The Chemours Company, a global chemistry company with leading market positions in Titanium Technologies (“TT”), Thermal & Specialized Solutions (“TSS”), and Advanced Performance Materials (“APM”), today announced its financial results for the second quarter 2023 paired with the announcement of the closing of the Kuan Yin, Taiwan titanium dioxide manufacturing facility. 

Second Quarter 2023 Results & Highlights

• Net Sales of $1.6 billion
• Net Loss of $(376) million with EPS¹ of $(2.52)
• Adjusted Net Income² of $167 million with Adjusted EPS² of $1.10
• Adjusted EBITDA² of $324 million and Free Cash Flow of $3 million
• Announced shutdown of TT’s Kuan Yin, Taiwan manufacturing facility as part of overall cost optimization efforts
• Reached comprehensive settlement of PFAS-related drinking water claims of a defined class of U.S. public water systems; Chemours’ share totaling $592 million
• Agreed to sell Chemours’ Glycolic Acid business to PureTech Scientific Inc. for $137 million
• Launched operations at THE Mobility F.C. Membranes Company as a part of Chemours’ joint venture
• Issued Chemours’ sixth Sustainability Report highlighting significant progress towards 2030 CRC goals
• On July 26, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors approved a third quarter dividend of $0.25 per share
• Given weaker 2H demand visibility, we now anticipate full year Adjusted EBITDA to be between $1.100 billion and $1.175 billion; with Free Cash Flow guidance greater than $325 million³

“Our second quarter performance underscores the strength of our industry-leading businesses despite increasing economic uncertainty. In Thermal & Specialized Solutions, we delivered record Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA, and in Advanced Performance Materials demonstrated the strength of our Performance Solutions portfolio achieving double-digit growth,” said Mark Newman, Chemours President and CEO. “As part of our plan to improve the earnings power of our Titanium Technologies segment, we have decided to close our Kuan Yin facility. This action will enable us to optimize our manufacturing circuit without compromising our ability to meet customer demand and deliver significant recurring cost savings starting in the second half of 2023.”

Second quarter 2023 Net Sales of $1.6 billion, were (14)% lower than the prior-year quarter, driven by lower Net Sales in TT and APM’s Advanced Materials portfolio. Price was a positive contributor, up 2%, offset by lower volumes of (16)%, while currency was relatively flat, on a year-over-year basis.

Second quarter Net Loss was $(376) million, inclusive of $644 million⁴ of charges related to legal settlements for legacy PFAS environmental matters and associated fees, resulting in EPS of $(2.52), down $(3.78) vs. the prior-year quarter. Adjusted Net Income was $167 million resulting in Adjusted EPS of $1.10, down $(0.79), or approximately (42)% vs. the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 declined (32)% to $324 million in comparison to $475 million in the prior-year second quarter, driven primarily by weaker results in TT. Price outpaced cost in the second quarter, offset by the impact of lower volumes of (30)% primarily driven by TT. Currency was a (3)%, or $(12) million, headwind vs. the prior-year quarter due to a stronger USD.

Segment Results

Titanium Technologies
 In the second quarter, TT reported Net Sales of $707 million, down $(261) million, or (27)%, from $968 million in the prior-year quarter. Compared with the prior-year quarter, price and currency were relatively flat, with the total change driven by a (27)% decline in volume. Flat price, in comparison to the prior period, reflected aggregate contractual price increases offset by the decline in pricing in global flex and distribution channels. Overall volumes decreased due to softer market demand in all regions. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $87 million, down (60)% compared to the prior-year quarter, resulting in Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 12%. The decreases in TT Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin over the prior-year quarter were primarily attributable to the aforementioned decrease in sales volumes, the effects of inflation on costs, and lower fixed cost absorption.

On a sequential basis, Net Sales increased by 12%. Price was down (1)%, and volume was up 13% driven by seasonal demand, while currency was relatively flat over the prior-quarter.

We anticipate the closure of our Kuan Yin facility to provide an annual run-rate cost savings of approximately $50 million starting in 2024, with approximately $15 million for the remainder of 2023. Estimated pre-tax asset-related impairment, restructuring, and other charges are estimated to range between approximately $150 to $160 million, comprised primarily of non-cash charges of approximately $130 million for property, plant and equipment, inventory and other assets, and cash charges related to severance, contract termination and other charges in the range of approximately $20 to $30 million. The Company also expects to incur additional charges in the range of approximately $25 to $45 million for decommissioning, dismantling and removal costs from the third quarter of 2023 over the next two to three years. The cash impacts associated with these charges are expected to approximate $25 million per year in 2023 and 2024.

Our overall outlook anticipates a delayed recovery, with second half demand expected to be flat to slightly improved compared to the first half, given uneven and uncertain macroeconomic conditions globally.

Thermal & Specialized Solutions

In the second quarter, TSS reported record Net Sales of $523 million, up $5 million, from $518 million in the prior-year quarter. Compared with the prior-year quarter, price increased 2%, partially offset by a (1)% decline in volume with currency relatively flat. Prices increased across the portfolio, excluding automotive end markets, due to changing market and regulatory dynamics and steady value-based pricing growth within our Refrigerants and Foam, Propellants and Other Products portfolio. Volumes decreased slightly due to lower demand for legacy refrigerants partially offset by increased demand for Opteon^TM products. Versus the prior-year quarter, segment Adjusted EBITDA increased $1 million, to a record $214 million driven by the aforementioned increase in price offset by higher raw material costs and lower earnings from our equity affiliates and other income, resulting in Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 41%.

On a sequential basis, Net Sales increased by 8%. Price decreased (1)%, and volume increased 9%, reflecting seasonal refrigerant demand trends, while currency was relatively flat over the prior-quarter.

Our outlook anticipates continued Opteon^TM adoption in mobile and stationary applications ahead of the next EU and USA HFC step-downs in 2024, paired with uncertainty in the rate of automotive and construction end-market demand recovery. We expect typical seasonality in customer demand trends in the second half of the year.

Advanced Performance Materials

In the second quarter, APM reported Net Sales of $387 million, down $(14) million, or (3)%, from $401 million in the prior-year quarter. Within the underlying APM business, the Performance Solutions portfolio reported an increase in Net Sales of $20 million, or 17%, whereas Advanced Materials portfolio reported Net Sales decrease of $(34) million, or (12)% from the prior year quarter. In total, compared with the prior-year quarter, APM’s price increased 7%, while volume declined (9)%, and currency was a headwind of (1)%. Prices increased due to increasing sales in high-value end-markets, including advanced electronics and clean energy, in the Performance Solutions portfolio, as well as pricing actions to offset higher raw material costs in our Advanced Materials portfolio. Volumes decreased due to demand softening in the Advanced Materials portfolio which serves more economically sensitive end-markets and lower demand in non-strategic end-markets where some volume fade has been accelerated given our strategy to drive higher value Performance Solutions product offerings. Versus the prior-year quarter, Adjusted EBITDA was down $(26) million, or (24)%, to $81 million resulting in Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 21%. The decreases in segment Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the quarter were primarily attributable to the aforementioned decrease in sales volume driving lower fixed cost absorption, impact of higher raw material costs, and the continued effects of inflation on other costs.

On a sequential basis, net sales were relatively flat. Price decreased by (1)%, and volume increased 1% while currency remained flat. On the same basis, the Performance Solutions portfolio Net Sales decreased by (3)% due to the timing of several key contractual arrangements, while Advanced Materials portfolio Net Sales increased by 1%.

Our outlook anticipates weaker second half demand for products in the Advanced Materials portfolio which serves economically sensitive end-markets, paired with continued elevated input costs, partially offset by improved customer demand for high-value, differentiated products in the Performance Solutions portfolio.

Read full reporting of the results here.