Welcome everyone, and thank you all for taking time to watch this quarter two presentation for Icelandic Salmon. We are strong believers that the second quarter marks the end of an extraordinary period for our company. As you know, and as you will hear and see several times during our presentation, our operations and KPIs have been heavily affected by biological challenges over the past nine months. The challenges, combined with low harvest volume, have resulted in weak operational EBIT and EBIT per kilo. The biological challenges seem so far to be behind us. We will increase harvesting in the second half of the year. Smolt output is going according to plan, and we have implemented new procedures for lice control, and we have introduced new vaccines. Also very important, we have, we see continued good demand for Icelandic Salmon in the market.
I will say more about this later in the presentation, but first, let me remind you about who we are. Icelandic Salmon AS is a listed company on the Euronext Growth Market in Oslo and the Nasdaq First North Market in Reykjavík. The company is the sole owner and the parent company of Arnarlax ehf. All operational activities of the group are performed by Arnarlax ehf. Arnarlax Sustainable Icelandic Salmon is the common brand for all our operational activities and products from Icelandic Salmon. Today, we have four smolt facilities with a capacity of up to seven-to-eight million smolts, depending on the size of the smolts. We are doing farming on eight sites in sea, in three fjords, in the Westfjords of Iceland.
All our production is ASC certified, and we have a total maximum allowed biomass of 33,700 tons in sea, whereof 10,000 tons is for sterile salmon. We have our harvesting plant in Bíldudalur in the Westfjords, which has a capacity of thirty thousand ton per year, and the factory is BRC certified. Then we have our own sales team that sells all our fish out in the domestic and the global markets. In quarter two, Icelandic Salmon was issued a new license in Ísafjarðardjúp. The license is for ten thousand ton maximum allowed biomass of sterile salmon. The license also includes three sites for operations in that fjord. As already mentioned, quarter two 2024 was a challenging quarter for Icelandic Salmon, and that is reflected in the numbers presented here.
The harvest volume was 702 tons, compared to 88 tons in quarter two, 2023. This is affected by biological challenges and seasonal production cycle that we experience with low temperatures during wintertime. We started harvesting on the autumn 2022 generation in the quarter. That shows the same promising results as our spring 2022 generation in our site, Hringsdalur. The smolt output started in May, according to plan. We had an operational income of EUR 9.7 million, and the operational EBIT for the quarter was negative EUR 3.8 million. This include one-off costs in the quarter of EUR 3.9 million due to the biological challenges, challenges that is already mentioned. With low harvest volumes, we experienced a high operational cost related to low capacity utilization of both harvest plant and the well boats.
As mentioned, quarter two was quite challenging. We had a normal high mortality rate on our autumn 2023 generation in sea, and this will affect the 2025 harvest volumes. EBIT per kilo for the quarter was negative 5.37. The number is quite affected by the low volume in the quarter and one-off costs. Adjusted for one-off cost, the EBIT per kilo was 0.19 EUR per kilo. Due to biological challenges at the end of 2023, the stock value at site was reassessed in the first half of 2024. Lower forward prices on the salmon and accumulated cost at this site led to a decision to partly expense this reassessed stock value during the reporting period. This impacted the EBIT in quarter two with 2.3 million EUR.
This EUR 2.3 million is included in the EUR 3.9 million mentioned earlier as one-off cost. If you look at the license status, so Icelandic Salmon received a license of 10,000 tons of sterile salmon in Ísafjarðardjúp. You can see it on the map where it's located. It's north of where we have operations today. The license also include three sites for operation in the fjord, but it's not decided around startup of sterile production yet, but we are working on analysis towards both existing technique for sterilization of fish that is in the market today, and also look at new techniques for sterilization that is coming up. A third alternative for utilization of this license is that the risk assessment for wild stocks is increased, and we can then apply for conversion to fertile salmon.
So it will be a process in the coming time to fully map out the potential for this license over time. We still have an application for four thousand five hundred tons of maximum allowed biomass in Arnarfjörður. That is still with the authorities, and if the new law proposal that is proposed to Althingi goes through, it is reason to believe that this biomass will be auctioned out. We are also currently in a process to establish bigger sites for better MAB utilization and two new sites in the application process in Arnarfjörður. This has also been a process that has taken some time, but we expect a final decision around this in first half 2025 . A new law proposal concerning aquaculture was sent to the parliament April 23rd this year.
The law was not approved by the members of Parliament before the summer, and there was especially two topics that the political party could not agree about. One of them was the tax level proposed in the new law, and the other was fines that was proposed for escaped fish. Our main concern about the new law has been also the same when it comes to tax level and also fine level. But we also see that there is a potential for sustainable growth in the proposal as it is today, and we hope and believe that during the autumn, a good framework for further development of the industry on Iceland will be approved by Althingi. Salmon farming has become a significant contribution to the Icelandic economy, and in 2023, 4.6% of all exported goods came from salmon.
The sitting minister has given strong signals that she wants this law approved in the parliament. An update on the sales and marketing. We still see a strong interest for Icelandic Salmon in a strong market with high prices. The product is known for its high quality and sustainable sustainability features, and we often hear from our customers that the best tasting salmon comes from Iceland. Icelandic Salmon has for some time been focusing on the North American market, especially since our shipment route by sea has meant a very attractive carbon footprint and low logistic cost. Shipping our product by boat to the US market reduces the carbon footprint with as much as 95% compared to air freight. In the past four quarters, we have, however, seen a decrease in the demand in the market.
For quarter two, that resulted in 11% of our volume were sold to the U.S. market, compared to 18% for full year 2023. The volume sold to U.S. in quarter two was mainly contract volume, but we are strong believers that we have a good product for the American consumer and a good logistics solution to transport the fish to the market, and will continue the work towards that market. The superior share of the harvest was in the quarter 90%. We see a relatively good price achievement on downgraded fish. This due to the possibility we have to export head-on gutted, downgraded fish. This fish is allocated to industry customers, mainly in Europe, which use the downgraded fish as a raw material for high quality end products that can be offered for sale to their customers.
In the Asian market, Iceland has a free trade agreement with China. Initially, that means 10% tax benefit into the market. In the competition with other European nations in China, this benefit is covering our extra logistic cost related to flight into Europe for transfer. In quarter two, 6% of our products were sold to the Asian market, compared to 11% in quarter one, 2024. This is affected by a lower harvest rate in quarter two, and also that the contracts in US occupied most of our six plus kilo fish.
But we observed that the Asian market were more willing to buy smaller sizes than normal to get access to Icelandic Salmon. In quarter two, participation at Seafood Expo in Barcelona is an important arena to build new relations to customers and maintain relations to existing customers, so we were attending there. Contract share was for quarter two, 59%. This affects the total price achievement a bit negatively. I will then give the word to our CFO, Jónas Heiðar Birgisson . So thanks so far and welcome, Jonas.
Thank you, Bjørn, and good morning, everybody. Before I begin my part of the presentation, I would like to mention that we have issued our first half interim financial statement, and that can be found on our homepage, arnarlax.is. But let me begin my presentation for the financial position of 2024 . The balance sheet is affected by both the already mentioned reassessment and operational challenges in the first half of 2024 . These combined challenges totaled up to EUR 7.5 million within the year. To compensate the biological challenges, the group delayed the harvesting to focus on biological growth. This strategy is reflected in the balance as the asset increased of EUR 8 million during the second quarter.
Investments, including a down payment for a new hybrid vessel, nets, cages, or other seawater operation-related assets that we invested in, has increased our fixed asset balance during this period. The group focus on growth and investments in relation to handle more fish in sea to utilize its license further. The group continues to have a strong financial position with an equity ratio of 65% and is compliant with all covenants. Net interest-bearing debts balance stood at 65 million EUR, which we will take a closer look here at the next slide. As we mentioned earlier, the second quarter faced low harvesting and biological challenges. The biological challenges, including reassessing the biological inventories at one of our sites. This reassessment, along with extraordinary mortality, impacted the operational profit by 3.9 million EUR.
Trade receivable decreased, reflecting the low harvesting volume, and trade payables increased due to continuing investment activities. Net interest-bearing debts, including leasing, ended at EUR 65 million at the end of the quarter. I will now take the presentation back to Bjørn Hembre for operational update, and thank you for listening. Here you go.
Thank you, Jónas. Let me give you an update on our operation and repeat and expand on my initial comments in this presentation. During the second quarter, we experienced continued outbreak of infectious diseases in sea. This gave increased mortality with the economic consequences mentioned earlier in the presentation. Fortunately, the situation was significantly improved at the end of the quarter and into quarter three. In quarter four, 2023 and quarter one, 2024, we implemented new procedures to avoid poxvirus outbreaks in our smolt plant in the South. That has caused us significant loss in quarter one this year and earlier, and so far, the mitigating measures implemented have been successful.
To further mitigate risk in our operations in sea, we have implemented a new vaccine program, where we, in addition to vaccines used before, are adding vaccines against ISA and also an extra vaccine against winter wounds. This is done for all smolts put into sea in 2024 and going forward. The smolt output started in quarter two, according to plan. For 2024, we expect to increase the number of smolts put into sea with approximately 10% compared to last year. The smolts will have an average rate of approximately 230 grams, and the biggest smolts that we put into sea will be approximately 600 grams. The smolt output started on our new site, Vatn, that has so far shown very promising results.
The usage of this new site will significantly improve the utilization of the maximum allowed biomass on our 12,200 tons license in Patreksfjörður and Tálknafjörður. To reduce risk related to lice infection, we have on site in the Westfjords now, a delicing well boat with Optilice and OptiFlush on board. That gives the opportunity to do non-medical treatment of the fish. In addition to this, we still have the opportunity to use medical lice treatment. The routines for approval of medical treatment have been reevaluated by the authorities to get an approval for treatment sooner than experienced earlier years. It is also implemented and a coordinated lice monitoring and delicing strategy with all salmon farming companies in the Westfjords, and the coordination is done by an independent third party.
The lice situation this year is under good control, and market-wise, it's still a good demand for sustainable Icelandic Salmon in the markets. Now, let me conclude on our outlook for quarter three and rest of 2024. Volume guidance for 2024 is reduced to thirteen thousand ton. This is done to optimize the maximum allowed biomass utilization. Due to the biological challenges over the last nine months, we have available maximum allowed biomass that can be utilized for more production. The volume in 2024 is affected by the challenging situation we were through in October and November 2023 . Based on the guided volume for the year, harvested volume in second half will increase significantly compared to first half. The biological challenges in first half of the year will affect harvest volumes in 2025 .
It's worked on mitigating measures to reduce this effect, and volumes for 2025 will be guided in the quarter three presentation in November. We expect a slight decrease in the underlying cost in quarter three because of better utilization of capacities due to higher volumes. The contract share in quarter three is expected to be 10% and approximately 12% for full year 2024. We see a potential for growth up to 36,000 tons on the existing licenses in the group. We are positive to reach 26,000 tons of harvested volume on our fertile licenses in the coming years. This is based on the results we see of quality on this year's smolt and the performance we see on many of our sites, and also the mitigating measures implemented to improve the biological situation.
To reach the full potential of thirty-six thousand ton, we'll need decisions related to utilization of our sterile license, so that will take some time. The company has committed staff, and a strong company culture, and a value chain that is well prepared to handle higher volumes. This when it comes to smolt capacity and further growth in smolt capacity, production capacity in sea, harvest capacity, and a strong sales team. I will, at the end, like to thank everyone working in Team Arnarlax for their contribution and hard work every day to bring the company forward. The numbers we are presenting today is, as I said many times, affected by biological challenges, but we see now good signs of better performance going forward. We will then move over to the Q&A session, so I hopefully see you in a few minutes. Thank you.
... quarter of 2024 . Thank you all for joining us here. My name is Hjörtur Marteinsson, and I'm the business development manager at Arnarlax, and I'll be managing the questions that come in today. You can still send in questions to questions@arnarlax.is, but we will do our best in answering all of those questions. I see that the questions are already coming in. We have here a question from Oda Djupvik. She asks, "Bjørn, can you give any guidance on the quarter three, quarter four volume split?
Yeah, of course, the total volume is, of course, given by the guidance, but we will see a more harvest in quarter four than quarter three. That's how it looks now, yes.
Yeah. Okay. And, she asks, "What cost level should we expect the coming quarters? Should we expect below EUR 7 per kilo?
We don't guide on the exact cost level, but we expect a decrease in the underlying cost because of better utilization of the capacities we have.
Okay, okay.
Yeah.
Then here's a question: "What are the main investment activities for the next six months? Can you say anything about the expected CapEx level?
I can take that. So, probably the main. Well, we usually don't guide on investments in 2025 or going forward, but for this year, we expect a reduction on our investments. Our main focus will be on seawater equipment to handle more capacity.
Okay. Okay, and then she asks about: "When are we planning to start utilizing the new license for sterile salmon in Ísafjarðardjúp?
Yeah, that is a good question. So we are monitoring what's happening with the production on sterile fish that is available in the market, that means triploids, to see if that is a good alternative for our locations. And we also monitor development of new techniques for sterilization. So, it's a bit premature to conclude yet, but that's a work in progress, and hopefully we see a good path there sooner than later, but still a work in progress.
Yeah. Okay, thank you for that. Christian Olsen Nordby has also sent in questions. Can you comment on price realization in the quarter? Why does revenue per kilo appear so high in the quarter?
Our revenues includes the logistic cost, so and it was a significant part of the volume was air freight in the quarter. So that affects the kind of when you take the revenue split on the volume. But of course it was a quarter with high prices. So I think that is the explanation for the price realization.
Yeah. And he also asks, "How is smolt stocking growth developing year- to- date? Year- to- date.
Yeah. So the smolt output is according to our plan. So we expect to increase the number of smolts with approximately 10% from last year. And yeah, I expect a slight growth in smolt output in the years to come as well, and also on the average weight of the smolts. So, and that is to utilize the maximum allowed biomass better.
Yeah. And then I have a question here from Róbert Agnarsson at Stefnir. "How many smolts have been put into sea in 2024?" And then he asks, "How many in first half, and how many will be in second half?
Yeah, we have said, or, with an increase of 10%, we will put out approximately 5.4 million smolts. So, the split between months, it's something we don't intend or guide on. So yeah, but we will end at approximately 5.4 million smolts this year.
Yeah. Okay, okay. Then there's a question here about: "How is the current biological status in seawater in Icelandic Westfjords? Has sea temperature been in line with a normal year?
We can start with the temperatures. Everyone who has spent the summer in Iceland know that it has been very cold. So temperatures are below what we would say normal, somewhere between a half and one degree below normal. The biological situation is, compared to last year, totally different, and that's mainly because we have good control of the lice with the mitigating measures done to have control of the lice. So that is working really good. So I feel that we are in a very good position at the moment.
Yeah. Okay. And then one question to you, Jónas, here. "Does high Icelandic interest rate impact your cost of capital?
Short answer, no. Our current loan agreement is with DNB and Danske Bank, and is linked to the Euribor. Euribor is high at the moment, but nothing compared to the Icelandic interest rates.
Yeah. Okay. And then one to you, Bjørn. What is the main lesson learned from the unfortunate issues the industry had had last year this time?
The lesson learned is that we need to keep control of the lice, and that is an industry issue, so we have tightened the cooperation between the companies so that we are 100% sure that we are doing the right priorities when it comes to delicing and, of course, to have the equipment available on site has, of course, helped a lot in this. We have been delicing this year, that's how it is, but we are delicing at very low lice levels to be sure that we have good control of the situation, so that is the lesson learned, you need to have good control of the lice.
Yeah, that's true. Yes, there are no more questions coming in, so as it looks like we have covered all of them, and so I would just like to thank you all for joining us here, and we will see you next time.