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

Corinne Blanchard : Thank you. And then I need to come back on the iodine and I’m not sure if that’s what the previous question. But I think you mentioned you expect to pricing remaining strong under current law or for the next six months. Just trying to get a greater with quarterly can you remain above the $60 per kilo already remaining 60, 68, 69 and then what do you see on the second half of the year? Thank you.

Unidentified Company Representative: I would say you can look at our report the prices that we have been selling at the end of the year and we see prices of these are the same level for Q1 and Q2.

Corinne Blanchard : Okay. Thank you.

Operator: Our next question will come from Joel Jackson with BMO. You may now go ahead.

Unidentified Analyst: This is Joseph on for Joel. Thanks for taking my question. So, for the first question for the 30,000-ton carbon and expansion as taking capacity to 200,000 tons. What will be the capital intensity for that? And how does that compare to the project scope of past expansions?

Ricardo Ramos: Ricardo Ramos speaking. As you know, our CapEx that was informed that is $3.4 billion, if I’m not wrong for three years, includes the complete investment we have first in the United business, as you may know and also in the lithium business. In the lithium business of course, we have important investment in order to reach the 210,000 metric tons that Carlos already explained. But also, it’s important to consider and it’s not only reaching the 210,000 metric tons we are significantly, we expect to significantly increase our production of lithium hydroxide capacity in Chile. We will now be with the expansion we are finishing now 30,000, 35,000 metric tons. But we want to be with investment in ’24, ’25 at the level of 100,000 metric ton, that’s a huge expansion that I think is going to be very good for the company in order to have more flexibility in the lithium industry, having more opportunities to deliver our product to lithium clients.

That’s something very important also including our CapEx. But of course, the 210 is also included in this $3.4 billion. Just I want to mention that they also Mt. Holland is included. And we do expect were quite positive about that where expectation that in 2024, 2025 in our prediction, we will expect the some investment in their capacity increase in Mt. Holland, because we think that the 50,000 metric tons of Mt. Holland is just the first step. We think we strongly believe that we will reach an agreement and we will review all the data from the engineering and the geological studies that were performing today that will allow us to go forward to 100,000 metric tons or something close to. That’s why we include in our CapEx a positive expectation that it will invest in more capacity in Australia.

Unidentified Analyst : Okay, thanks for that. And then secondly, so in the past six or so months since you guys announced these Salar Futuro plans, what has been the local and national government feedback on that?

Ricardo Ramos: Okay. Yes, we announced Salar Futuro, we’re were really excited about the project, I think is a great, great opportunity for the company for the country, for the region for the communities. As you know, we continue in the process of informing our different authorities in Chile and our stakeholders, and try to explain the scope of Salar Futuro project that we have been very active about that so far. And I think very proud that everyone agrees on the interest of developing process and technology that aim to the objective of very balancing, means that it is a full agreement about that high ideals and maintaining extremely low carbon footprint, also is very important for everyone. And we think that is the way to have a sustainable productive activity in the Salar to come in the future.