Third Quarter 2021 Summary
Year over Year Quarterly Comparison
Overall production in the third quarter of 2021 was 553,000 tons, up nearly 40% from the same period of 2020. Elk Creek alone produced 510,000 tons in the third quarter of 2021. Overall total sales in the third quarter of 2021 were 644,000 tons, up 50% from 430,000 tons in the third quarter of 2020. Cash margins on Company produced coal were $34 per ton in the third quarter of 2021, up 278% from the same period of 2020. Pricing of Company produced coal sold was $105 per ton, which was 35% higher in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020. Company produced cash mine costs were $71 per ton in the third quarter of 2021, which were 3% higher than the same period of 2020. Despite higher sales-related costs, as well as modest inflationary pressures, cash mine costs at Elk Creek of $67 per ton in the third quarter of 2021 were equal to the same period of 2020.
Sequential Quarter Comparison
Total sales volume of 644,000 tons in the third quarter of 2021 was down 6% from the second quarter of 2021.
Cash margins on Company produced coal increased by 26% from the second quarter of 2021, due to higher revenue per ton sold in the third quarter of 2021. Cash mine costs on Company produced coal were $71 in the third quarter of 2021 per ton compared to $69 per ton in the second quarter of 2021. Higher cash costs were due to higher sales-related costs, on the back of higher revenue per ton. Specifically, the 3% sequential increase in cash costs per ton was more than offset by 9% higher revenue per ton sold in the third quarter of 2021 relative to the second quarter of 2021.
Other income was $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2021 compared to $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2021, principally due to the recognition of $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2021 for the CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credit.
Additional Financial Results
At September 30, 2021, the Company had record liquidity of $73.8 million, consisting of $46.7 million of cash on hand plus $27.1 million of availability under its revolving credit facility.
Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2021 totaled $9.1 million, an increase of 264% as compared to $2.5 million for the third quarter of 2020. This increase was principally due to the continued development of the Berwind complex in 2021.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 was 21%, excluding a tax benefit of $0.2 million for legislative changes in West Virginia. The 21% rate is above our first half of 2021 effective tax rate of 9% excluding discreet items. The difference between our first half of 2021 rate of 9% and our third quarter of 2021 rate of 21% negatively impacted net income by approximately $0.8 million and EPS of $0.02. Ramaco expects to continue to pay minimal cash taxes due to tax loss carryforwards.
On July 13, 2021, the Company completed a $34.5 million senior unsecured notes offering. The 9.00% notes mature in July 2026. The notes are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “METCL”.
On July 16, 2021, the Company was awarded a $32.7 million jury verdict in its lawsuit related to the November 2018 silo failure against Chubb INA Holdings, Inc. (“Chubb Insurance”), which has not yet been paid and is subject to potential appeal and post-trial motions.
On July 29, 2021, the Company was informed that the SBA had forgiven an approximately $8.4 million PPP Loan which had been granted to the Company in 2020.