SLC Agrícola S.A. (BVMF:SLCE3)
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Sep 14, 2026, 5:05 PM GMT-3
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Earnings Call: Q1 2022

May 12, 2022

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Video conference is being recorded and will be available from the company's IR website, where you will also find the PowerPoint. In case you need translation, we have this tool available. Just click on the globe marked with "Interpretation" that you'll find on the lower corner of the screen. There you can choose your preferred language, Portuguese or English. For those listening to the video conference in English, you have the option to mute the original audio in Portuguese by clicking on "Mute Original Audio." As for the Q&A, we suggest that you submit your questions using the Q&A button in the lower part of your screen. Your names will be announced so that you can ask your question in the air. At that time, you will be prompted to activate your microphone.

If you prefer to have your question read, please write "No mic" at the end of the question. We would like to let you know that the information contained in the presentation and any statements that may be made during the conference relative to the business outlook, projections, operational and financial targets of SLC Agrícola are based on the beliefs and assumptions held by the company's management, as well as on information that is currently available. Considerations about the future are not a guarantee of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as they refer to future events. As such, they depend on circumstances that may or may not occur. Investors should understand that general economic conditions, market conditions, and other operating factors may affect SLC's future performance, leading to results that materially differ from such considerations about the future.

With this, I would like to hand it over to our CEO, Mr. Aurélio Pavinato, who will begin the presentation.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Thank you very much, Gelain. Good morning to all. We would like to thank you all for joining us on the 1Q 2022 earnings conference call of SLC Agrícola. Please, let's move to slide three for some comments on the cotton market. The first quarter of 2022 was characterized by growing cotton quotes in the international and domestic market. A scenario of global logistic hurdles, coupled with resilient consumption, has been an important support factor for the maintenance of high commodity quotes internationally. Consumption of global fiber is expected to grow to 124.1 million bales, according to USDA estimates, which is the highest level in the historical series. This has led to a deficit in supply-demand balance for the second consecutive year, representing approximately 3.9 million cotton bales in USDA's estimation.

Now, we turn to slide four to speak about soybean. Soybean quotes and CBOT spot contracts and the prices paid for the oilseed at the Paranaguá CPA base continued to appreciate over the first quarter of 2022. The highs observed in Chicago, plus the premiums and the exchange rate depreciation, allowed soybean quotes to reach levels that surpassed those observed in the previous cycle. In a quarter that was marked by losses caused by the adverse climate conditions in southern states of Brazil, the domestic production shrank approximately 11% in relation to the previous season. This according to CONAB data. For the 2021/2022 crop year, production of approximately 122 million tons of soybean is expected. This number is 21 million tons short of the initial expectations of 143 million tons of production. Globally, for the 2021/2022 crop year, consumption is expected to outstrip production by approximately 11.2 million tons.

This happens in the wake of the negative balance of 18 million tons, also observed in the 2019/2020 cycle, a fact that should sustain our price levels. In slide five, we have some comments for you on the outlook for corn. Corn spot prices in CBOT and in the domestic market showed significant volatility over the first quarter of 2022. Throughout April, the trajectory favoring price increases was consolidated on the American stock market with the release of the report of intentions to plant in the United States, and this planted area is expected to decrease approximately 4%, resulting in an estimated acreage close to 89.5 million acres. Another key factor contributing to the increases was the unfolding of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ukraine is the world's fourth-largest corn exporter. Problems arising from this conflict can exacerbate the uncertainty around grain supply, spiking the demand for exports from other countries.

Among them, Brazil, which is the second largest global corn exporter. On the world stage, for the first time in five years, production volume will be higher than consumption, a surplus of approximately 28 million tons. However, there are some uncertainties related to the availability of Ukraine's 2021/ 2022 crop and also some questions about the final yield in Brazil since some regions were under water stress in Mato Grosso in March and April. This will result in even firmer prices for the commodity. Let's turn now to slide seven, focusing on the company's recent corporate governance initiatives. We are working very hard on ESG. The company is using all of its resources to make its activities sustainable and responsible. SLC adopts the world's best practices to create a positive impact on environmental and social issues where we operate.

Through low-carbon production, SLC is contributing to minimize climate change and acting in alignment with its big dream. We highlight that the company was included in the Carbon Efficient Index and the Great Place to Work Index in the end of 2021. The Carbon Efficient Index is composed of companies that adopt transparent practices with respect to their GHG emissions. As for the Great Place to Work Index, it comprises companies with certifications and that are considered to be the best companies to work for in the national ranking. The updated version of our integrated report is now available on the company's website. Please feel free to download this document. It compiles all of our ESG initiatives. Lastly, in this section on slide eight, we would like to share with you the fact that SLCE3 is now on the IBOVESPA.

In May 2022, the company was added to the IBOVESPA theoretical asset portfolio, B3's main indicator. This is the first time the company's shares appeared on the index since its listing in June 2007. I turn the floor over to my colleague, Rodrigo Gelain, Financial and Investor Relations Manager for comments on the main indicators, which are connected to the pillars of financial soundness and shareholder value.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Thank you very much, Mr. Pavinato. We can now go to slide 10 with some highlights of our income statement for the first quarter 2022. In the name of comparability, data for 1Q 2021 reflect a combination of data released by SLC Agrícola and by Terra Santa Agro in these periods. Our net revenue in the quarter grew 96.3% in comparison with the same period of the previous year.

A substantial hike that was due to the increase in unit prices for all crops. Additionally, all crops had greater volume sold, highlighting soybean, which was the result of the company's sales strategy. In the case of cotton, we had some volumes from the previous crop that were still being shipped. Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter reached almost BRL 1.3 billion, up 176.5%. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 52.3%, growing 15.2 percentage points compared to 1Q 2021. The increase in gross profit was the principal variation with an increase of 886.8% ex biological assets. In addition, we had an EBITDA additional adjustment of BRL 1.4 million related to the sale of 39 hectares in the Paiaguás farm to COFCO Logística, as disclosed in material fact on February 17, 2022. Net income grew by 152.5%, ending the period in BRL 797 million with a net margin of 33%.

The main factor that contributed to this variation was the improvement in margins and the increased volume of cotton and soybean shipped. Now we can advance to slide 11, where we will present the net debt. We ended the first quarter of 2022 in BRL 2,006,000,000 . This represents a reduction of BRL 387 million compared to the end of 2021. The net debt reduction reflected mainly the period's cash generation. To conclude this session, we go now to slide 12. The good results of the company in recent years with strong free cash flow contributed to maintaining an adequate level of leverage. On May 18, we will be paying dividends to our shareholders in a total of BRL 504.4 million, which represent 50% of the adjusted net income of the parent company, representing a dividend yield of 4.8%.

I will now turn it back to Pavinato, who will talk about the outlook for the 2021/ 2022 crop year.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Please, let's go to slide 14. On the operational side, we ended another soybean season with record yield for the fifth consecutive year. This is 33.1% higher than the national average, as reported by CONAB. Since the 2017/ 2018 crop year, despite weather instabilities and throughout the years, we have managed to maintain increasingly higher yields, leaving the national average well behind us. This is the result of the company's mature land portfolio, crop rotation, varieties, soil management, geographical diversification, and of a very well-trained team. In summary, processes, technology, and people. We finished planting cotton, both first and second crops, and off-season corn within the ideal window. In terms of yield for the other crops, in slide 15, we show our current estimates for the 2021/ 2022 season.

In keeping with our commitment to transparency, we are adjusting the estimated yields of cotton first and second crop, and second corn crop. For first-crop cotton, rising from 1,871 kg per hectare to 1,807 kg, down 3.4%. Second crop cotton adjusted from 1,800 kg per hectare to 1,642 kg, a 9% decrease in relation to budget. The second crop corn estimated yield changes from 7,586 kg per hectare to 7,188 kg per hectare. That is down 6.8% lower than budget, but 22.5% higher than the previous harvest and 30.3% higher than the average national yield. We had deficit rainfall in three farms in March and April in Bahia. The rainfall deficit in western Mato Grosso at the same time is affecting the potential yield of the second crop, cotton and corn in that region. This is the reason why we are reducing our projections.

On slide 16, we present our updated hedge position. We have made advances in our hedge position for the 2021 crop year, reaching international price levels that are offsetting the increase in costs. This will preserve margins for 2022, just like in 2021. Additionally, we have made progress in the hedging for the 2022/ 2023 crop season by purchasing part of the inputs. We have so far acquired 83% of the needs for potassium chloride, 49% of phosphate, 70% of pesticides. Nitrogen was not purchased yet, but consumption occurs only at the end of the second half of 2022. Considering the cost formation for 2022/ 2023, and the prices we have locked in via hedging, together with current prices and future commodity prices, we estimate an EBITDA margin in very high levels for the coming year. Thank you very much, and with this, we open the Q&A session.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

We will now begin the Q&A. We kindly request to ask your questions all at once and to wait for the company's answer. To submit a question, please use the Q&A icon on your screen. Your names will be announced so that you can ask your question live, and at that time, you will be prompted to activate your microphone on the screen. If you prefer not to use your microphone, please write "no mic" at the end of the question, and in this case, your question will be read. Our first question is from Gabriel Barra, Citibank. You may open your microphone, sir, and ask your question.

Gabriel Barra
VP of Equity Research, Citibank

Hello, Rodrigo and Aurélio. Can you hear me well?

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Yes, we can. Thank you very much.

Gabriel Barra
VP of Equity Research, Citibank

Thank you very much. I have two questions. The first of them, focusing on the inputs for the 2022/ 2023 crop years. As you have said in the release, you are really quite advanced as one should expect. You are in the same level as in the previous quarter. However, there is a window of time in which you can start purchasing the input. My question is about how this will be done in the market. I would like to understand how this will occur. We know that some distributors are accelerating the sale of fertilizer. Some growers are making advanced purchases. So what do you envisage for this dynamic? What about nitrogen? What about the supply? Are you concerned about supply and availability? What is the potential impact of this on your margins for the next crop year?

As we saw in the results with the Xingu acquisition and looking to the future, what other new avenues for growth can we expect? You have been investing in seed production. We could also think of a spinoff. Could you please explore avenues for growth? It would be great to get a little more color on this. Thank you.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Thank you very much, Gabriel, for the question. About fertilizers and inputs, we know that the crop protection market is doing business as usual, even though there is an influence of China, but we don't believe there will be a bottleneck in getting what we need. We don't believe that we'll have any shortages for the next crop year. As for fertilizers, when we look to the world market and to Brazil, we are four months into 2022, and Brazil has imported 11.1 billion tons of fertilizer, higher than last year. So there is a market. Ships are arriving in spite of the war. Russia is shipping fertilizers.

In our vision, Gabriel, fertilizer supply won't be a problem this year. The problem is the prices fertilizers fetching. We used to have a level of $300-$400 per ton. With the pandemic, with high demand and shrinking supply, those prices doubled to $700 and $800. Now, with the war in Ukraine, prices have increased by threefold, $1,000, $1,200. Now, nitrogen, which is what's left on our buying list, has dropped 14%. It had reached $95 FOB in Brazil, and now it's at $740, approximately. We believe that there will be a price adjustment for this input together with other products. Phosphorus has decreased 7% from peak prices, and potassium is 3% down. It's now at $1,040. We are now in phosphorus $1,205 for premium phosphorus.

Prices are high. We believe that there will be price adjustments a long time because we will see shrinking demand. Demand is now being estimated in Brazil at 9%-10%, and it's estimated that there will be a decrease from 10%-15% in the world. Demand has always been more sluggish when prices are too high, so it's a natural consequence. This will help these adjustments in supply very significantly. With the slower demand and the tighter supply, the market will naturally adjust. This is what we expect for the year. This is what will enable us to have lower production costs than we have now, ensuring therefore the adequate margins for next year, because prices are also much higher.

Prices are very high. The prices on the future markets are not as high, but the ones that are being realized in the current crop year that has already been hedged. We're getting higher spot prices than future prices. Considering the conflict and the conditions in Russia and Belarus, the volume that both of them make and export when we think of potassium, then we can know that they're really prominent in the market. They represent 30% of the world's production and 40% of world's exports. Now when the subject is phosphorus and nitrogen, they account for 6% of the world's production, with 10%-12% of exports in the world. With the downward adjustment in consumption, this is taking place in Brazil, a country where adjustments should be theoretically less.

It's not the same as countries like Argentina and the United States or even Russia and the Ukraine, where the soil is so fertile, and this gives them the ability to save on fertilizer. We don't think that will be a stranglehold. What we see is an adjustment along the year. As for growth, Gabriel, you know the ag business, right? Sometimes, it's simply not possible to have a major growth project in every single year. We are producing corn, cotton, and soybean. We expect and we hope to continue growing through leased lands and some acquisitions. We continue to grow, and we continue to generate cash that will fuel our growth. It's not a linear growth curve, and sometimes opportunities do not emerge when everything is going well.

Sometimes they appear when things are looking down, but we need to be prepared strategically to seize the right opportunities. We will continue to grow, and in the medium term, we will maintain the pace of growth we have achieved in recent years. But in addition to growing our business and seeing more maturity in our operations, we are also expanding in new businesses. The seed production project is something we have already talked to the market about, and we are just waiting for the end of the harvest season. We have signed an agreement outsourcing with COFCO. They will build a plant in Mato Grosso for us to produce 1 million more bags. It is going to be a big business for us. In addition to soybean seeds, we will have cotton seeds. We will produce 900,000 bags this year.

The issue here is whether to make the spin-off or to maintain everything in integration. For now, we are keeping it in integration because of the synergies. We believe that like this, we will add more value than if we make the spin-off. However, we are not saying that depending on the opportunities that arise, we might not change that option. We are investing in a fifth product, which is cattle. This year, we are working on 35,000 head of cattle. Last year, we had 28,000 head of cattle. This is our fifth product line. As I said, cash generation is performing very well. Our leverage is low. So we are well-poised to enjoy new business opportunities and to continue growing the company in the future.

Gabriel Barra
VP of Equity Research, Citibank

Thank you very much. Very clear. Thank you, sir.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Thank you, Gabriel. Our next question is from Lucas Ferreira, JP Morgan.

You may open your microphone, sir.

Lucas Ferreira
Executive Director of Equity Research, JPMorgan

Thank you so much. Thank you very much for taking my question. Firstly, in relation to the guidance on margin from 31%- 39%, what is implicit in each scenario?

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Let us do an exercise here. If fertilizer prices and commodity prices remain stable, do you think we should hit 31% or 39%?

Lucas Ferreira
Executive Director of Equity Research, JPMorgan

I am trying to understand what spot prices represent in this range. Secondly, about capital allocation with the very low leverage, are you thinking of buyback operations or dividend payouts? Can we expect this in the short term? Just to follow up on the last question in which you discussed growth opportunities, considering your size, would not it make sense to have a JV to make a corn-based ethanol, because one of the difficulties there is to have a constant source of biomass. Maybe it would make sense for you to develop a project like this.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Thank you so much, Lucas. This margin range, in the current scenario, what will determine if we are going to be at the low or high side of the spectrum? Yield, in one word. Because we had a complete or a full crop last year, and this year we are not having a full crop in cotton. When we have the full crop in the three products, even with high production costs, we can maintain our margins at a higher level. That is why we are talking about a range. There are many open variables. Production costs, as I have mentioned, it is possible that those costs will drop.

With every $100 slashed out of a drum of fertilizer, they were at such high prices, that it is quite likely that we will be seeing cost reductions of this magnitude. So when we think about the coming year, while there is still a lot in store for us, many things are up in the air. But if the current scenario is maintained, what would really make the difference is whether we have a full crop or not. In relation to dividends, our policy has been to pay out 50% of our adjusted EBITDA. The dividend yield, and this is something we have been doing since 2015, dividend yield has been 5.7% in average, this year, 4.8%, which is based on the dividend payout date.

With this perspective of continuing to grow and continuing to drive more net income, we believe that the dividend yield will continue to be high. Or maybe the stock price will go up and the dividend will shrink a little bit, or it is going to be a high dividend yield. Either way, the scenario is very positive for our shareholders, whether they bet on the dividend yield or when they want our stock to appreciate. Buyback is always a possibility. We have a buyback program. It is an opportunity to allocate capital.

So considering our current business and the fact that 2/3 of our land is leased, 1/3 is owned, considering our EBITDA, when we consider the net value of our assets, we are now priced according to NAV, which was BRL 48 per stock. Not considering the appreciation of the land, that will probably take place this year. So it is a very favorable situation in terms of appreciation of our assets. Our plans do not get rusty. In fact, they appreciate in price. I am talking about the 22 farms.

This is a striking difference between ag business and industrial businesses because a long time, everything becomes rusty and depreciates, but this is not our case. Our asset base only appreciates in value. So if you compare buyback, we will compare buyback with new projects, new opportunities. We have some alternatives to allocate capital, and buyback is one of them. As for ethanol, Brazil is becoming a huge player in corn-based ethanol. We could never have imagined that Brazil could take such a position. But now, in fact, it is gaining market from sugarcane-based ethanol. But it is all about the opportunity and the return on investment. So we are thinking of working with high efficiency in our operations. So, we are always considering the return on investment and comparing it to the current return on investment.

Brazil plants 52 million hectares of land on first crop cultures, and then the second crop with another 22 million hectares. Just the first crop represents a huge amount of ag production. In the next 20 years, we will continue to grow 1 million hectares more every year because Brazil has to meet the world's demand for ag commodities. As a strong player in this sector, we will enjoy growth opportunities in the near future. It is a range of opportunities, and we have to allocate our capital where the greatest return on investment lies.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Thank you very much, Lucas. We have a question from Guilherme Palhares, Bank of America. You may proceed, sir. Open your microphone, if you please.

Guilherme Palhares
VP of Equity Research, Bank of America

Good morning, Pavinato, good morning, Gelain. Thanks for taking our questions. In fact, we have two questions, and we would like to follow up on Gabriel's question.

Firstly, about the volume sold in the quarter, very high volumes. Is this driven from the Terra Santa incorporation to the company? What part is SLC, what part is coming from the new operation? About your yield perspective, we know that the forecast for May in Mato Grosso is still uncertain. There is some unpredictability. Do the adjustments you have recently made consider this scenario, a more stress scenario? Secondly, in relation to your use of fertilizers, you have talked about reducing the use of fertilizers, and I would like to understand how much of this reduction depends on soil reserves, and how much of this reduction is coming from the digital projects of the company. Thank you very much.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Okay. Gelain will start answering.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Well, thank you very much, Palhares. About the volumes, we acquired Terra Santa and all of its production.

We sold their volume last year. We continued to sell their volume this year. The bulk of volume this year is due to two reasons. We had higher yield than expected in soybean, and there was the cotton carryover from last year that was not marked all in 2021. It was projected that we would be shipping this cotton last year, but it was shipped only in the first quarter 2022. That is why volume surpassed our expectations for the first quarter. About the sources of our productivity and yield, in the numbers we have just disclosed, we are considering that there will be rainfall in May. We have forecasts of rain both in Maranhão and Mato Grosso. Everything is looking great in Maranhão. In Bahia, there is low rainfall. This has been consolidated. We have accounted for those losses. It is already calculated.

In Maranhão, we have a high potential that if there is rainfall will reach even higher peak yield. In Mato Grosso, in Paiaguás where it is drier, we are considering that there will be rainfall. If there is no rainfall in May, then maybe we will have to adjust yield. As for the use of fertilizers, precision farming, for the past five years, we have intensified our application of variable rate and precision farming. Since we are not opening new land, our land is mature. We have cotton and soybean. Where we plant cotton, the soil is very fertile. What is the nutrient that is important for the soil? It is phosphate. This is the only possibility we have to save on fertilizer without sacrificing yield, using the phosphate in the soil.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

We are doing this operation as a standard, and the reduction this year will be very consistent and uniform for us to use up the soil stocks of phosphorus. This is our strategy, considering that in the near future. When we look at prices for fertilizer in the last three years, they were cheap. They were below the standard prices. For the last two crop years, we used fertilizer to build up our stocks. Now we are going to get this phosphorus and maybe next year we will be able to use fertilizer as usual once fertilizer prices go back to normal. Next year, we will be able to apply fertilizer as usual. This is part of the agriculture logic. In years where prices are low, you build up your soil stocks.

This is part of our management strategies and something that enables us to maximize our results and use of inputs. Now, digital agriculture, what we are getting from it is savings in crop protection. We are investing in localized application of pesticides. We firstly build the heat map, and then we apply pesticides in a very localized way. We also use the WeedSeeker to get a readout of the plot of land. So these are technologies that we are investing heavily in. We bought three machines in China last year. We bought 10 more this year. So we are training our team so that they become experts at the localized application of crop protection.

We also have a product for cotton that is very expensive, and we will be using satellite imagery to measure the NDVI of the crop, and like this, we will reduce the use of exfoliators and maturing agents in cotton. This is what is helping us to lower crop protection expenses with savings of BRL 20 million last year. Our average is savings of BRL 50 million. For the next year, this will be stepped up. In addition to acquiring equipment, we will train the team because there is a need of knowledgeable professionals and staff, otherwise we will not be able to seize the benefits provided by technology. Like this, we have been reducing our production costs. With the draft in cotton land, there has been a decrease in yield, but at the same time, a reduction of cost because we are not applying fungicide and other products.

I remember that there was one year in 2016, there was a severe draft in Bahia. We had losses of 20% of our crop, and we were able to save 5% of the costs. So in fact, the net losses represented 15%. In this scenario, we will have some losses in cotton in our project, but at the same time, we will get some cost savings. Palhares, I think it is important. When we make the comparison between the realized. We are talking about actual versus budget, right? 2022. But when we consider actual 2021 in comparison to the forecast 2022, there is a balance. Why? Because soybean in 2021, I think that the production was 66.4 bags per hectare. This year, 66.7 bags per hectare, 0.2% more. Remember the draft last year in Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. So last year it was 95 bags per hectare only.

That is why the actual this year, even though slightly lower than budget for corn and our key area for corn this year is Maranhão. In corn, we are increasing yield by 22% in the comparison with last year, even with the slight crop failure that we had in corn. Cotton productivity is 4.2% lower. When you put everything in the same basket and make the comparison 2021 and 2022, things will add up and be equivalent. What will change our margin in 2022 won't be yield. What will have an impact is production cost versus commodity prices. I think that probably one will offset the other or commodity prices will win. That is why in our forecast, we predict that margins will be maintained in 2021/ 2022.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

Thank you very much, Pavinato, for your questions. Thank you, Palhares.

We have another question from Thiago Duarte, BTG Pactual. You may ask your question, sir, when you wish.

Thiago Duarte
Head of Equity Research Brazil, BTG Pactual

Thank you very much, Pavinato and Mr. Gelain. I have a question. It is more of a provocation, in fact. When you talk about the 2022 margins, and we have talked a lot about margins because of the input situation. When you say that we will have margins that will be very close to the ones we had in 2021 and 2022, looking at the gross output of more than BRL 3,000 per ton, BRL 4,000 per ton in cotton, and we try to consider what you still have to bill in soybean this year, and also the sale of the cotton you will be harvesting, leaving corn aside, we can get the picture that margins could be much better than last year.

We know that unit prices is not given in your guidance, but you have about 1/4 of unsold or unhedged volume, both in soybean and corn. This is a provocation for you.

In relation to your, are you being too conservative relative to the margins or the statements you are making about the margins? Is there something we are missing out?

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Thiago, there is a lot that is up in the air. The yield for corn and cotton, for example. The cotton is at a fantastic price today, but we do not know whether this will keep in the future. So many things may change until the end of the year. So I think that your interpretation is very coherent to the scenario. That is why our vision is to maintain the margins, but there is a lot going on. It could go up, it could go down. This is my answer to your provocation. When we are thinking about EBITDA margin, now in relation to net margins, then it depends on the volume you ship.

Last year, we shipped less cotton, so this inflated our net margins. But the EBITDA margin, in our case, it is adjusted EBITDA margin, is everything that is invoiced and shipped, so it is comparable, we believe. That is why it is tailwinds for us. Soybean is securing fantastic margins and there is a lot of soybeans to be had, and as for corn and cotton, those variables that are still open, so our margins could be higher or lower at the end of the year.

Thiago Duarte
Head of Equity Research Brazil, BTG Pactual

Thank you for your answers. Pavinato, so which of those points, either prices that are open or any risks to the cotton and corn yields or costs, where do you detect the highest risk so that we do not get any surprises in relation to the margins? I think that the top risk is price.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Let us imagine the war ends and interest rates climb in the world, creating an environment, the world scenario shifts. Also climate. Let us imagine that the climate in the United States is perfect. In fact, it is not the case, it is adverse right now. But let us imagine that they have a record-breaking crop and the same for Brazil. Then there is a reversal, for example, cotton demand for some macroeconomic reason slows down, and now the spot price, which is 120 per pound for delivery early next year, goes back to 90 cents.

In corn, there is lower risk, in fact, because with the failure in Mato Grosso do Sul, corn prices in Brazil will continue to be high. So I do not envisage this as the worst risk. Soybean reached BRL 190 per bag, and then it went down to BRL 170, and so we have the FX effect as well. For me, prices is where the risk is because they also affect the next crop year in terms of biological assets. You have to mark down your biological assets in relation to the next crop. So for me, among those variables, the top risk is price, especially with changes in the world stage.

Thiago Duarte
Head of Equity Research Brazil, BTG Pactual

Thank you very much, Pavinato.

Aurélio Pavinato
CEO, SLC Agrícola

Thank you, Thiago.

Rodrigo Gelain
Financial and Investor Relations Manager, SLC Agrícola

I would like to remind you that to ask questions, you should use the Q&A button at the bottom of the screen, and your names will be announced before you ask your questions live. Since there are no more questions, our earnings conference call on the 1Q 2022 results is now closed.