Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. (Nasdaq: PME), ("Pingtan" or the "Company"), today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

Revenue was $15.4 million.

Gross profit was $1.7million.

Net income was $0.8 million.

Net income attributable to owners of the Company was $0.7 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share. 

Management Comments

Mr. Xinrong Zhuo, Chairman and CEO of the Company, commented: "Although the overall economic environment in China continued to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during the third quarter, we were really pleased with our performance for the quarter with our revenue increasing by 38.2% and our sales volumes increasing by 69.3%, compared to the same period of the prior year. Recently, we have made a series of positive announcements about the operations of Pingtan, including 10 rebuilt large scaled squid jigging vessels sailing to sea for operations and 21 fishing vessels returning to fishing grounds after routine repair and maintenance. In addition, we announced that the Pingtan International Marine Industry and Logistic Park, our strategic investment project that is a key step in our long-term growth strategy and an important link to start our direct-to-retail business, is expected to commence operation by the end of this year. We believe that these recent business developments will have a positive impact on our results for the fourth quarter and lay a good foundation for further development in 2021."

Factors Affecting Pingtans Results of Operations

COVID-19 pandemic

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is still evolving and continues to cause major economic disruptions to businesses and markets worldwide as the virus spreads or resurgence in certain jurisdictions. As the first country to be engulfed in the pandemic, China introduced strict emergency quarantine measures and travel restrictions to contain the pandemic, which had a big impact on Chinas economy in the first half of 2020. Although it was generally believed that the pandemic was under control in the third quarter, the PRC government continued to take precautionary quarantine measures to avoid additional outbreaks of the pandemic, which had an adverse impact on the economic activities in the PRC. 

The continued precautionary quarantine measures taken by the PRC government and travel restrictions implemented by some countries have had a significant impact on many sectors across China, which has also adversely affected the Companys operations. To reduce the impact on its production and operation, the Company has taken and may continue to take actions in response as necessary, including but not limited to, continued shifts in work system, paid leave and reducing the number of foreign crews on its vessels. The Companys management is focused on mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on its business operations while protecting the health of its employees. The Company will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter its business operations as may be required by local authorities or that the Company determines in the best interests of its employees, customers, partners, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Some of Pingtans customers are fish processing plants that export processed fish products to foreign countries. These customers reduced or postponed their purchases from the Company in the initial stage of the pandemic, but since the middle of the second quarter, they have adjusted their business strategies in relation to exportation or domestic sale. Because of the reduction or postponement, the Company has taken and may continue to take necessary de-stocking measures, such as lowering the selling prices of catches and extending the term of payment for certain accounts receivable, which may adversely affect the financial conditions and working capital of the Company.

The situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented economic uncertainty globally. However, the extent of the impact on the Companys financial condition and results of operations is still highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, such as the ultimate duration and scope of the outbreak, its impact on its customers and exporters, how quickly normal economic conditions, operations, and the demand for its products can resume and whether the pandemic leads to recessionary conditions in China.

While the Company anticipates that its results of operations will continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2020, it is unable to reasonably estimate the extent of the impact on its full-year results of operations, its liquidity or its overall financial position.

The Companys Fishing Fleet

As of September 30, 2020, of the Companys 143 vessels, 79 were located in the international waters, 12 were located in the Bay of Bengal in India, 13 were located in the PRC, 37 were located in the Arafura Sea in Indonesia, 1 transport vessel was in the modification and rebuilding stage and 1 new krill fishing vessel was in the building stage.

Consolidated Financial and Operating Review

Revenue

Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $15.4 million, an increase of $4.3 million, or 38.2%, as compared to the same period in 2019. Sales volumes in the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased by 69.3% to 14,697,306 kg from 8,681,467 kg in the three months ended September 30, 2019. Average unit sale price decreased by 18.6% in the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Companys revenue increased to $56.2million from $55.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Sales volumes in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased by 52.2% to 49,991,024 kg from 32,852,810 kg in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Average unit sale price decreased by 33.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the increase in revenue as compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily attributable to changes in different sales mix and the increase of sales volumes as a result of more vessels in operation. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the decrease in the average unit sale price as compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily attributable to the fish species with the highest sales volume being sold at lower selling prices. Indian Ocean squid was our major product for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.An increase in the number of fishing vessels catching Indian Ocean squid in the Indian Ocean fishing grounds led to an increased supply, which negatively affected the average unit sale price. Lower unit sales prices are expected to continue for the remainder of year 2020 due to such increased supply as well as restrained demand from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gross Margin

Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $1.7 million, representing a change of $1.9 million, or 53.7%, as compared to gross profit of $3.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The Companys gross margin was 10.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to 32.1% in the prior-year period. 

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $9.6 million, representing a change of $7.4 million, or 43.4%, as compared to gross profit of $16.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, gross margin decreased to 17.0% from 30.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

The decrease in gross margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily due to the decrease in average unit sale price by 18.6% and 33.3%, respectively, as well as the increase in cost due to increased production activities. A key species of our sales mix was Indian Ocean squid whose market price was on the low side, and the market price of frozen seafood was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which together led to a decrease in gross margin.

Selling Expenses

Selling expenses were $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $0.7 million for the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to the increase in insurance, storage fees and customs clearance charge as a result of an increase in the number of vessels being insured, the number of deliveries from ports to the warehouse in China and the increase in satellite communication fees for fishing vessels. 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, selling expenses were $3.3 million, compared to $1.9 million for the same period of 2019. The increase was primarily due to the reasons described above.

General & Administrative Expenses

For the three months ended September 30, 2020, general and administrative expenses were $1.6 million, compared to $1.5 million in the prior-year period, an increase of $0.4 million or 2.7%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, general and administrative expenses were $5.2 million, compared to $6.0 million in the same period of 2019, a decrease of $0.8 million or 14.2%.

Net Income

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $0.8million, compared to net income of $4.4 million in the same period of 2019, a decrease of 82.3%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, net income was $7.5 million, a slight increase of 0.8% as compared to the prior year period.

Net Income Attributable to Owners of the Company

For the three months ended September 30, 2020, net income attributable to owners of the Company was $0.7 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income attributable to owners of the Company of $4.0 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, in the same period of 2019.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, net income attributable to owners of the Company was $6.8 million, or $0.09 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income attributable to owners of the Company of $6.7million, or $0.09 per basic and diluted share, in the same period of 2019.

Conference Call Details

Pingtan will discuss the financial results for the third quarter of 2020 during a conference call to be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

about Pingtan

Pingtan is a  fishing company engaging in ocean fishing through its subsidiary, Fujian Provincial Pingtan County Ocean Fishing Group Co., Ltd., or Pingtan Fishing.

Business Risks and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "estimate," "project," "forecast," "plan," "believe," "may," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential," "can," "expectation" and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions, may identify forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Risks include anticipated growth and growth strategies; need for additional capital and the availability of financing; locating or re-locating vessels, in foreign waters and related license requirements; our ability to successfully manage relationships with customers, distributors and other important relationships; actions taken by government regulators, such as the Indonesian moratorium; technological changes; competition; demand for our products and services; the deterioration of general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally or in the local markets in which we operate; the impact of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the Companys financial condition, business operations and liquidity; the impact of COVID-19 on our customers and distributors; legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect our business; operational, mechanical, climatic or other unanticipated issues that adversely affect the production capacity of the Companys fishing vessels and their ability to generate expected annual revenue and net income; and other risk factors contained in Pingtans SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Pingtans most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Pingtan undertakes no obligation to updat or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.