Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Ireland: Kingspan’s sales rose by 18% year-on-year to Euro3.18bn in the first nine months of 2018. Insulated panel sales increased by 20% due to mainland European sales and the acquisition of Synthesia and Balex. Despite an improvement in the third quarter the market in the UK as reported as subdued for smaller and medium projects. Insulation board sales grew by 13% driven by its Kooltherm product sales. European sales were reported as mixed, although improvements in Scandinavia, Southern Europe and North America were noted.

Belgium: Recticel’s sales for its insulation business has remained stable year-on-year at Euro202m in the first nine months of 2018. The polyurethane foam producer’s insulation sector sales fell year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018 due to ‘strong’ volumes combined with falling prices and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) input prices. Overall sales at the company have risen slightly so far in 2018.

France: Saint-Gobain’s Interior Solutions division’s net sales grew by 4.2% year-on-year to Euro5.33bn in the first nine months of 2018 from Euro5.11bn in the same period in 2017. The group said that division performance in the third quarter of 2018 was driven by pricing. Western Europe progressed slightly despite lower volumes in the UK. In North America, the acceleration in price increases in the quarter reduced sales volumes. Asia and emerging countries reported good growth. Overall, the group’s sales rose by 1.8% to Euro31.1bn from Euro30.6bn.

“Saint-Gobain continues along its growth trajectory despite a tough comparison basis in the third quarter of 2017. Our focus on increasing prices – critical in an inflationary environment – continues to pay off. The industrial issues that had weighed on our profitability in the first half of the year are largely behind us,” said Pierre-André de Chalendar, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Saint-Gobain.

US: Weaker market conditions have reduced Owens Corning’s expected growth in the third quarter of 2018. The building materials company’s net sales rose by 11% year-on-year to US$5.33bn in the first nine months of 2018 from US$4.78bn in the same period in 2017. Its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) increased by 1.5% to US$596m from US$587m. For its insulation business the company said that it had reduced its expected EBIT growth for the year due to weaker market expectations across different regions and products.

“Weaker than expected market conditions across all three businesses, which impacted third-quarter results, are expected to continue during the fourth-quarter. As a result, we have lowered our 2018 outlook and now expect adjusted EBIT to be in line with last year,” said chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Mike Thaman.

Belgium: Recticel’s sales from its insulation division have rallied following the resumption on methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) supplies after a shortage in 2017 and poor weather in the first quarter of 2018. Its sales rose by 2.7% year-on-year to Euro129m in the first half of 2018 from Euro133m in the same period in 2017. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBTIDA) increased by 60.6% to Euro14.2m fro Euro22.8m. It attributed the growth in profitability to price rises and efficiency gains. The company also said that the construction of a new plant in Finland, dedicated to the supply of the Scandinavian and Baltics markets, is on schedule to start up in late 2018.

Denmark: Rockwool has announced its first half results for 2018. Sales for the half reached Euro1.27bn, 16.9% more in local currency terms. In the second quarter, sales were up by 17.3% to Euro667m. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the first half reached Euro161m, an increase of 47% year-on-year. EBIT in the second quarter was Euro91m, an increase of 43% year-on-year.

Investments in the first half of 2018 reached Euro89m, an increase of Euro26m compared to the first half of 2017, primarily due to ongoing capacity expansions in Poland and the United States.

The outlook for 2018 from the company is positive. It expects net sales to grow by 13-15% during 2018 in local currency terms, including around 2-3% from its acquisition of Flumroc.

Commenting on the Group’s performance, CEO Jens Birgersson said, “Our half-year results show solid improvement on both sales and profitability, underlining strengthened performance towards customers and growing market demand for our non-combustible insulation and other stone wool products. With sales up in all regions, Rockwool’s 11,000 highly dedicated and committed employees are the driving force behind these positive results.”

Denmark: Based on preliminary reporting, Rockwool Group is increasing its expected growth forecast for net sales for 2018 from 7-10% in local currencies to 13-15% in local currencies.

For the first half, the main preliminary highlights were a sales increase to Euro1.27bn, a 17% increase in local currency terms. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) increased by 47% to Euro161m. Rockwool Group will publish its full first half results on 24 August 2018.

Rockwool says that market conditions for the remainder of 2018 look promising across larger European stonewool markets, including Germany, Poland, France and the UK, as well as in North America.

US: Huntsman’s polyurethane business has contributed to its growing revenue and earnings so far in 2018. Its revenue grew by 18% year-on-year to US$4.7bn in the first half of 2018 from US$3.99bn in the same period in 2017. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 47% to US$820m from US$559m.

“Our polyurethanes business continues its growth in variants and systems and enjoys the back drop of good supply and demand fundamentals, foreseeable for the long term,” said Peter R Huntsman, chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO). Prices and sales volumes rose year-on-year in the second quarter of 2018.

In late July 2018 the chemicals producer announced that its Polyurethane division was setting up a new subsidiary in Chile based in Santiago. The new company, Huntsman (Chile), will operate from a local warehouse and a customer service centre. It joins existing operations in Cartagena and Bogotá in Colombia, São Paulo and Taboão da Serra in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Germany: BASF’s Performance Products division’s sales fell by 5% year-on-year to Euro7.94bn in the first half of 2018 from Euro8.4bn in the same period in 2017. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) fell by 41% to Euro879m from Euro920m. The company blamed the falling sales and earnings on negative currency effects as well as reduced sales volumes from its Nutrition & Health division. The chemical producer manufactures polyurethane-based insulation foams as part of its Performance Products division. Overall, BASF’s sales and its EBIT grew in the reporting period.

US: Owens Corning’s insulation business sales rose by 53% year-on-year to US$1.28bn in the first half of 2018 from US$838m in the same period in 2017. Overall, the company’s net sales rose by 14% to US$3.52bn from US$3.08bn. However, its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) fell by 6.4% to US$360m from US$337m.

“Owens Corning grew revenue by 14% on the contribution of Insulation acquisitions and successful pricing actions in both Roofing and Insulation. The company made significant commercial progress in the first-half of the year, partially offset by operational headwinds,” said chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Mike Thaman. He added that the company expects continued commercial execution and improved operational performance with ‘strong’ financial results in 2018 and into 2019.