- Sales of €2.5 billion, down by 12.6% year-on-year:
- Volumes down, impacted by continued weak demand in Europe, a slowdown observed in construction in the United States, and temporary destocking in batteries in China
- Overall resilience in prices, benefiting from the work to position the portfolio on higher value-added solutions
- Benefits of our sustainable innovation in high performance solutions such as bio-based and recyclable materials, 3D printing and more eco-friendly coatings
- EBITDA of €367 million and EBITDA margin of 14.5%, down compared with the exceptionally high comparison base of Q1’22 (€619 million and 21.4%, respectively), which benefited from particularly favorable market conditions in PVDF and upstream acrylics
- Adjusted net income of €162 million, representing €2.17 per share (€5.08 in Q1’22)
- Recurring cash flow of negative €21 million (positive €26 million in Q1’22), reflecting the usual seasonality of working capital in the first quarter
- Net debt stable at €2,389 million (€2,366 million at end-December 2022), including €700 million in hybrid bonds, representing 1.3x last-twelve-months EBITDA
- 2023 guidance confirmed: in 2023, the Group aims to achieve EBITDA of around €1.5 billion to €1.6 billion and maintain a high EBITDA to cash conversion rate of over 40%
- Commitment for the climate on the 1.5°C trajectory by 2030 strengthened by the Group in light of the progress achieved in its carbon trajectory, and validated by SBTi. Arkema now aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 48.5% for Scopes 1+2 and by 54% for Scope 3 by 2030 versus 2019
(1) Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): partnership between CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), United Nations Global Compact, WRI (World Resources Institute) and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
“The quarter’s performance was achieved, as expected, in a general context of weaker demand, more particularly in Europe and in the construction market. The visibility expressed by our customers remains limited despite some more positive initial signals observed in Asia. In this economic environment that remains difficult, the Group achieved, thanks to its positioning and agility, solid results in the first quarter, and confirms its EBITDA and cash flow forecast for the year. Arkema will moreover remain attentive to strictly managing its costs and working capital.
The beginning of 2023 was also marked by two key milestones in the implementation of Arkema’s ambition in sustainable solutions: the launch of the final phase in the start-up of the bio-based polymer plant in Singapore, and SBTi validation for our 1.5°C carbon trajectory by 2030. In addition, several major industrial projects are progressing as planned and will soon contribute to the Group’s growth in Specialty Materials.”
Outlook for 2023
In this context, the Group will continue to work on two levels: firstly, tightly managing its operations with in particular a strong emphasis on cost control, the optimization of working capital and the environmental performance of its sites. Then, the implementation of its projects to develop sustainable solutions by continuing the dynamic of growth-driven industrial investments and the acceleration of targeted innovation in new energies, 3D printing, bio-based and recyclable materials, and new mobility.
This year, the Group will benefit in particular from the start-up and ramp-up of its main expansion projects, which should contribute €50 million to €70 million to the Group’s EBITDA in 2023, mainly in the second part of the year.
Moreover, Arkema reaffirms its full-year guidance, and in 2023 aims to achieve EBITDA of around €1.5 billion to €1.6 billion while maintaining a high EBITDA to cash conversion rate of over 40%.
Further details concerning the Group’s first-quarter 2023 results are provided in the “First-quarter 2023 results and outlook” presentation and the “Factsheet”, both available on Arkema’s website.
