Significantly increased security level: consistent response to criminal activities

In response to the criminal cases, Aurubis established a series of immediate measures and initiated long-term improvements to considerably increase security. These include more frequent spot checks of personnel and vehicles along with intensified surveillance of risk areas. Additional approval levels were also introduced in raw material purchasing for specific material groups. Furthermore, in a Group-wide project, individual teams worked with external expert support to analyze ongoing security-relevant processes and prevention potential with the aim of implementing additional measures across sites.

A new precious metals processing plant will also make a decisive contribution to security at the Hamburg site in the future. With the € 300 million investment in the PMR (Precious Metals Refinery) scheduled to come online at the end of 2026, Aurubis is mapping out the entire precious metal processing chain in a closed security area – and incorporating the findings from the comprehensive investigation into the criminal activities directed against Aurubis into the facility’s design. In addition to highlighting plant and precious metal security and occupational safety, the newly developed process will also raise efficiency, considerably reduce throughput times for materials containing precious metals, and lower operating costs by around 15 %.

Investing in the future: € 1.7 billion for the further strategic development of the smelter network

Along with improving plant safety, Aurubis also continues to consistently realize its “Metals for Progress: Driving Sustainable Growth” strategy: Around € 1.7 billion is currently approved for strategic projects. In addition to the Precious Metals Refinery, these include the large-scale growth project, Aurubis Richmond, in Georgia, the expansion of recycling capacity with the Complex Recycling Hamburg project, and the extension of the Industrial Heat project in Hamburg. With these and other projects, the multimetal supplier is securing its core business, consistently leveraging growth opportunities, and further expanding its leadership role in sustainability. Over the coming three to five years, the strategic projects will contribute a total of around € 260 million to EBITDA per year.

“We are committed to investing – in the US and in Europe – in growth, strength, security, safety and sustainability. By consistently realizing our strategy, we are driving Aurubis’ transformation: We’re delivering on our promises! And as we do, we’re making an important contribution to meeting the growing demand for metals that are essential to the energy and mobility transition,” Roland Harings emphasized.

Optimistic about fiscal year 2023/24

The consistent implementation of the Aurubis strategy even in challenging times clearly shows: Aurubis continues to enjoy a very robust financial position. The company’s outlook on the new 2023/24 fiscal year is optimistic. For the current 2023/24 fiscal year, the multimetal supplier anticipates an operating EBT of between € 380 and 480 million. This current forecast is in line with the high average earnings level of the past three years. The company expects an operating ROCE of between 10 and 14 %.