Camellia warns of an operating loss as crop prices and input costs deteriorate

Camellia ($CAM) lowered its trading expectations and now forecasts a full-year 2026 trading loss of £3–5 million, compared with a £1 million profit in 2025. Revenue is expected to fall to £255–260 million from £268 million. Higher energy, fuel, fertiliser and transport costs are outweighing efficiency improvements, while weaker avocado and macadamia prices and lower yields are depressing agricultural returns.

Stronger tea trading in Bangladesh, India and Kenya has not offset weaker operations elsewhere. Camellia nevertheless expects approximately £23 million of profits from disposals, including artwork and tea gardens, supporting forecast EBITDA of £25–28 million. Those disposal gains should be separated from the underlying trading deterioration. Liquidity stood at about £144 million at the end of September, and the final result remains sensitive to the seasonal timing of fourth-quarter production and sales.

Sources:

• RNS via Investegate
• RNS via Investegate — announcement index