Orion S.A. Announces Preliminary Full Year 2024 Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) announced preliminary unaudited financial results for FY2024, expecting adjusted EBITDA to fall slightly below the guided range of $305-$315 million. The shortfall is attributed to multiple factors: foreign exchange impacts from a strengthening dollar, one-time costs from a workforce reduction plan, weaker Rubber segment volumes in Q4, and less favorable Specialty segment mix.

The company has initiated a cost reduction plan, reducing non-plant workforce by ~6%, which is expected to yield approximately $6 million in annualized cost savings in 2025. Management attributes the Rubber segment weakness to pressure on Western tire production due to elevated imports from Southeast Asia and China, along with year-end inventory adjustments from key customers.

Despite these challenges, Orion expects modest growth in 2025, building on structurally improved returns. The company will report Q4 and full-year 2024 results after market close on February 19, 2025.

Positive

• Cost reduction initiative expected to generate $6M annual savings in 2025
• Management projects modest growth for 2025

Negative

• 2024 adjusted EBITDA to fall below guidance range of $305-$315M
• Weaker than expected Rubber segment volumes in Q4
• Less favorable Specialty segment mix
• Negative foreign exchange impact from strengthening dollar
• 6% reduction in non-plant workforce

Insights

Financial Analyst

The preliminary results reveal concerning operational challenges. Adjusted EBITDA falling below the $305-315 million guidance range signals execution difficulties, with multiple headwinds converging. The foreign exchange impact from dollar strength particularly affects international operations, while the ~6% workforce reduction targeting $6 million in annual savings indicates mounting cost pressures.

The Rubber segment's volume decline is particularly worrisome as it reflects structural market challenges from Asian imports rather than cyclical factors. This suggests potential longer-term margin pressure unless trade dynamics shift. The Specialty segment's unfavorable mix points to possible pricing or product portfolio challenges that could persist into 2025.

While management's cost-cutting initiatives demonstrate proactiveness, the projected "modest growth" for 2025 appears cautious given the continuing FX headwinds and competitive pressures. The timing of the workforce reduction, impacting non-plant employees, suggests a strategic shift toward operational efficiency but may limit growth capacity.

Market Research Analyst

The global tire market dynamics present significant structural challenges. The surge in tire imports from Southeast Asia and China into North American and European markets indicates a fundamental shift in trade patterns that's pressuring Western tire manufacturers - Orion's key customers. This market disruption extends beyond cyclical fluctuations, suggesting a potential long-term realignment of the supply chain.

Key metrics warrant attention:

• The timing of volume weakness (late Q4) suggests potential inventory destocking beyond normal seasonality
• Customer inventory adjustments point to broader demand uncertainty
• Geographic market pressures in core regions (North America/Europe) indicate systemic challenges

The company's reference to "trade flows rebalancing" implies an expectation of potential trade policy interventions or market self-correction, though the timeline remains uncertain.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals company, today announced a preliminary unaudited financial update for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

Orion now expects 2024 adjusted EBITDA to be nominally below our guidance range of $305-$315 million, due primarily to foreign exchange translation impacts related to the strengthening dollar and one-time costs associated with a cost reduction plan. Weaker than anticipated Rubber segment volumes late in the fourth quarter and slightly less favorable Specialty segment mix were also factors and would have positioned the company at the lower end of guidance, excluding the items noted above. In the fourth quarter, Orion commenced an initiative to reduce its non-plant workforce by ~6% and expects to realize approximately $6 million in annualized cost savings in 2025.

“We believe the Rubber demand softness we experienced late in the year reflects continued pressure on Western tire production resulting from elevated levels of tire imports into North America and Europe, respectively, from Southeast Asia and China, as well as some year-end inventory adjustments at certain key customers,” said Corning Painter, Orion’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Despite stepped-up tire imports into our key geographic markets, we believe the outcome of our Rubber segment’s commercial strategy positions us well for 2025, and for when trade flows rebalance within the global tire market.”

Painter added, “Regardless, we initiated discrete cost reduction actions in the fourth quarter of 2024, which we expect to substantially complete in the first quarter of 2025. Overall, based on factors within Orion’s control and despite the strengthening FX headwind, we continue to expect modest growth in 2025, building upon the structurally improved returns our company has generated over the past several years.”

These expected financial results are preliminary and unaudited, have not been reviewed by the Company’s independent registered public accountants, and remain subject to the completion of normal year-end accounting procedures and adjustments, and are therefore subject to change.

Release Date and Conference Call

Orion intends to report fourth quarter and full year 2024 results after the market’s close on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to be followed by a conference call on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

The dial-in details for the live conference call follow:

U.S. Toll Free:		1-877-407-4018
International:		1-201-689-8471

A conference call replay may be accessed at the following numbers through Thursday, March 6, 2025:

U.S. Toll Free:		1-844-512-2921
International:		1-412-317-6671
Conference ID:		13751212

Additionally, an archived webcast of the conference call will be available in the investor section of the company’s website at orioncarbons.com.

About Orion S.A.

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and produces carbon black at 15 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. For more information, please visit www.orioncarbons.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on current expectations and assumptions, including statements regarding our expected financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the completion of normal year-end accounting procedures and adjustments with respect to our preliminary results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, each of which could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information, other than as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115324928/en/

Christopher Kapsch

Vice President of Investor Relations

+1 281-318-4413

christopher.kapsch@orioncarbons.com

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.

FAQ

What is Orion's (OEC) expected adjusted EBITDA for 2024?

Orion expects 2024 adjusted EBITDA to be nominally below their guidance range of $305-$315 million.

How much cost savings will OEC's workforce reduction generate in 2025?

Orion's workforce reduction initiative is expected to generate approximately $6 million in annualized cost savings in 2025.

What percentage of workforce is Orion (OEC) reducing in their cost-cutting initiative?

Orion is reducing its non-plant workforce by approximately 6%.

What factors affected Orion's (OEC) Rubber segment performance in Q4 2024?

The Rubber segment was affected by pressure on Western tire production due to elevated imports from Southeast Asia and China, along with year-end inventory adjustments from key customers.

When will Orion (OEC) release their full Q4 and 2024 annual results?

Orion will release Q4 and full year 2024 results after market close on February 19, 2025.