May 3, 2016 – For the first three months of 2016, D&L Industries’ net income reached P576 million, representing a 12% increase from the year prior. Earnings before interest and taxes increased by 10% year-on-year to P714 million. Revenues came in lower by 4% at P4.63 billion. The Company continues its favorable product mix shift to higher margin specialty products. Contribution of high margin specialties to revenues increased to 64% from 62% in full year 2015.
As a result, overall gross profit margin for the period reached another all time-high of 19.2% from 16.9% the previous year. The Company generated return on equity and return on invested capital of 17.3% and 20.2%, respectively.
Earnings were driven by the strong growth in Specialties on the back of increasing volume and expanding margins. As expected, specialty plastics volume led growth, post – port congestion. Specialties volume also saw double-digit growth in food ingredients, aerosols, and oleochemicals, as well as continued increase in margins.
Commodity prices have remained soft for the first three months of the year and have had a positive effect on the Company’s cash flow. The Company generated P892 million in free cash during this period.
The Company has very low net gearing. It continues to pay down debt, which it assumed for the acquisition of Chemrez in 2014. As of end March 2016, its net debt position decreased to P245 million from P1.0 billion at the end of 2015. As a result, net gearing has been further lowered to 0.02x from 0.08x at the end of 2015.
Thoughtfully pursuing opportunities in the high growth, high margin space, as well as entering exciting new markets in specialty ingredients, food safety, and oleochemicals, the Company is positioned well for long-term growth. This shift satisfies goals not only of volume and margin growth, but also of continuous value creation.
Product Mix
| F | FY15 | 1Q16 |
| High Margin Specialty Products | 62% | 64% |
| Low Margin Commodity Products | 38% | 36% |
Food Ingredients
Within food ingredients, the Company is likewise seeing a mix-driven transformation, in favor of high margin specialties, which now account for 60% of overall revenues. Driving the shift are consumer trends, which are evolving very fast, thus demanding shorter product development cycles, more differentiation, and logistical benefits that having a well-established domestic supply chain enhances.
Growth in Specialties was in double-digit percent-wise, though tough year-on-year comparisons for commodities drove overall volume down in the first quarter. This, combined with lower palm oil prices year-on-year, brought revenues lower by 12%. Margins for both commodities and specialties remained healthy, resulting in a 10% increase in net income.
Oleochemicals and Other Specialty Chemicals
The Company was able to slightly raise overall volume, with the consistent double-digit increase in oleochemicals more than compensating for the persistent weakness in other specialty chemicals, which are facing industry headwinds. Most of the latter’s businesses are in strongly competitive markets and performance is expected to be supported by ongoing focus on delivering further value and an improved range of products.
Overall revenues remained largely flat, though net income increased by 34%, driven considerably by margins, which continue to rise as the Company seizes more value in its oleochemical exports. The Company will continue to pursue developments in oleochemicals, seeking out new markets and applications.
Specialty Plastics
Engineered polymers experienced good recovery in the first three months of 2016, with revenues up by 14% on the back of strong volume growth. Following several quarters of decline, earnings are back to positive growth, tempered by the lower margins attributable to the change in mix as orders lost to port congestion come back. Net income was up 1% from the prior year. The first quarter of 2016 has strongly indicated towards a recovery in specialty plastics, which had been adversely affected by port congestion problems in the previous quarters. As the year progresses, this division should benefit positively from the normalization of port operations, which will allow the division to resume good growth momentum.
Aerosols
Coming off of a relatively weak fourth quarter last year, which was restrained by supply chain bottlenecks, aerosols are now back to good growth in terms of volumes and margins. Sales remained largely flat, with margins remarkably up driven by home care and maintenance chemicals. Overall, net income grew 31% year-on-year.
Aero-Pack continues to foster lasting customer relationships through its broad suite of services and capabilities in aerosol manufacturing and R&D. It is continuing to dominate the local aerosol market through its successful diversification into home care, personal care and motor care segments.