Stock Markets May 13, 2026 02:34 AM

DEME Posts Modest Revenue Gain, Order Intake Doubles on Strong Dredging Activity

Q1 turnover edges up while a large Brazilian concession and follow-on contracts drive a surge in orders

By Derek Hwang

DEME Group recorded first-quarter revenue of €1,015.6 million, a 2% increase year-on-year, while order intake rose sharply to €793.4 million. The boost in new business was led by the Dredging & Infra segment and included a more-than-€300 million, 25-year concession for Paranaguá port access in Brazil. Management reiterated full-year guidance for turnover and EBITDA margin to remain consistent with 2025, citing backlog schedules, pipeline opportunities, and fleet capacity.

DEME Posts Modest Revenue Gain, Order Intake Doubles on Strong Dredging Activity

Key Points

  • Q1 turnover reached €1,015.6 million, up 2% year-on-year.
  • Order intake doubled to €793.4 million, led by Dredging & Infra activity and including a >€300 million, 25-year Paranaguá port access concession.
  • Order book stood at €7.4 billion, down 3% from both the prior year and the prior quarter; segment revenues varied with Dredging & Infra +9%, Offshore Energy -1%, and Environmental -18% due to project phasing.

DEME Group NV reported first-quarter consolidated turnover of €1,015.6 million, a 2% increase compared with the same quarter a year earlier. The company said it continues to expect full-year turnover and EBITDA margin to be in line with 2025 results, based on current project timetables in the backlog, the pipeline of new opportunities and available fleet capacity.

Order intake for the quarter rose markedly to €793.4 million, roughly double the amount secured in the prior-year period. DEME attributed the substantial uplift in orders primarily to heightened activity in its Dredging & Infra segment. Among the awards announced was a 25-year concession related to access for the Paranaguá port in Brazil, which the company valued at more than €300 million. DEME also reported a number of follow-on contracts across its contracting segments for projects already underway.

The group's order book at the end of the quarter stood at €7.4 billion, representing a 3% decline relative to both the year-ago quarter and the preceding quarter. Management framed the order book movement within the context of project delivery and the pattern of contract awards.

Segment performance was mixed. Revenue in Dredging & Infra increased by 9%, supported by sustained demand and high fleet utilisation. Offshore Energy revenues declined by 1% despite continued vessel utilisation and activity levels. The Environmental segment experienced an 18% drop in revenue, which DEME attributed to project phasing effects that shifted activity timing within the period.

On market sentiment, DEME highlighted healthy tendering activity and described its project pipeline as solid. The company noted an improvement in sentiment for offshore wind following the AR7 auction in the UK and a multi-country agreement among nine North Sea nations to accelerate offshore wind development, with a stated target of 15 GW annually from 2031 to 2040 en route to a 300 GW target by 2050.

DEME reaffirmed its full-year outlook for turnover and EBITDA margin to mirror 2025 levels, stressing that current backlog scheduling, the pipeline of new opportunities and fleet capacity underpin that guidance.

Risks

  • Order book contraction - The 3% decline in the order book from both the prior year and prior quarter highlights potential timing and delivery risks that could affect near-term revenue recognition - impacts project contractors and marine services markets.
  • Project phasing in Environmental segment - An 18% revenue decrease driven by project phasing indicates timing uncertainty for that segment's cash flow and margins - impacts environmental contracting and remediation services.
  • Reliance on pipeline and fleet capacity - Maintaining full-year turnover and EBITDA margin guidance depends on current backlog schedules, the pipeline of opportunities and available fleet capacity; disruptions in tendering or fleet utilisation could affect outcomes - impacts capital-intensive marine contractors and offshore energy supply chains.

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