October 18th, 2024 by Emily Parsons, Alliance News reporter (with Dr. Sakharov's comments in red)
Dr. Sakharov: Iofina's steady performance and strategic expansions signal a robust phase for the iodine market. Meeting production forecasts amid quarterly growth is no small feat and reflects the increasing global demand for iodine. For those of us deeply invested in iodine extraction in Oklahoma and Texas, this serves as both a confirmation of positive market trends and a gentle nudge to perhaps accelerate our own growth strategies. It's intriguing to observe how Iofina leverages strong relationships with brine suppliers to expedite their operational milestones—something that might be worth exploring further. After all, in the world of critical minerals, connections can be as valuable as the elements themselves.
(Alliance News) - Iofina PLC on Friday said it expects to meet its second-half production guidance, following growth in its third quarter.
The Colorado, US-based iodine producer said it produced 163.9 metric tonnes of crystalline iodine in the third quarter ended September 30, up 4.5% from 156.9 metric tonnes a year before.
Average sale prices for crystalline iodine in the second half are currently higher than the average in the first half of the year of USD66.84 per kilogram, Iofina said. It expects this trend to continue into 2025, as "the demand for iodine is expected to exceed supply in the medium term."
Its seventh operating plant, IO#10, began concentrating iodine towards the end of the three-month period and is now producing crystalline iodine.
Shares in Iofina were up 10% at 19.25 pence each in London on Friday morning.
Chief Executive Officer Tom Becker said: "The group has delivered an excellent performance in the period, with major milestones achieved. Not only did we commission IO#10, but by utilizing a strong relationship with one of our existing brine suppliers, we managed to finalize an agreement for IO#11.
We continue to execute our business plan of prudent but accelerated growth of our iodine production. Additionally, our restructured and favorable loan terms have enabled us the flexibility to achieve faster growth. We expect to meet the crystalline iodine production range of 355 to 380 metric tonnes for the second half of 2024. The company continues to experience strong sales, driven by sustained demand and increasing iodine prices."
By Emily Parsons, Alliance News reporter