Fabricato Posts 1Q 2018 Net Loss, But Sees Improvements Coming

Medellin-based textile giant Fabricato announced May 1 that it posted a COP$11.6 billion (US$4.1 million) net loss for first quarter (1Q) 2018, 13% worse than the COP$10 billion (US$3.5 million) net loss in 1Q 2017.

Sales also dipped 13.6% year-on-year, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) dropped 45% year-on-year, to COP$1.8 billion (US$637,000).

However, the 1Q 2018 business environment improved compared to the immediate prior quarter (4Q 2017) thanks to relatively low inflation, low interest rates, rising oil prices and an improved consumer confidence index, according to the company.

In addition, Colombia’s textile sector “is beginning to see the positive effect of [government] measures taken at the end of last year against illegal competition,” including “intensification in the fight against contraband [clothing imports] and especially the antidumping measure taken against denim imports from China,” according to Fabricato.

In addition, the start-up of the new free-trade agreement between Colombia and the Mercosur nations enables favorable flow of fabrics at zero tariffs between Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Brazil, the company noted.

Meanwhile, Fabricato continues to transfer operations from its shuttered “Riotex” factory in Rionegro, Antioquia, to its centralized Bello, Antioquia, production facilities, hence boosting productivity. Completion of this operational transfer is expected by July.

Reviewing 1Q 2018 results, Fabricato highlighted what it termed as a “bad January, but a good February and March, with EBITDA positive, to a level aligned with our budget.”

In addition, “another relevant factor is our new business model, under which the volume of production is aligned with sales expectations for the period, instead of employing the concept of maximum capacity utilization,” according to Fabricato.

“This has reduced product inventory by 25% in [Colombia Peso] terms and 32% in volume terms, year-on-year,” the company added.