Insulation industry news from Global Insulation
Saint-Gobain reports first-half 2024 results
26 July 2024France: Saint-Gobain reported sales of €23.5bn in the first half of 2024, down by 6% year-on-year from €25.0bn in the same period in 2023. The group reduced its capital expenditure by 5% to €583m. €255m (47%) of this was invested in new capacity, down by 7%. Group earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 2% to €3.65bn from €3.74bn. During the reporting period, Saint-Gobain accelerated efforts to reinforce its profitable growth profile with acquisitions in the light and sustainable building materials segments in Australia, Canada, India and the Middle East. Saint-Gobain said that it exceeded 67% of operating income being generated in “high-growth geographies,” namely North America, Asia and emerging countries. It now expects “double-digit” operating margins in 2024, for the fourth consecutive full year.
Chair and CEO Benoit Bazin said "Our first-half results once again demonstrate the success of Saint-Gobain's new profile, reflecting the group's ability to adapt to different macroeconomic environments and to continue to outperform. The roll-out of our comprehensive range of sustainable and innovative solutions and the resulting enhancement in our mix, together with our decentralised organisation by country with accountability on commercial performance and on proactive cost management, have enabled us to deliver a new record operating margin and strong free cash flow generation. I am very grateful for our teams' dedication and their contribution to the group's consistent improvement in its performance."
Kingspan Czechia’s sales drop in 2023
23 July 2024Czech Republic: Kingspan Czechia’s sales dropped by 22% year-on-year to €142m in 2023. Its profit also declined, by 42% to €6.27m. Throughout the year, the company produced 4.66Mm2 of insulation panels, down by 4% from 2022 volumes. It reported total export sales of €108m, down by 23%. The main markets for the producer’s insulation were Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovakia. It holds a 25% market share in insulation sandwich panels in its native Czech Republic, up from 22% at the start of 2023. ČTK Business News has reported that Kingspan Czechia plans to begin construction of a new mineral wool insulation panels plant later in 2024.
General manager Stanislav Cihlar said "The new plant will be used to produce world-class insulation panels and will become an important pillar for our future growth.”
Steico grows earnings in first half of 2024
23 July 2024Germany: Wood fibre insulation producer Steico reported sales of €191m in the first half of 2024, in line with the first half of 2023. It grew its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) by 53%, to €46m.
Steico maintained a ‘cautious outlook’ for the second half of 2024 and 2025, amid anticipated additional costs from commissioning its new Gromadka insulation plant Poland. It forecast full-year sales of €365m in 2024, in line with 2023.
UK: Zotefoams has raised its sales by 14% year-on-year in the first four months of 2023. The company increased its insulation sales by 57% and its high-performance products sales by 46%.
CEO David Stirling will step down from his position in Zotefoams on 22 May 2024, when Ronan Cox will replace him.
Rockwool grows sales in first quarter of 2024
17 May 2024Denmark: Rockwool’s net sales grew by 6% year-on-year to €918m in the first quarter of 2024 from €866m in the same period in 2023. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 32% to €216m from €164m. It attributed the growth in sales on higher volumes, but it noted that its product mix had adversely affected sales. The group’s insulation segment did particular well due to higher sales volumes in Eastern Europe, North America and South Asia.
CEO Jens Birgersson said “Prices have remained broadly stable during the quarter, with demand remaining solid in North America and parts of Asia. The Insulation segment performed well overall on sales and earnings, whereas performance was more challenged in the Systems segment. I am pleased that we successfully started up our new green energy technology in Switzerland – the biggest stone wool electric melter in the world.”
Kingspan publishes first-quarter 2024 trading update
26 April 2024Ireland: Kingspan's sales were ‘close to €2bn’ in the first quarter of 2024, following a 1% year-on-year decline. The producer noted ‘positive’ volumes and ‘stable’ pricing, continuing trends from 2023. Raw material costs dropped, however Kingspan anticipates a new rise in its operating costs in the medium-term future.
Dow Jones Institutional Newswires has reported that Kingspan expects to record a first-half 2024 profit ‘roughly in line’ with the first-half 2023 figure of €436m.
Owens Corning publishes 2023 Sustainability Report
21 March 2024US: Owens Corning has published its 2023 Sustainability Report, highlighting its advances in sustainability in the past year. These included a 59% share of revenues from reduced-CO2 products, with a 25% share of revenues from 14 products certified as produced with 100% renewable electricity. Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell by 28% from 2018 levels, in line with the group’s 50% 2030 reduction target. It launched a pilot bitumen felt shingle recycling programme, aimed at recycling 2Mt/yr of shingles in the US by 2030. Further, Owens Corning reduced its generation of landfill waste by 14% from 2018 levels, and launched a Circular Economy Recycling Technology Innovation Laboratory in Granville, Ohio. In 2023, the group’s incident rate was 81% below the industry average, and it remains on track to meet its 2030 inclusion and diversity goals.
Senior vice president and chief sustainability officer David Rabuano said “Our 2030 sustainability goals are growing ever closer, and we believe that the targets we have set for ourselves are well within our reach. This confidence is the result of our employees’ unparalleled engagement and enthusiasm for our mission coupled with our investments in the innovation required to execute new solutions.”
Chair and CEO Brian Chambers said “Owens Corning demonstrated outstanding financial and sustainability results in 2023, showcasing the power of our company’s mission to build a sustainable future through material innovation. This report reflects the global scope of our people and our products and the many ways they work to make the world a better place.”
Owens Corning recorded net sales of US$9.68bn in 2023, down by 1% from US$9.76bn in 2022, while its adjusted earnings before interest and taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 2% to US$2.31bn.
Etex records sales and earnings growth in 2023
07 March 2024Belgium: Etex reported sales of €3.81bn in 2023, up by 2.5% from 2022 levels. The company's recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (REBITDA) rose by 10% to €712m. It also raised its capital expenditure for the year, to €371m. Etex used 47% recycled polystyrene in its operations throughout the year. In mid-2023, Etex exited Russia through the sale of two URSA insulation sites. The group is also ‘actively preparing’ to help rebuild Ukraine as soon as conditions permit.
CEO Bernard Delvaux said “Even more so than 2022, 2023 was a challenging year marked by volatility, uncertainty and severe drops in demand across the world, as we observed the continued impacts of increased energy prices and interest rates. Combined with tougher financing possibilities by banks, all these circumstances meant that both renovation and new construction levels dropped globally. Devaluation of some foreign currencies and hyperinflation accounting also had significant effects on our results. Despite all these challenges, I am extremely proud to share that Etex navigated these difficult waters very well and delivered yet again another record year. This includes our highest ever revenue and REBITDA, among others. This strong performance stems from our anticipation in making strategic decisions and changes at global, regional and local levels, ensuring continued proximity with our customers. This is also a result of even tighter cost monitoring in 2023, without ever losing sight of our long-term ambitions and continuing to improve our strong industrial footprint.”
France: Saint-Gobain’s sales dropped by 6.4% year-on-year to €51bn in 2023. Meanwhile, the group’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 1.7% year-on-year to €7.12bn. Despite this, it achieved average organic growth of 6.4% across its markets, buoyed by sustainable solutions, which accounted for 75% of its sales. Throughout the year, Saint-Gobain invested €223m in capital expenditure and research and development, in line with rising internal carbon prices. This contributed to a 34% reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions compared to 2017 levels. The company used 57% renewable electricity in 2023, compared to 52% in 2022, and concluded eight new renewable energy supply deals. It aims to reach 66% renewables by 2025.
Kingspan reports 2023 results
19 February 2024Ireland: Kingspan’s sales declined by 3% to Euro8.09bn in 2023 from Euro8.34bn in 2022. Its insulation sales fell by 8% and its insulated panels sales by 9%. Meanwhile, roofing and waterproofing sales grew to reach Euro500m. The group’s profit after tax rose by 6% to Euro654m from Euro616m. It invested Euro248m in new acquisitions throughout the year. Kingspan plans to invest Euro750m up to 2028 in order to capture 15% of the flat roofing market in North America.
CEO Gene Murtagh "Beyond insulation, each of our climate-focussed business units across roofing and waterproofing, light, air and water and data and flooring are scaling at pace with every potential for each to exceed Euro1bn divisional revenue over the coming years.” Murtagh added “Given our robust balance sheet, strong development pipeline, strong structural demand for energy efficiency and the ever increasing and obvious impacts of climate change, we expect 2024 to be a year of continuing strategic and operational progress for Kingspan.”