we should think about corporate costs. Lastly, what are you expecting to realize from asset sales, please?
Hi, Belinda. Brendan here. I'll address your Omega-3 question, corporate costs. On Omega-3, the position that we had at the end of this time last year, in September, to reflect effectively the current prices at that time. In terms of where we position the Emerging Platforms and the Omega-3 component of that within the platform, it reflects the current prices at this moment in time. In terms of corporate costs, they're broadly flat at the half, and we expect that to be the same result at the end of the year. I'll pass to Rico just around trends.
As we talked about in the script, and we saw really good momentum in April and May, and those are big months for us. That also what gives us confidence that we can be reaffirming the outlook. That's one piece, also that we are actually seeing an improving gross margin around improved earnings, I should say, around crop protection in the second half. Also because we had the impact of the dry weather conditions in Australia in the first half, which we are not expecting to see in the second half. That's what changes the result in the second half.
Just in terms of asset sales, how we should think about potential proceeds?
Potential what, sorry?
Potential proceeds. I guess let's jump ahead on the asset sales and proceeds. It's too early to determine a value around that. You have the recent announcement in terms of the closure and sale of Kwinana. That closure is expected in May of next year. In regards of any other asset rationalization or proposed rationalizations, they are pending decisions that will become a due course.
Thank you. Our next question comes from Scott Ryall with Rimor Equity Research. Please go ahead.
Hi there. Mine's hopefully a quick question. Rico, you talked to the impact of customers and some of their cost increases that they're incurring. You talked about your ability to pass on the increase in price for inputs. I'm wondering if you're seeing any potential shortages on the horizon for critical inputs into your products, please, and if you can talk to what you're doing to manage some of those risks, if you're not prepared to say which particular chemicals they are. Just talk more generally about what you're doing to ensure that you've got product. You're clearly doing a good job at passing through the cost increases, but just in terms of making sure that you're in production at all times, please.
Yeah. Thank you. I think it's an interesting question. If we go back and looked at what happened when the conflict first broke out in the Middle East and the change they caused on supply chains, we saw very little impact. We had a little bit of some difficulties in sourcing packaging materials in a couple of markets. All those short-term impacts we saw at that time, we've worked through that. Whatever impact there is on some of the raw materials that are based on petroleum and so on, that has already been mitigated, and it's also reflecting in the fact that we are reaffirming our outlook for the full year.
Yeah. Okay, great. Thank you.
Once again, if you wish to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone. Your next question comes from John Purtell with Macquarie. Please go ahead.
Good day, Rico and Brendan. Hopefully you can hear us this time.
Yes.
Thank you. Just had two questions. Thank you. Firstly, just on the broader ag chem industry, it is obviously been a very competitive space over the last few years. What are you now seeing in terms of a more rational environment or otherwise?
That's a really interesting question, John. As I said in the script earlier, we feel like the industry has evolved into an everything for everybody kind of model, and which is possibly part of the reason why there has been these problems with generating results the last few years. We do see that some companies are beginning to act more focused, and I think that's going to be a positive trend for the industry overall.
Nevertheless, there is of course still the question of the cost to serve, and I think that some companies are struggling in improving their cost to serve. I think we have been really focused on controlling what we can control in our business in terms of delivering the balance sheet, but also reducing our cost to a more sustainable level, which is what we're focusing on right now. I can't speak to exactly what are the decisions other companies should be doing, but as I said, we're focusing on what we control and making sure that we are reducing our cost to serve and taking the right actions around our portfolio and be more focused on those parts of our portfolio and those markets where we know we have a right to win.
Thank you. Just a second question for Brendan on FX. What are you assuming on FX in your second half earnings guidance? Also, obviously there was the AUD 10 million FX hedging loss there in interest. Just a bit of color as to what that relates to. Thank you.
Yeah. Hi, John. Just in terms of the composition of net financing expense in the P&L, if we look at the breakdown, our external interest in terms of borrowings has reduced by AUD 2 million. Yes, as you point out, from an FX perspective, that has increased half on half. Look, it particularly got some more variable volatility around the commencement of the Middle East conflict, and that has influenced the impact of that. We still continue to have a consistent hedging policy in terms of managing exposures. In terms of the second half, we do see some stabilization, and therefore we've moderated what we think the impact will be in the second half. Sorry, was there a second point to your question, John? No. That was the first point, FX.
Yeah, it was just around what you're assuming in your second half earnings guidance re FX.
Yeah.
Probably from an earnings translation viewpoint.
Yeah. We are expecting it to be less than what the impact is on the first half, so you can take that to be approximately half of what the impact was in the first half.
That's on the interest side, Brendan?
That's sorry, on the FX expense.
Yeah. Thank you.
Overall, in terms of net interest expense, we revised the FY 2026 number to be approximately AUD 100.
Thank you.
Thank you. There are no further questions at this time. I'll now hand back to Mr. Christensen for closing remarks.
Thank you, Ashley. Once again, just reiterate the results here. We're very satisfied with the result we've achieved this first half. We're reaffirming our outlook for the full year. As said earlier, we stayed those priorities for this FY 2026 back in November, and we're delivering on those priorities in terms of improving free cash flow, reducing leverage and growing profitable products. Again, thank you for listening in. Also, thanks to our teams across the world who helped us deliver this result, and thank you so much.
That does conclude our conference for today. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.