Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Ben Isaacson: My second question is on the SPN business. I think one of the messages that you guys have been giving is that over the next few years, your potash volume, your potash production will start to decline? And if that’s correct, then does that really limit the growth for MOP for potassium nitrate in the SPN business? And if not, then where does the growth come from in SPN?

Ricardo Ramos: Hi, Ricardo Ramos speaking of course, we expect to have some reduction in the production of MOP. Because we are going to reduce the pumping of solution the brines from the Sociedad Quimica in the future every year. But we are increasing our technology and our deal. So, there’s a lot in audit that we can control in some way the reduction in total production. Anyway, the total production of MOP today is more than enough, in order to cover the production of potassium nitrate. That’s why we don’t foresee until the next 10 years having any issue of supplying enough voters for the production of potassium nitrate. Of course, the sales to third parties of potash will be reduced, but we will not affect the growth of potassium nitrate from a scam.

Ben Isaacson: Okay. That’s helpful. And then my very last question, maybe just to follow up on P.J.’s question on the portfolio structure of lithium. You just said that you’re going to mainly follow the market. There’s a debate out there that perhaps stock prices or just in general we’ll start to see prices start to moderate over time. And if that’s true, why would you not add some more stability and predictability to your lithium portfolio by having a little bit more fixed prices especially if you believe that prices will trend lower and moderate closer to the cost curve over the next few years? Why would you leave yourself exposed to spot if you believe prices will fund?

Ricardo Ramos: Yes, well, we have taken that decision already some time ago that we want to have our contracts following the market. I think this at the end represents the best solution for customers and suppliers. Sometimes, I mean, we have learned the hard way in the past but sometimes when you fix prices and then market changes unexpectedly then you are in a problem and we want to avoid that.

Ben Isaacson: Thank you. Very much.

Operator: Our next question will come from Corinne Blanchard with Deutsche Bank. You may now go ahead.

Corinne Blanchard: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for taking my question. The first one I want to try to understand better what you expect in terms of volume for this year for 2023 for lithium?

Ricardo Ramos: Do you want to know about capacity or about sales?

Corinne Blanchard: Sales.

Ricardo Ramos: Or both?

Corinne Blanchard: Capacity is

Ricardo Ramos: Yeah, well, I will speak about size, Corinne can comment about capacity, whatever.

Unidentified Company Representative : Let’s start talking about a capacity because when the cell is going to be probably a result of our capacity. But finally, what is important to mention that we continue to focus on further expansion in Chile, where we’re really reaching the capacity 180,000. And now we’re moving to produce 210,000 at the end of the year. So, we’re continuing to expand in that and then the new capacity that we will have now in China and the Citroen region, we expect to produce around 20,000 metric ton there. So, in total is will be around 200,000, or product that is coming from the Salar de Gama from the Brian instruction. So, in that way, we were on track with all our projects. So, an additional two data by the end of the year, we expect to start producing in Futuro and our Mt. Holland project in Australia.

So, we’re continuing to increase in our capacity, why would it have any sales when it’s going to depend on the supply and demand finally, and it’s not something that we could comment now. We are preparing now for supply in the market. That is why we’re recent that we’re spending Chile, China and Australia.