Latest news with #SUSTAIN
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
US farmers can offer non-GM soybean products to India: USSEC chief Jim Sutter
A US-India trade deal could resolve several trade issues between the two countries, helping the Indian poultry industry gain access to 'sustainably verified' US soybean feed products, while allowing the US to partially offset potential losses arising from trade tensions with China, CEO of the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), Jim Sutter, told The Indian Express. Sutter said he does not view regulatory challenges in India around genetically modified (GM) products as a non-tariff barrier, as US soy farmers have both GM and non-GM products to supply to India and elsewhere. This comes amid regulatory restrictions in India concerning GM seeds and products, which have been described by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as barriers to trade. 'The progress in trade deals between India and the US could help resolve differences on trade, and both countries stand to benefit. US farmers have both GM and non-GM options available for India and I see GM as a matter of choice, not a non-tariff barrier,' Sutter said on the sidelines of the U.S. Soybean Export Council's SUSTAIN SUMMIT conference. 'China began importing soybeans from the US in 1995. Within 10 years, China became the largest importer, but its total [soybean oil] exports also doubled, benefiting from US soybean imports,' Sutter noted. Notably, during India-US trade talks, US demands have centred on greater market access—particularly for automobiles, whisky, and certain agricultural products. 'Sustainably verified US soy can play an integral role in meeting customers' evolving needs for sustainable sourcing—from livestock and aqua feed to soy foods,' Sutter said at the conference. He added that by choosing US soy, customers gain a competitive advantage while continuing to build trust in the market. Highlighting the need for sustainable choices, USSEC said in a statement that customers are willing to pay 9.7 per cent more for sustainable or sustainably sourced goods. This market shift proves that sustainability is here to stay, and corporations that adapt will increase market share, mitigate risks, and continue to build brand preference. 'As sustainability drives purchasing decisions, the 'Sustainable US Soy' label gives companies a competitive advantage. Customers sourcing at least 60 per cent of their soy from the US for food and animal feed products qualify to use the 'Fed with Sustainable US Soy' label on their packaging. Whole soybean products must contain 90 per cent verified sustainable soy to qualify for the 'Sustainable US Soy' label. These labels serve as markers of supply chain transparency,' USSEC said. While sustainability has recently become a trend, US soy farmers have been implementing sustainable practices for decades, USSEC said. It added that methods such as precision agriculture, crop rotation, and water management have decreased soil erosion and improved soil quality. 'Since 1980, US soybean farmers have improved soil conservation by 34 per cent,' according to a USSEC statement. (The reporter was in Colombo at the invitation of USSEC) Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
Business Wire
03-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AdvanSix Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AdvanSix (NYSE: ASIX), a diversified chemistry company, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2025. Overall, year-over-year results reflect improved operational performance, continued strength in Plant Nutrients, and the previously announced insurance settlement proceeds. First Quarter 2025 Summary Sales up approximately 12% versus prior year driven by an approximately 7% increase in volume, 4% favorable market-based pricing and 1% higher raw material pass-through pricing Net Income of $23.3 million, an increase of $40.7 million versus the prior year Adjusted EBITDA of $51.6 million, an increase of $51.0 million versus the prior year Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 13.7%, up 1,350 bps versus the prior year Cash Flow from Operations of $11.4 million, an increase of $47.6 million versus the prior year Capital Expenditures of $34.1 million, a decrease of $1.3 million versus the prior year Free Cash Flow of ($22.6) million, an increase of $49.0 million versus the prior year "Our significantly improved first quarter results demonstrate our commitment to execute in an evolving macroeconomic environment as we delivered operational performance to meet our customers' needs and drove the successful conclusion of our multi-year efforts to recover losses associated with the 2019 PES cumene supplier shutdown,' said Erin Kane, president and CEO of AdvanSix. 'Our competitive position enabled our commercial team to achieve a 4% increase in market pricing led by strength in Plant Nutrients with continued robust ammonium sulfate premiums over urea, while we navigated margin impact driven by higher raw material prices, namely natural gas and sulfur. We remain well positioned to serve our customers across our diversified portfolio including fertilizer as the domestic planting season progresses, in acetone amid a balanced global supply and demand environment, and across a modestly recovering nylon industry. We have supplemented our commercial success with continued investment in growth and enterprise initiatives in support of sustainably improving through-cycle performance." Summary first quarter 2025 financial results for the Company are included below: Sales of $378 million in the quarter increased approximately 12% versus the prior year. Sales volume increased approximately 7% primarily driven by improved performance following the operational disruption in the prior year period and higher granular ammonium sulfate sales supported by our SUSTAIN program. Market-based pricing was favorable by 4% driven by continued strength in Plant Nutrients reflecting favorable North American ammonium sulfate supply and demand conditions. Raw material pass-through pricing was up 1%. Sales by product line and approximate percentage of total sales are included below: Adjusted EBITDA of $51.6 million in the quarter increased $51.0 million versus the prior year primarily driven by improved operational performance, higher volume, and $26 million of insurance proceeds, partially offset by unfavorable net pricing over raw materials. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.93 increased $1.49 versus the prior year driven primarily by the factors discussed above. Cash flow from operations of $11.4 million in the quarter increased $47.6 million versus the prior year primarily due to higher net income. Capital expenditures of $34.1 million in the quarter decreased $1.3 million versus the prior year. Outlook Strong sulfur nutrition demand and tight North American ammonium sulfate supply expected to support sulfur premiums at or near high end of historical range; Anticipated higher raw material prices impacting fertilizer margins Acetone spread over refinery grade propylene costs anticipated to be lower year-over-year, in part due to higher input costs, but expected to remain at or above cycle averages Leveraging our nylon competitive position to navigate a more protracted downturn in the cycle - global oversupply conditions impacting industry pricing dynamics Expect Capital Expenditures of $145 to $155 million in 2025, reflecting the planned progression of our SUSTAIN growth program, and refined execution timing to address critical enterprise risk mitigation Continue to expect pre-tax income impact of plant turnarounds to be $25 to $30 million in 2025 versus approximately $58 million in 2024 "While we know that 2025 will again be another dynamic year, we are well-positioned as an American manufacturer of essential chemistries aligned to domestic agricultural and manufacturing supply chains and energy markets as well as a diverse set of end market applications, and will continue to pivot where needed. In times of uncertainty, we're keenly focused on delivering on what we can control. This includes taking a measured and disciplined approach to cost and cash management while maintaining smart investments for sustainable long-term performance. We also continue to protect our healthy balance sheet enabling our strategic capital allocation framework to provide optionality for further value creation and remain confident in the potential of AdvanSix,' concluded Kane. Dividend The Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on May 27, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 13, 2025. Conference Call Information AdvanSix will discuss its results during its investor conference call today starting at 9:30 a.m. ET. To participate on the conference call, dial (844) 855-9494 (domestic) or (412) 858-4602 (international) approximately 10 minutes before the 9:30 a.m. ET start, and tell the operator that you are dialing in for AdvanSix's first quarter 2025 earnings call. The live webcast of the investor call as well as related presentation materials can be accessed at Investors can hear a replay of the conference call from 12 noon ET on May 2 until 12 noon ET on May 9 by dialing (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international). The access code is 5103628. About AdvanSix AdvanSix is a diversified chemistry company that produces essential materials for our customers in a wide variety of end markets and applications that touch people's lives. Our integrated value chain of our five U.S.-based manufacturing facilities plays a critical role in global supply chains and enables us to innovate and deliver essential products for our customers across building and construction, fertilizers, agrochemicals, plastics, solvents, packaging, paints, coatings, adhesives, electronics and other end markets. Guided by our core values of Safety, Integrity, Accountability and Respect, AdvanSix strives to deliver best-in-class customer experiences and differentiated products in the industries of nylon solutions, plant nutrients, and chemical intermediates. More information on AdvanSix can be found at Forward Looking Statements This release contains certain statements that may be deemed 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," 'outlook,' "project," "strategy," "intend," "plan," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "should" and "believe" and other variations or similar terminology and expressions. Although we believe forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict, which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic and financial conditions in the U.S. and globally; the potential effects of inflationary pressures, tariffs or the imposition of new tariffs, trade wars, barriers or restrictions, or threats of such actions, changes in interest rates, labor market shortages and supply chain issues; instability or volatility in financial markets or other unfavorable economic or business conditions caused by geopolitical concerns, including as a result of new or proposed regulatory, trade or other policies of the U.S., and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in Israel and Gaza and related uncertainty in the surrounding region, and the possible expansion of such conflicts; the effect of any of the foregoing on our customers' demand for our products and our suppliers' ability to manufacture and deliver our raw materials, including implications of reduced refinery utilization in the U.S.; our ability to sell and provide our goods and services; the ability of our customers to pay for our products; any closures of our and our customers' offices and facilities; risks associated with increased phishing, compromised business emails and other cybersecurity attacks, data privacy incidents and disruptions to our technology infrastructure; risks associated with operating with a reduced workforce; risks associated with our indebtedness including compliance with financial and restrictive covenants, and our ability to access capital on reasonable terms, at a reasonable cost, or at all, due to economic conditions or otherwise; the impact of scheduled turnarounds and significant unplanned downtime and interruptions of production or logistics operations as a result of mechanical issues or other unanticipated events such as fires, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics and geopolitical conflicts and related events; price fluctuations, cost increases and supply of raw materials; our operations and growth projects requiring substantial capital; growth rates and cyclicality of the industries we serve including global changes in supply and demand; failure to develop and commercialize new products or technologies; loss of significant customer relationships; adverse trade and tax policies; extensive environmental, health and safety laws that apply to our operations; hazards associated with chemical manufacturing, storage and transportation; litigation associated with chemical manufacturing and our business operations generally; inability to acquire and integrate businesses, assets, products or technologies; protection of our intellectual property and proprietary information; prolonged work stoppages as a result of labor difficulties or otherwise; failure to maintain effective internal controls; our ability to declare and pay quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; our ability to repurchase our common stock and the amount and timing of any future repurchases; disruptions in supply chain, transportation and logistics; potential for uncertainty regarding qualification for tax treatment of our spin-off; fluctuations in our stock price; and changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors including those noted above and those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors in Part 1, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. We do not undertake to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures intended to supplement, not to act as substitutes for, comparable GAAP measures. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures are provided in this press release. Investors are urged to consider carefully the comparable GAAP measures and the reconciliations to those measures provided. Non-GAAP measures in this press release may be calculated in a way that is not comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. March 31, 2025 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,344 $ 19,564 Accounts and other receivables – net 179,336 145,673 Inventories – net 222,857 212,386 Taxes receivable 55 503 Other current assets 7,590 8,990 Total current assets 418,182 387,116 Property, plant and equipment – net 926,006 917,858 Operating lease right-of-use assets 144,844 153,438 Goodwill 56,192 56,192 Intangible assets 42,382 43,144 Other assets 38,368 37,172 Total assets $ 1,625,974 $ 1,594,920 LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 238,906 $ 228,761 Accrued liabilities 42,775 47,264 Income taxes payable 2,590 1,047 Operating lease liabilities – short-term 40,093 42,493 Deferred income and customer advances 26,582 37,538 Total current liabilities 350,946 357,103 Deferred income taxes 149,346 145,299 Operating lease liabilities – long-term 105,437 111,400 Line of credit – long-term 215,000 195,000 Other liabilities 10,877 11,468 Total liabilities 831,606 820,270 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, par value $0.01; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 33,113,379 shares issued and 26,807,818 outstanding at March 31, 2025; 32,989,165 shares issued and 26,737,036 outstanding at December 31, 2024 331 330 Preferred stock, par value $0.01; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 — — Treasury stock at par (6,305,561 shares at March 31, 2025; 6,252,129 shares at December 31, 2024) (63 ) (63 ) Additional paid-in capital 137,677 136,872 Retained earnings 650,435 631,541 Accumulated other comprehensive income 5,988 5,970 Total stockholders' equity 794,368 774,650 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,625,974 $ 1,594,920 Expand AdvanSix Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 2024 Sales $ 377,791 $ 336,829 Costs, expenses and other: Costs of goods sold 324,320 333,864 Selling, general and administrative expenses 23,409 23,593 Interest expense, net 1,541 2,699 Other non-operating (income) expense, net (408 ) 90 Total costs, expenses and other 348,862 360,246 Income (loss) before taxes 28,929 (23,417 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 5,585 (6,021 ) Net income (loss) $ 23,344 $ (17,396 ) Earnings per common share Basic $ 0.87 $ (0.65 ) Diluted $ 0.86 $ (0.65 ) Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 26,838,146 26,878,660 Diluted 27,289,144 26,878,660 Expand AdvanSix Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 2024 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) $ 23,344 $ (17,396 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 19,178 19,102 (Gain) loss on disposal of assets (210 ) 89 Deferred income taxes 4,054 1,108 Stock-based compensation 1,978 2,211 Amortization of deferred financing fees 155 155 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions: Accounts and other receivables (33,652 ) (5,818 ) Inventories (10,471 ) 20,910 Taxes receivable 448 1,426 Accounts payable 19,362 (52,995 ) Income taxes payable 1,543 (7,098 ) Accrued liabilities (4,949 ) 2,150 Deferred income and customer advances (10,956 ) (4,392 ) Other assets and liabilities 1,619 4,346 Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities 11,443 (36,202 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (34,062 ) (35,388 ) Other investing activities (2,732 ) (1,419 ) Net cash used for investing activities (36,794 ) (36,807 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings from line of credit 118,500 184,500 Repayments of line of credit (98,500 ) (109,500 ) Principal payments of finance leases (247 ) (239 ) Dividend payments (4,290 ) (4,290 ) Purchase of treasury stock (1,486 ) (7,023 ) Issuance of common stock 154 426 Net cash provided by financing activities 14,131 63,874 Net change in cash and cash equivalents (11,220 ) (9,135 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 19,564 29,768 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period $ 8,344 $ 20,633 Supplemental non-cash investing activities: Capital expenditures included in accounts payable $ 14,605 $ 13,442 Expand AdvanSix Inc. Non-GAAP Measures (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) March 31, 2025 2024 Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities $ 11,443 $ (36,202 ) Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (34,062 ) (35,388 ) Free cash flow (1) $ (22,619 ) $ (71,590 ) (1) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure defined as Net cash provided by operating activities less Expenditures for property, plant and equipment. The Company believes that this metric is useful to investors and management as a measure to evaluate our ability to generate cash flow from business operations and the impact that this cash flow has on our liquidity. Expand Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Earnings Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 2024 Net income (loss) $ 23,344 $ (17,396 ) Non-cash stock-based compensation 1,978 2,211 Non-recurring, unusual or extraordinary (income) expense — — Non-cash amortization from acquisitions 532 532 Non-recurring M&A costs — — Income tax benefit relating to reconciling items (430 ) (465 ) Adjusted Net income (loss) (non-GAAP) 25,424 (15,118 ) Interest expense, net 1,541 2,699 Income tax expense (benefit) - Adjusted 6,015 (5,556 ) Depreciation and amortization - Adjusted 18,646 18,570 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ 51,626 $ 595 Sales $ 377,791 $ 336,829 Adjusted EBITDA Margin (non-GAAP) (2) 13.7 % 0.2 % (2) Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Sales. Expand Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 2024 Net income (loss) $ 23,344 $ (17,396 ) Adjusted Net income (loss) (non-GAAP) 25,424 (15,118 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic 26,838,146 26,878,660 Dilutive effect of equity awards and other stock-based holdings 450,998 — Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted 27,289,144 26,878,660 EPS - Basic $ 0.87 $ (0.65 ) EPS - Diluted $ 0.86 $ (0.65 ) Adjusted EPS - Basic (non-GAAP) $ 0.95 $ (0.56 ) Adjusted EPS - Diluted (non-GAAP) $ 0.93 $ (0.56 ) The Company believes the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this release provide meaningful supplemental information as they are used by the Company's management to evaluate the Company's operating performance, enhance a reader's understanding of the financial performance of the Company, and facilitate a better comparison among fiscal periods and performance relative to its competitors, as these non-GAAP measures exclude items that are not considered core to the Company's operations. Expand AdvanSix Inc. Appendix (Pre-tax income impact, Dollars in millions) Planned Plant Turnaround Schedule (3) 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q FY Primary Unit Operation 2017 — ~$10 ~$4 ~$20 ~$34 Sulfuric Acid 2018 ~$2 ~$10 ~$30 — ~$42 Ammonia 2019 — ~$5 ~$5 ~$25 ~$35 Sulfuric Acid 2020 ~$2 ~$7 ~$20 ~$2 ~$31 Ammonia 2021 ~$3 ~$8 — ~$18 ~$29 Sulfuric Acid 2022 ~$1 ~$5 ~$44 (4) — ~$50 Ammonia 2023 ~$2 ~$1 ~$27 — ~$30 Sulfuric Acid 2024 ~$5 ~$3 ~$3 ~$47 (5) ~$58 Ammonia 2025E ~$5 ~$5 — $15-$20 $25-$30 Sulfuric Acid (3) Primarily reflects the impact of fixed cost absorption, maintenance expense, and the purchase of feedstocks which are normally manufactured by the Company. (4) During the multi-site planned plant turnaround, additional required maintenance at our Frankford phenol plant contributed to reduced production across our integrated value chain and a delayed ramp to full operating rates at our Hopewell and Chesterfield sites, resulting in an incremental $15 million unfavorable impact to pre-tax income, which is reflected in this amount and is inclusive of fixed cost absorption, higher maintenance expense and lost sales. (5) During the multi-site planned plant turnaround, additional required maintenance at our Hopewell plant contributed to reduced production across our integrated value chain and a delayed ramp to full operating rates, resulting in an incremental approximately $17 million unfavorable impact to pre-tax income, which is reflected in this amount and is inclusive of fixed cost absorption, higher maintenance expense, and lost sales. Expand
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AdvanSix Inc (ASIX) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amid Market Challenges
Revenue: $378 million, a 12% increase year-over-year. Sales Volume: Increased by 7%, driven by improved operational performance and higher granular ammonium sulfate sales. Market-Based Pricing: Up 4%, led by strength in plant nutrients. Adjusted EBITDA: $52 million with a margin of 13.7%. Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.93, an increase of $1.49 from the prior year. Effective Tax Rate: 19.3%, down from 25.7% in the first quarter of 2024. Free Cash Flow: Negative $23 million, an improvement of $49 million year-over-year. Cash Flow from Operations: $11 million, an increase of $48 million from the prior year. Capital Expenditures: $34 million, a decrease of $1 million. Insurance Settlement Proceeds: $26 million received in the first quarter. CapEx Forecast for 2025: Tightened to a range of $145 million to $155 million. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 9 Warning Signs with ASIX. Release Date: May 02, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. AdvanSix Inc (NYSE:ASIX) reported a 12% increase in sales for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by improved operational performance and higher sales volume. The company achieved a 4% increase in market pricing, led by strength in plant nutrients and robust ammonium sulfate premiums over urea. AdvanSix Inc (NYSE:ASIX) successfully concluded a multiyear insurance settlement, receiving approximately $26 million in the first quarter of 2025, contributing to a total of $39 million since the 2019 event. The company's SUSTAIN growth program supported higher granular ammonium sulfate sales, contributing to a 7% increase in sales volume. AdvanSix Inc (NYSE:ASIX) maintained a healthy balance sheet with ample liquidity and a leverage ratio of approximately 1 times, supporting reinvestment and growth initiatives. Free cash flow was negative $23 million in the first quarter, despite an increase in cash flow from operations. Pricing over raw materials was unfavorable by $5 million, with acetone margins contracting due to rising propylene costs. Higher raw material prices, particularly natural gas and sulfur, impacted fertilizer margins and posed a challenge to profitability. The nylon industry experienced a slow start to the year, with persistent global oversupply conditions pressuring pricing and spreads. AdvanSix Inc (NYSE:ASIX) faces ongoing patent infringement proceedings regarding its EZ-BLOX additives, which could impact market exclusivity and future sales. Q: How is AdvanSix preparing for economic uncertainty, and are there any plans to increase inventories or financial flexibility? A: Erin Kane, President and CEO, stated that AdvanSix is leveraging past experiences to navigate current uncertainties. The company is focused on maintaining service levels and rightsizing inventory buffers. Sidd Manjeshwar, CFO, emphasized the importance of cash flow management and improving working capital efficiency, while maintaining a strong balance sheet with ample liquidity. Q: What is the outlook for sulfur supply, and can AdvanSix ensure its availability? A: Erin Kane mentioned that AdvanSix has a broad-based supply mix for molten sulfur and believes the current supply-demand balance is more stable than prices suggest. The company anticipates sulfur prices to decrease and is confident in meeting its supply needs. Q: How is AdvanSix addressing the potential for increased demand for ammonium sulfate post-spring? A: Erin Kane highlighted that the company is focused on maximizing granular sales during the current season and will evaluate fundamentals for the domestic fall fill program. While there are regular inquiries from overseas, the focus remains on domestic demand growth, supported by the SUSTAIN program. Q: How is AdvanSix adapting its nylon strategy in response to prolonged demand weakness? A: Erin Kane explained that the company is focusing on serving stable domestic demand and optimizing its product mix, particularly in packaging and wire and cable applications. The strategy includes managing productivity and costs while promoting differentiated nylon offerings. Q: What are the implications of patent infringement proceedings related to EZ-BLOX additives? A: Erin Kane stated that AdvanSix is protecting its market exclusivity for EZ-BLOX in Europe, with legal proceedings underway to seek damages and prevent unauthorized sales. The company is working with partners to ensure awareness of patent protection. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
JOHN MURDOCH'S DRIVE TIME: We reveal Mazda's multi-solution approach to fuels of the future and look at Mercedes' new G-Class special
In this instalment of John Murdoch's Drive Time, John reveals h ow Mazda is taking a multi-solution approach to fuels of the future and looks at a new G-Class special from Mercedes. The rush to electric power is blocking many from viewing the potential of other alternatives - but not Mazda. The Japanese company has always taken a multi-solution approach to fueling its powertrains and to prove its point 12 Mazda CX-30s drove over 1,300miles across Sweden, Finland and Norway - powered exclusively by sustainable fuel to highlight the potential it has to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when used as a replacement for fossil fuels. Leaving Malmo in Sweden on the cusp of the Baltic Sea, the CX-30s drove to Tromso in Norway over 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle - reaching the Norwegian Sea coastal town after a journey of 1344 miles powered entirely by a 100-per cent biofuel from SUSTAIN. Recently introduced to the 2025 Mazda CX-30, the 140ps e-Skyactiv D 2.5-litre petrol engine features cylinder de-activation and is coupled to Mazda's M Hybrid mild-hybrid system, improving fuel economy and emissions in real world tests over the outgoing 2.0-litre entry-point engine in the CX-30. The introduction of this well-established engine to the 2025 Mazda CX-30 and 2025 Mazda3 line-up is part of Mazda's multi-solution approach to powertrains, where the company continues to develop petrol and diesel engines as well as hybrids, plug-in-hybrids, mild-hybrids and battery electric vehicles. This engine development blended with electrification is a well-established example of Mazda's powertrain innovation enhancing vehicle efficiency. This approach is well-suited to a compelling alternative to fossil fuels that is now gaining traction - offering a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, alongside efficient electrified combustion engines. The Baltic to Arctic drive is just one example of Mazda's commitment to demonstrate the role sustainable fuel can play in the transition away from fossil fuel. Mazda UK has powered its Heritage Fleet with sustainable fuel since 2023, while the same year an MX-5 was the first car to complete a lap of a racing circuit in all four UK home nations while sustainably fuelled and last year a quartet of MX-5s became the first cars to drive from Land's End to John O' Groats using sustainable fuel. All of these activities took place using fuel from SUSTAIN and they demonstrated the role sustainable fuels can play in transitioning modern and classic cars away from fossil fuel. They also highlight how sustainable fuels could complement Mazda's Multi-Solution approach to achieving climate neutrality. The CX-30s on this trip across Sweden, Finland and Norway to the top of Europe, were powered by a 100 per cent second-generation biofuel, manufactured by SUSTAIN. Made from sustainable components manufactured from agricultural waste that would not otherwise be used for animal or human consumption, these biofuels utilise the carbon that already exists in our atmosphere, captured by plants as they grow and then re-released in the internal combustion process. This contrasts with fossil fuels which release additional Co2 that is currently locked underground. Averaging more than 40mpg across the drive, the 2025 Mazda CX-30 e-Skyactiv G cars required no modification to run on the sustainable fuel, again highlighting the flexible nature of this solution. Commenting on the drive, Jeremy Thomson, managing director, Mazda Motors UK, said: 'At Mazda we will continue to develop the internal combustion engine to meet consumer demand in parallel with our battery electric development, as part of our multi-solution approach. "In Japan we are researching and developing engines to run on biofuel as well as algae fuels and synthetic fuels, and in Europe we are a member of the e-fuel alliance. "Our drive to the very north of Europe demonstrates the capability of the Mazda CX-30 in extreme conditions and the benefits of the internal combustion engine and advanced biofuels. In total we will have saved approximately 317kg of CO2 per car on a 1300-mile journey by using SUSTAIN advanced biofuel'. David Richardson, director at SUSTAIN, added: 'Working with Mazda on this drive from the Baltic to the Arctic on 100% sustainable biofuel is something we're extremely proud of. "Electric vehicles are increasing in numbers, but there are still many millions of combustion engine cars on our roads. "Activities like this help show how easily we can reduce the emissions from those vehicles, promoting this option to the many people who still don't know what sustainable fuels are or how they work. "If we want to make the most of this technology, we need to raise awareness, address the misunderstandings and secure support from those in power to enable sustainable fuel production to be scaled up, which could happen relatively quickly. "After all, there is no silver bullet solution to tackle the environmental impact of the automotive sector - it's time we start using all the available technologies to give us the best chance to make a real difference.' Meanwhile, a new version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been revealed with a production run limited to just 460 models. Priced from £152,815 the G-Class Edition Stronger Than The 1980s comes with colours and design and equipment elements from the legendary 280 GE. It is a tribute to the first G-Class model series W 460, which captured people's hearts in the 1980s with its combination of superior on-and off-road capability - and laid the foundations for the unrivalled success story and cult status of the 'Gelandewagen' icon. To round off the vintage appearance, the vehicle front, radiator grille as well as the bumpers, flared wheel arches and exterior mirror housings are finished in night black magno, echoing the robust look of the first G‑Class. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
12 Mazdas complete epic Arctic road-trip on sustainable biofuel
A fleet of Mazda SUVs have travelled over 1,300 miles (2,000 kilometres) across some of the world's hardest terrain to demonstrate the viability and suitability of sustainable fuel. Some 12 petrol-powered Mazda CX-30s drove from Malmo in southern Sweden up through Finland and into Norway, finishing in the city of Tromso, deep in the Arctic Circle – a journey of 1,344 miles. The three-day road-trip saw the cars being powered exclusively by sustainable fuel. The 100 per cent second-generation biofuel, made by SUSTAIN, is manufactured from agricultural waste. The biofuel utilises the carbon that already exists in the atmosphere captured by plants as they grow, and then re-released in the internal combustion process. Sustainable fuel differs from fossil fuels as the latter releases additional CO2 that is currently locked underground. The cars, piloted by journalists and influencers, were completely standard with the only modification being the fitment of studded tyres to deal with sub-zero temperatures and often blizzard conditions. Across the 1,300-mile-plus road-trip, the updated-for-2025 CX-30s, powered by Mazda's latest 2.5-litre e-Skyactiv G mild-hybrid petrol engine, averaged over 40mpg. The Japanese carmaker estimates that over 300kg of CO2 per car was saved. Commenting on the drive, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson, said: 'At Mazda, we will continue to develop the internal combustion engine to meet consumer demand in parallel with our battery electric development, as part of our multi-solution approach. 'In Japan we are researching and developing engines to run on biofuel as well as algae fuels and synthetic fuels, and in Europe we are a member of the e-fuel alliance.' He added: 'Our drive to the very north of Europe demonstrates the capability of the Mazda CX-30 in extreme conditions and the benefits of the internal combustion engine and advanced biofuels. In total we will have saved approximately 317kg of CO2 per car on a 1300-mile journey by using SUSTAIN advanced biofuel.' David Richardson, Director at SUSTAIN, said: 'Working with Mazda on this drive from the Baltic to the Arctic on 100 per cent sustainable biofuel is something we're extremely proud of. 'Electric vehicles are increasing in numbers, but there are still many millions of combustion engine cars on our roads. Activities like this help show how easily we can reduce the emissions from those vehicles, promoting this option to the many people who still don't know what sustainable fuels are or how they work. 'If we want to make the most of this technology, we need to raise awareness, address the misunderstandings and secure support from those in power to enable sustainable fuel production to be scaled up, which could happen relatively quickly. 'After all, there is no silver bullet solution to tackle the environmental impact of the automotive sector – it's time we start using all the available technologies to give us the best chance to make a real difference.'
