SONGWON Industrial Group has published its audited Q2 and half-year financial results for the 2021 financial year. Over the quarter, the Group achieved consolidated sales of 232,091 Million KRW (about US$197 million) marking a 17.1% increase in revenue over the same quarter of the previous year. Year-to-date (YTD), the Group realized consolidated sales of 454,578 Million KRW (about US$387 million), representing an 11.2% rise over YTD June 2020 (408,688 Million KRW – about US$348 million), and recorded a net profit of 24,137 Million KRW (about US$20 million), delivering a 45.4% increase over the same reporting period in the previous year (YTD June 2020: 16,604 Million KRW – about US$14 million). In addition, the Group’s gross profit margin achieved in Q2/2021 was 22.5% and YTD 22.0% reflecting an increase of 1.4%-points and 1.6%-points over the prior year comparable period.

The company said that following a solid start to the year, SONGWON Industrial Group observed the increase in demand and revenues throughout Q1 continuing throughout Q2/2021, leading to a robust business performance across its Divisions with both achieving increases in revenues and profitability over the prior year comparable quarter. The overall good result was, in part, supported by the Divisions’ price increases which proved effective in offsetting the rises in raw material costs and the higher freight shipping rates, the company said.

In Q2/2021, the Division Industrial Chemicals generated consolidated sales of 175,711 Million KRW – about US$150 million (Q2/2020: 152,636 Million KRW – about US$130 million) and for the first six months of the year achieved sales of 339,698 Million KRW – about US$289 million (YTD June 2020: 315,138 Million KRW – about US$268 million). When compared to Q2 and the first half-year of 2020, the result marks an increase in revenue of 15.1% and 7.8% respectively. SONGWON said it achieved the positive result on the back of high worldwide demand and also benefited in Q2/2021 from competitors’ Force Majeure events which generated additional requests from both existing and new customers. Driven by the recovery in the lubricants market, SONGWON registered high demand particularly for its Fuel and Lubricant Additives. As expected, the 2nd quarter of the year was also strong for Coatings due to the anticipated seasonality and the confirmation of the overall positive trend in the coatings industry.

The Division Performance Chemicals also performed strongly in Q2/2021, recording a 23.9% increase in sales (56,380 Million KRW – about US$48 million) compared to Q2/2020 (45,509 Million KRW – about US$39 million). In the first half-year 2021, the Division achieved a 22.8% increase in revenue (114,880 Million KRW – about US$98 million) over the comparable reporting period in 2020 (YTD June 2020: 93,550 Million KRW – about US$78 million). Throughout the 2nd quarter, Division Performance Chemicals was positively impacted by the stable global demand and its previously implemented price increases which led to higher revenues for Tin Intermediates. Subsequently for PVC, margins remained similar to those observed in Q1/2021, despite a weaker market for PVC in Korea and COVID-19 restrictions curbing the opportunities to seek new business. Demand started rising in the final month of Q2/2021, as the price of certain raw materials began decreasing.

Looking towards the coming months, the Group expects demand to remain strong supported by a recovering global economy. SONGWON also anticipates that the negative impacts to logistics and shipping caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will be ongoing for the rest of the year and in response will continue to concentrate on finding beneficial alternatives to ensure the reliable supply to customers with minimum disruption.

At the same time, SONGWON will continue to remain cautious while maintaining its price levels and seeking to commercialize new opportunities to drive business growth. Based on its solid YTD results, the Group is confident that, despite existing uncertainties, it can look positively towards a successful 2nd half of the year.

The Q2/2021 Report can be downloaded at: www.songwon.com/investors/reports-publications.