Alliance Resource Partners' Q4 2024: Navigating Contradictions in Sulfur Pricing, Cost Improvements, and Market Strategy

These are the key contradictions discussed in Alliance Resource Partners' latest 2024Q4 earnings call, specifically including: High Sulfur Market Outlook and Pricing, Appalachia Cost Improvements, Market Conditions and Sales Strategy, and Appalachia Operations and Cost Improvements:



Financial Performance and Market Conditions:
- Alliance Resource Partners reported total revenues of $2.4 billion for 2024, a decrease from the previous year, with adjusted EBITDA at $714 million and net income at $60.9 million.
- The decline was primarily due to lower coal and oil and gas prices, reduced coal sales volumes, and elevated customer inventories.

Coal Production and Costs:
- Coal production challenges, including unfavorable mining conditions at Tunnel Ridge and shipping delays, led to reduced volumes across the Appalachia and Illinois Basin regions.
- Cost per ton sold increased by 12.1% and 4.3% compared to the previous year, driven by lower volumes and a noncash deferred purchase price adjustment related to a 2015 acquisition.

Cost Improvement Expectations:
- Alliance expects a material improvement in full-year 2025 coal production costs, aiming to offset anticipated lower market prices.
- Two longwall moves in the first quarter and improved geological conditions in the Illinois Basin are expected to contribute to cost reduction.

Oil and Gas Royalties Business:
- Total oil and gas royalty revenues for Q4 2024 were $48.5 million, down 8.6% from the previous year, driven by lower realized oil and gas commodity pricing despite increased volumes.
- Achieve record volumes in 2024, reflecting increased drilling and completion activities and acquisitions of additional oil and gas mineral interests.

Digital Assets and Bitcoin Mining:
- Alliance's Bitcoin mining operations positively impacted net income with a $22.4 million increase in the mark-to-market value of digital assets in 2024.
- The company's digital assets were valued at $45 million at year-end, based on a Bitcoin price of roughly $93,000.