Westlake Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) (the "Company" or "Westlake") today announced second quarter 2025 results.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

In the second quarter of 2025, Westlake reported net sales of $3.0 billion, a net loss of $142 million, or $1.11 per share, and EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $210 million. Earnings in the second quarter were impacted by $130 million from the closure of the Company's Epoxy facility in Pernis, The Netherlands, ("Pernis") and the temporary cessation of a PVC resin production unit at the Company's Huasu joint venture ("Huasu") in China (the "Identified Items"), which are included in the Performance and Essential Materials segment financial results. Excluding the Identified Items, the net loss in the second quarter of 2025 was $12 million, or $0.09 per share, and EBITDA was $340 million.

Compared to the first quarter of 2025, EBITDA excluding Identified Items of $340 million increased by $52 million primarily due to seasonally higher sales volume in our HIP segment partly offset by a $30 million higher impact from planed turnarounds and unplanned plant outages in our PEM segment.

Westlake's second quarter of 2025 sales volume increased 1% and average sales price increased by 2% as compared to the first quarter of 2025. Housing and Infrastructure Products sales increased 16% sequentially, driven by 14% sales volume growth and a 2% increase in average sales price. Performance and Essential Materials sales decreased 3% over the same period of time as a higher average sales price was more than offset by a 6% decline in sales volume.

EBITDA excluding Identified Items of $340 million was lower than the second quarter of 2024 EBITDA of $744 million primarily due to lower sales volume in our PEM segment due to higher planned turnarounds and unplanned plant outages that impacted EBITDA by approximately $110 million in the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, higher feedstock and energy costs in North America, lower average sales price in each segment, and a 2% decline in HIP sales volume contributed to the lower year-over-year EBITDA.

EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY

"Our overall financial performance in the second quarter of 2025 reflected several headwinds, many of which we believe are transitory in nature. During the second quarter of 2025 our HIP segment delivered solid results against a backdrop of lower North American residential construction activity. HIP sales of $1.2 billion were similar to the prior year period despite lower U.S. housing starts and repair and remodel spending, reflecting the important role that our products play in delivering value to our customers and our strategy to 'win with the winners' by being a supplier of choice for the faster-growing end customers in the market," said Jean-Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"PEM sales volume was impacted by continued soft global industrial and manufacturing activity that was exacerbated by temporary disruptions to export sales volumes created by tariff uncertainty. While these market-related factors drove much of the year-over-year decline, our earnings were also impacted by production disruptions caused by the tie-in of new VCM capacity at our Geismar, Louisiana, chlorovinyls site, which contributed to a decrease in second quarter of 2025 chlorovinyls sales volume and earnings," continued Mr. Gilson.

"Our focus for the remainder of 2025 will be on running our plants well and reducing our controllable costs. Higher planned turnarounds and some unplanned outages within our PEM segment impacted our EBITDA and cash flow below their potential in the first half of 2025. After taking steps to address the operational disruptions, our chlorovinyls production is returning to normal rates during the third quarter. Turning to our cost-reduction efforts, in the first half of 2025 we eliminated over $75 million of company-wide costs towards our 2025 cost savings target of $150 – $175 million. While we are pleased with progress to date, in light of continued soft global demand and profitability in some of our businesses, we are expanding the scope and nature of these cost-reduction efforts to target an additional $200 million of cost reductions by 2026. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2025 we announced the planned closure of Pernis to put our global Epoxy business on a path to profitability. We expect this action, along with our broader cost-reduction efforts, to significantly improve our profitability in 2026," concluded Mr. Gilson.

RESULTS

Consolidated Results

(Unless otherwise noted the financial numbers below exclude the Identified Items)

For the three months ended June 30, 2025, the Company reported a quarterly net loss of $12 million, or $0.09 per share, on net sales of $3.0 billion, which was an improvement from the net loss of $40 million reported in the first quarter of 2025. Sequentially, earnings benefitted from higher sales volume and margins in our HIP segment, which more than offset lower sales volume in our PEM segment.

The second quarter of 2025 net loss of $12 million was $325 million below the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to lower sales volume, particularly in our PEM segment as a result of an elevated level of planned turnarounds and unplanned outages, as well as higher feedstock and energy costs in our PEM segment.

EBITDA of $340 million for the second quarter of 2025 increased by $52 million compared to first quarter 2025 as a result of higher sales volume and margins in our HIP segment, partially offset by a $30 million higher impact from planned turnarounds and unplanned outages in our PEM segment.

A reconciliation of EBITDA and net income to EBITDA excluding Identified Items and net income excluding Identified Items, as well as a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, income from operations (including and excluding Identified Items) and net cash provided by operating activities, as well as a reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash flow provided by operating activities, can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.

Expenses Regarding Facility Closure and Temporary Cessation of Operations ("Identified Items")

During the second quarter of 2025, the Company accrued $108 million of expenses and $15 million inventory write-off related to the previously announced decision to shut down Pernis and $7 million of expenses to temporarily cease operations of a PVC resin production unit at Huasu. Consistent with our previous announcement, cash outflows related to the Pernis closure are expected to occur over several years after operations have ceased.

Cash, Investments and Debt

Net cash provided by operating activities was $135 million for the second quarter of 2025 and capital expenditures were $267 million. As of June 30, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and fixed-income investments were $2.3 billion and total debt was $4.7 billion.

Housing and Infrastructure Products Segment

For the second quarter of 2025, Housing and Infrastructure Products income from operations of $222 million increased by $74 million as compared to the first quarter of 2025. This increase in income from operations versus the prior quarter was primarily due to seasonally higher sales volume in Pipe & Fittings and Building Products.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, Housing and Infrastructure Products income from operations decreased by $44 million. The year-over-year decrease was the result of lower sales volume and lower average sales price and margins, particularly in Pipe & Fittings.

Performance and Essential Materials Segment

(Unless otherwise noted the financial numbers below exclude the Identified Items)

For the second quarter of 2025, Performance and Essential Materials loss from operations of $188 million increased by $25 million as compared to the first quarter of 2025. This increase in loss from operations versus the prior quarter was primarily driven by a 6% decline in sales volume due to weaker global demand, in part due to temporary disruptions in global trade flows created by tariff uncertainty, as well as lower production levels, particularly for chlorine, caustic soda, and PVC resin, due to planned turnarounds and unplanned plant outages.

Performance and Essential Materials loss from operations was $188 million in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to income from operations of $157 million in the second quarter of 2024. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to a 9% decline in sales volume, in part due to elevated planned turnarounds and unplanned outages, higher North American feedstock and energy costs, and 2% lower average sales price.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release and the related teleconference relating to matters that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our outlook for the performance of our business segments, global macroeconomic conditions and their effects on us and our customers, the duration of headwinds affecting our businesses, the operational reliability of our plants (including our chlorovinyls plants returning to normal production rates during the third quarter of 2025), the scope and duration of disruptions at our facilities, the results of closures of the Pernis facility and the temporary cessation of operations at a PVC resin unit at the Suzhou Huasu Plastics plant in China, the future profitability of our epoxy business, the success of our cost-reduction efforts and the timing and extent of savings therefrom (including reaching our 2025 cost savings target of $150 million to $175 million and reaching our goal of an additional cost savings of $200 million by 2026), our ability to significantly improve profitability in 2026, industrial and manufacturing activity in our target markets, growth in our customers' businesses and their dependence on our products, the effects of tariff announcements, our customers and global supply chains, future global trading policy and relationships, our ability to weather economic volatility, residential construction activity, raw material costs, higher energy prices, our market position and the strength of our brands, the benefits of a diversified and integrated business model, our ability to maintain cost advantages and global demand for our products are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially, based on factors including, but not limited to: general economic and business conditions; the cyclical nature of the chemical and building products industries; the availability, cost and volatility of raw materials and energy; uncertainties associated with the United States, European and worldwide economies, including those due to political tensions and conflict in the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine and elsewhere; uncertainties associated with pandemic infectious diseases; uncertainties associated with climate change; the potential impact on demand for ethylene, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride due to initiatives such as recycling and customers seeking alternatives to polymers; current and potential governmental regulatory actions in the United States and other countries; industry production capacity and operating rates; the supply/demand balance for Westlake's products; competitive products and pricing pressures; instability in the credit and financial markets; access to capital markets; terrorist acts; operating interruptions; changes in laws and regulations, including trade policies and tariffs imposed on or by foreign jurisdictions; disruptions in global trade and the effect on trading relationships between the United States and other countries; technological developments; information systems failures and cyberattacks; foreign currency exchange risks; our ability to implement our business strategies; and creditworthiness of our customers and other risk factors. For more detailed information about the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to Westlake's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in February 2025.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release makes reference to certain "non-GAAP" financial measures, such as EBITDA, free cash flow and other measures that exclude the effects of Identified Items, as defined in Regulation G of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For this purpose, a non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined by the SEC as a numerical measure of a registrant's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that (1) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of operations, balance sheet or statement of cash flows (or equivalent statements) of the registrant; or (2) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), but believe that certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as EBITDA, free cash flow and other measures that exclude the effects of Identified Items, provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the Company's ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of (i) EBITDA to net income, income from operations and net cash provided by operating activities, (ii) free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities and (iii) other measures reflecting adjustments for the effects of Identified Items can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.

About Westlake

Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer goods. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.westlake.com.

Westlake Corporation Conference Call Information:

A conference call to discuss Westlake Corporation's second quarter 2025 results will be held Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time (10:00 AM Central Time). To access the conference call, it is necessary to pre-register at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIb6ee891623b645e0acda053a745bacce. Once registered, you will receive a phone number and unique PIN number.

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning two hours after its conclusion. The conference call and replay will be available via webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/o3z3qmbm.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250805655002/en/

Contact—(713) 960-9111

Investors—Steve Bender

Media—L. Benjamin Ederington