SQM Reports Earnings for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
SQM (NYSE: SQM) reported Q1 2026 revenues of US$1,760.1 million, up 69.8% year-over-year, with net income of US$364.7 million or US$1.28 per share, up 165.2%. Gross profit reached US$778.6 million, a 44.2% margin.
Lithium sales volumes were ~69,000 metric tons LCE, and full-year lithium sales growth guidance increased from 10% to 15%. Specialty plant nutrition sales volumes are now expected to grow about 10% in 2026.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- Q1 2026 revenues increased 69.8% year-over-year to US$1,760.1 million
- Net income rose 165.2% year-over-year to US$364.7 million (US$1.28 per share)
- Gross profit margin improved from 29.4% to 44.2% (US$778.6 million)
- Lithium sales volumes reached ~69,000 metric tons LCE in Q1 2026
- Full-year lithium sales volume growth guidance raised from 10% to 15%
- Specialty plant nutrition sales volumes now expected to grow about 10% year-over-year
- Nova Andino Litio generated over US$530 million in Q1 2026 contributions to the Chilean state
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
SQM’s move of 0.31% came with mixed peer action: WLK 0.00%, RPM +1.06%, IFF -0.01%, LYB -0.98%, PPG +0.69%, suggesting the reaction was stock-specific rather than a broad specialty chemicals move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27 | Full-year 2025 earnings | Positive | -0.9% | Reported strong 2025 rebound in net income and lithium-driven revenue growth. |
Limited history shows at least one case where strong earnings coincided with a modest negative price reaction, hinting at occasional disconnects between fundamentals and short-term trading.
Over the last few months, SQM has highlighted a sharp 2025 turnaround with net income of US$588.1 million and revenues of US$4,576.2 million, driven by lithium and iodine strength. Fourth-quarter 2025 earnings also showed accelerating growth, yet the stock slipped 0.88% the next day. Today’s Q1 2026 results extend that momentum with much higher quarterly revenues and net income, reinforcing the narrative of improving profitability against a backdrop of volatile lithium pricing and expanding operations.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights a strong Q1 2026 performance for SQM, with revenues of US$1,760.1 million, net income of US$364.7 million and higher gross margins versus the prior year. Management upgraded sales volume guidance in lithium and specialty plant nutrition and noted over US$530 million in state contributions from Nova Andino. Investors may focus on sustained lithium demand, execution of the Salar Futuro environmental permitting process, and how expanding capacities in lithium and iodine shape future profitability.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
| Highlights |
|
|
|
|
| SQM will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 12:00pm EDT (12:00pm Chile time). |
| Participant Call link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIf194b8fef0d7479a82018f16e2c31fe3 |
| Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/9qtcu4gc |
SANTIAGO, Chile, May 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) reported today net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026, of US
Gross profit(1) reached US
SQM’s Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo Ramos, stated, “We delivered strong results during the first quarter of the year. In lithium, sales volumes reached approximately 69 thousand metric tons of LCE across our operations, as we continued to operate at full capacity to meet strong customer demand. Based on our current estimates, global lithium demand could exceed 1.9 million metric tons of LCE this year, while market dynamics continue to suggest a tight supply-demand balance. As a result, we have upgraded our sales volume guidance for the year, increasing our expected growth from
He added, “The first quarter of 2026 marked our first full quarter operating alongside CODELCO through our partnership Nova Andino Litio, and the results underscore the strength of this partnership. We are operating at full capacity, delivering strong financial results, while we continue to expand production capacity. In the first quarter alone, Nova Andino Litio generated more than US
“We are currently finalizing the documentation required to begin the environmental permitting process for the Salar Futuro project. We expect to submit the project to the environmental authorities in the coming months and to share further details with the market in the near term. This project will be developed by Nova Andino, and we are very enthusiastic about its potential to establish a new benchmark in lithium production.”
Mr. Ramos continued, “In our SPN business lines, we are also increasing our sales volume guidance for the year. We now expect total sales volumes to grow by approximately
He further noted, “In Iodine, we observed strong sales volumes and higher year-over-year prices, a trend we expect to continue into the next quarter. We are maintaining our full-year sales volume guidance, with volumes expected to be in line with last year. The seawater pipeline is currently in the commissioning phase, and we expect to bring it online during the second half of the year.”
The CEO concluded, “We continue to see positive market dynamics across our key business lines, particularly in lithium, while remaining optimistic about our iodine and specialty plant nutrition segments. We believe we are well positioned to deliver solid results and improved returns to our shareholders, while continuing to advance our expansion plans in both lithium and iodine”
To see full press release please visit: https://ir.sqm.com/
Contact information Nova Andino Litio: Ignacia Lopez / ignacia.lopez@novandino.com International Lithium Division: Diana Wearing Smith / diana.wearingsmith@sqm.com Iodine & Plant Nutrition Division: Carolina Guzman / carolina.guzman@sqm.com