Commenting on the second quarter results, Patrick S. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, said,
This was a mixed quarter for Innospec as Fuel Specialties and Performance Chemicals continued to deliver strong results while Oilfield Services
declined as expected on significant production chemical headwinds. Nevertheless, overall operating income grew 19 percent and operating margins improved.
Performance Chemicals operating income more than doubled over the prior year on higher sales and improved gross margins. Demand for our mild and natural
personal care technologies continued to drive growth in operating income. We are excited by opportunities in all our end-markets and remain cautiously optimistic that we can maintain these improved results in
the second half of 2024. Our recent acquisition of QGP Quimica is performing in line with expectations and is well positioned for growth.
In Fuel
Specialties, gross margins were at the upper end of our targeted 32 to 35 percent range and operating income and margins improved over the prior year. We continue to target further sales growth and margin improvement in the business as we
pursue a diverse set of end-market and geographic opportunities in both fuel and non-fuel applications.
As anticipated, Oilfield Services results were impacted by significantly lower production chemical activity in the quarter. As of the end of July this
activity has not recovered. While potential remains for some near-term recovery in this business, we currently expect to see lower sales levels continuing through the second half of 2024. In parallel we plan to remain focused on several exciting,
technology-based sales growth and margin improvement opportunities in our other oilfield segments.
Revenues in Performance Chemicals of
$160.1 million were up 25 percent over the second quarter of last year with acquisition growth of 7 percent, volume growth of 29 percent and an adverse price/mix of 11 percent. Gross margins of 22.6 percent increased by
5.4 percentage points from the same quarter last year. Operating income of $21.2 million more than doubled from $9.2 million in the corresponding prior year period.
Revenues in Fuel Specialties of $166.6 million were up 8 percent from $154.2 million in the second quarter of last year. Volumes were up
20 percent offset by an adverse price/mix of 12 percent. Gross margins of 34.6 percent increased by 5.5 percentage points over last year. Operating income of $30.4 million was up 78 percent from $17.1 million a year
ago. Adjusting for the $8.0 million loss in Brazil in the second quarter of 2023, prior year gross margins were 32.3 percent and operating income was $25.1 million.
Revenues in Oilfield Services of $108.3 million for the quarter were down 45 percent from $198.4 million in the second quarter of last year.
Gross margins of 30.6 percent decreased by 11.5 percentage points from the same quarter last year on a weaker sales mix. Operating income of $7.3 million decreased 74 percent from $28.0 million in the prior year period.
Corporate costs for the quarter were $17.6 million, compared with $20.1 million a year ago.
The effective tax rate for the quarter was 28.6 percent compared to 21.0 percent in the same period last year reflecting the geographical location
of taxable profits.
For the quarter, cash provided by operating activities was $4.7 million compared to $55.0 million a year ago. As of
June 30, 2024, Innospec had $240.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt.
Mr. Williams concluded,
I am very pleased with the strong results in Fuel Specialties and Performance Chemicals in the quarter. We continue to execute as expected against a
broad set of technology-led growth opportunities in these businesses. While the results and short-term outlook in Oilfield Services are clearly below our targeted range, our team remains intensely focused on
leveraging our leading customer service and technology to build a stronger medium to long-term business.
With over $240 million in net-cash we expect to continue to pursue organic investments and complementary M&A while returning value to shareholders through dividend growth.