Interviews
TOR Minerals announces Q3 financial results
06 Nov '09
3 min read
TOR Minerals International, producer of synthetic titanium dioxide and color pigments, specialty aluminas, and other high performance mineral fillers, announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. The company reported a net loss available to common shareholders of ($32,000), or ($0.00) per diluted share, on net sales of $6,441,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. This compares with a net loss available to common shareholders of ($385,000), or ($0.05) per diluted share, on net sales of $7,503,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.
Net sales decreased 14 percent during the third quarter of 2009 primarily due to a 28 percent decrease in HITOX sales. Although weakness in paint and plastics markets continued to negatively affect year-over-year HITOX sales comparisons, HITOX sales levels stabilized in the third quarter and were flat in comparison with the second quarter of 2009. During the third quarter of 2009, sales of specialty alumina products increased 5 percent versus the third quarter of 2008 as a weakness in European alumina sales was more than offset by new business and strengthening in the United States.
During the third quarter of 2009, the company reported an operating profit of $208,000, compared to an operating loss of ($144,000) during the third quarter of 2008. In addition to lower energy and raw materials costs, several factors contributed to the improvement in third quarter profitability, including a change in revenue mix, a 23 percent reduction of indirect production costs, and a 35 percent reduction in SG&A expenses.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Olaf Karasch, Chief Executive Officer said, “Due to cost cutting measures, new, low-cost processing technologies and the dedicated efforts of our employees, we have shown sequential improvements in operating income during each of the first three quarters of this fiscal year. We are now better positioned to weather a continued market downturn and should benefit as market conditions improve.”
The company said that it is targeting improvement in financial results during the fourth quarter of 2009. “In addition to bringing our cost structure in line with lower sales levels, we have introduced several new high value-added products to the market. In particular, our newly introduced specialty alumina products are garnering significant customer interest. These new products address sizable markets and have relatively short sales cycles. Their introduction and market acceptance, if successful, can help to improve top line performance and plant utilization, which is key to returning TOR to meaningful profitability,” continued Dr. Karasch.
Net sales decreased 14 percent during the third quarter of 2009 primarily due to a 28 percent decrease in HITOX sales. Although weakness in paint and plastics markets continued to negatively affect year-over-year HITOX sales comparisons, HITOX sales levels stabilized in the third quarter and were flat in comparison with the second quarter of 2009. During the third quarter of 2009, sales of specialty alumina products increased 5 percent versus the third quarter of 2008 as a weakness in European alumina sales was more than offset by new business and strengthening in the United States.
During the third quarter of 2009, the company reported an operating profit of $208,000, compared to an operating loss of ($144,000) during the third quarter of 2008. In addition to lower energy and raw materials costs, several factors contributed to the improvement in third quarter profitability, including a change in revenue mix, a 23 percent reduction of indirect production costs, and a 35 percent reduction in SG&A expenses.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Olaf Karasch, Chief Executive Officer said, “Due to cost cutting measures, new, low-cost processing technologies and the dedicated efforts of our employees, we have shown sequential improvements in operating income during each of the first three quarters of this fiscal year. We are now better positioned to weather a continued market downturn and should benefit as market conditions improve.”
The company said that it is targeting improvement in financial results during the fourth quarter of 2009. “In addition to bringing our cost structure in line with lower sales levels, we have introduced several new high value-added products to the market. In particular, our newly introduced specialty alumina products are garnering significant customer interest. These new products address sizable markets and have relatively short sales cycles. Their introduction and market acceptance, if successful, can help to improve top line performance and plant utilization, which is key to returning TOR to meaningful profitability,” continued Dr. Karasch.
TOR Minerals International
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
