While we normally cover these segments first, this quarter we will provide investors with context about the Chinese economy in general and our industries in particular so you can better understand the current direction of the company.
The Chinese Economy
In the second quarter of 2023, the Chinese economy continued to suffer a slowdown. Our products were especially impacted. The demand for bromine was weak. With the control of COVID-19, the demand for sanitizers dried up, especially since many companies had built up stock anticipating higher demand. The slowdown in construction also impacted the sales of fire retardants.
As a result, bromine prices from sunsirs.com, which had been
In addition to the decline in the price of bromine, the RMB declined against the U.S.D. Over the extended term, this could be a significant benefit for our company. With the lower RMB, imports of chemicals using bromine are more expensive, meaning domestic producers should gain share. Exports of pharmaceuticals and other chemical products may be cheaper, meaning the opportunities for building an export business may increase.
Given the pricing of bromine in the second quarter, the company believes that most companies in the bromine industry and most companies producing chemicals made from bromine have not been profitable. We have yet to seen many bankruptcies, but we assume many may come. Given the current market conditions, we believe that we currently have strong cash position and balance sheet.
Accordingly, the company made two decisions to protect capital and plan for future operations.
- It has slowed seeking current approval for its rest two closed bromine factories. The opening of these factories may require the company to build aqueducts and drill new wells. With the current market for bromine, we have sufficient capacity and are not willing to expend additional capital until we see a stronger rebound in the market. We still expect to receive permission to open these factories. However, there is no point to spending the capital until they can operate profitably.
- As previously announced, the company also postponed the delivery of the remaining equipment for its chemical factories, while it reevaluates the market opportunities. The company is committed to its Yuxin Chemical business and believes it will be profitable over the long-term. However, different products will require slightly different final equipment. For example, some products, which pollute more heavily, may require more complex pollution restricting equipment. During this period when most chemical companies are losing money, the company is undertaking a thorough review of the potential markets so it can ensure that it is ordering the most applicable equipment. Once the review is finalized and the market has stabilized, we will have the remainder of our equipment delivered and assembled. Then, we will begin trial and test production.
Financial Results
Because of the weakness of the Chinese economy and the huge decline in the price of bromine, the company reported an after-tax loss of
However, during the six-month period, the company generated cash from operations of
At the end of the second quarter, our balance sheet was strong.
Cash | |||
$97,217,164 | |||
Working Capital | |||
Shareholders’ Equity |
We are very pleased to have weathered the sharp downturn while generating strong free cash flow and strengthening our balance sheet.
Future Goals and Objectives
- We expect the economy in general and the bromine market in particular to improve. As of
August 8 , bromine market prices had increased 34% since the end of the second quarter and 11% from the average selling price during the second quarter. - During Q2, bromine revenues were
$7,356,347 . If selling prices had been 11% higher, bromine revenues would have been$8,165,545 . This would have provided us with an additional gross profit of$809,198 . In the quarter, our loss before taxes was$874,515 , meaning that a price increase of slightly more than 11% may have taken us to break-even. - When bromine prices improve further, we will push ahead to get approval for our rest remaining factories.
- We are still expect to our Yuxin Chemical business. At the present time, many chemical factories are struggling. As the economy in general and bromine products in particular improve, we will be in a position to identify the best products for our new factory, have the remaining equipment tailored to our needs and delivered, complete the assembly and then begin trial and test production.
- We are continuing to explore opportunities for exports, so that we can gain financial flexibility. At the present time, the export market is quite depressed. We are looking for products that we can produce and profitably export so we can obtain capital which we may consider to use to repurchase shares and/or pay a dividend.
- We are continuing in the discussion with the government of Daying County on creating a Joint Venture for the exploration and production of natural gas and brine products in
Sichuan . While there is no guarantee that the Joint Venture be created, if we are successful in partnering with the local government, substantial opportunities could be open to us.
Financial Results
Included, you will see our income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements for the three and six months ended
Commentary
Mr.
(*These calculations are based on the number of shares issued and outstanding of 10,431,924 shares as of
Conference Call
Mr.
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AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
(Expressed in | |||||||
Unaudited | 2022 Audited | ||||||
Current Assets | |||||||
Cash | $ | 115,273,479 | $ | 108,226,214 | |||
Accounts receivable | 2,116,410 | 5,363,166 | |||||
Inventories, net | 796,614 | 1,598,572 | |||||
Prepayments and deposits | 4,123,145 | 4,236,782 | |||||
Other receivable | 1,807 | 637 | |||||
Total Current Assets | 122,311,455 | 119,425,371 | |||||
Non-Current Assets | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 133,499,129 | 149,916,766 | |||||
Finance lease right-of use assets | 155,379 | 163,868 | |||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 7,867,371 | 8,098,427 | |||||
Prepaid land leases, net of current portion | 9,185,377 | 9,508,001 | |||||
Deferred tax assets | 5,288,755 | 5,318,909 | |||||
Total non-current assets | 155,996,011 | 173,005,971 | |||||
Total Assets | $ | 278,307,466 | $ | 292,431,342 | |||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
Current Liabilities | |||||||
Payable and accrued expenses | $ | 6,091,437 | $ | 7,823,722 | |||
Taxes payable-current | 477,918 | 699,563 | |||||
Amount due to a related party | 2,564,357 | 2,605,694 | |||||
Finance lease liability, current portion | 163,713 | 213,346 | |||||
Operating lease liabilities, current portion | 420,262 | 433,440 | |||||
Total Current Liabilities | 9,717,687 | 11,775,765 | |||||
Non-Current Liabilities | |||||||
Finance lease liability, net of current portion | 1,245,170 | 1,461,721 | |||||
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | 7,093,458 | 7,575,651 | |||||
Total Non-Current Liabilities | 8,338,628 | 9,037,372 | |||||
Total Liabilities | $ | 18,056,315 | $ | 20,813,137 | |||
Commitment and Loss Contingencies | |||||||
Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
PREFERRED STOCK; | $ | — | $ | — | |||
COMMON STOCK; | 24,476 | 24,476 | |||||
(1,372,673 | ) | (1,372,673 | ) | ||||
Additional paid-in capital | 101,237,059 | 101,237,059 | |||||
Retained earnings unappropriated | 156,849,972 | 158,089,535 | |||||
Retained earnings appropriated | 26,667,097 | 26,667,097 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (23,154,780 | ) | (13,027,289 | ) | |||
Total Stockholders’ Equity | 260,251,151 | 271,618,205 | |||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | 278,307,466 | $ | 292,431,342 |
AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | |||||||||||||||
(Expressed in | |||||||||||||||
(UNAUDITED) | |||||||||||||||
Three-Month Period Ended | Six-Month Period Ended | ||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
NET REVENUE | |||||||||||||||
Net revenue | $ | 8,005,782 | $ | 15,711,714 | $ | 17,307,789 | $ | 24,642,451 | |||||||
OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||||||||||
Cost of net revenue | (7,321,442 | ) | (8,101,120 | ) | (14,090,516 | ) | (12,651,088 | ) | |||||||
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses | (14,718 | ) | (17,045 | ) | (28,422 | ) | (27,405 | ) | |||||||
Direct labor and factory overheads incurred during plant shutdown | (1,055,529 | ) | (1,927,297 | ) | (3,464,265 | ) | (4,111,888 | ) | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | (593,325 | ) | (557,089 | ) | (1,503,376 | ) | (2,799,590 | ) | |||||||
Other operating income (expense) | 60,134 | — | 60,134 | (8,404 | ) | ||||||||||
(8,924,880 | ) | (10,602,551 | ) | (19,026,445 | ) | (19,598,375 | ) | ||||||||
PROFIT (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | (919,098 | ) | 5,109,163 | (1,718,656 | ) | 5,044,076 | |||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (27,901 | ) | (32,296 | ) | (57,531 | ) | (66,988 | ) | |||||||
Interest income | 72,484 | 74,548 | 143,369 | 150,076 | |||||||||||
Income (Loss) before taxes | (874,515 | ) | 5,151,415 | (1,632,818 | ) | 5,127,164 | |||||||||
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE) | 192,699 | (1,249,621 | ) | 393,255 | (1,345,316 | ) | |||||||||
NET PROFIT (LOSS) | $ | (681,816 | ) | $ | 3,901,794 | $ | (1,239,563 | ) | $ | 3,781,848 | |||||
COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT (LOSS) | |||||||||||||||
NET PROFIT (LOSS) | $ | (681,816 | ) | $ | 3,901,794 | $ | (1,239,563 | ) | $ | 3,781,848 | |||||
- Foreign currency translation adjustments | (13,906,993 | ) | (16,393,444 | ) | (10,127,491 | ) | (14,844,410 | ) | |||||||
COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT (LOSS) | $ | (14,588,809 | ) | $ | (12,491,650 | ) | $ | (11,367,054 | ) | $ | (11,062,562 | ) | |||
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE: | |||||||||||||||
BASIC AND DILUTED | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | 0.37 | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | 0.36 | |||||
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES: | |||||||||||||||
BASIC AND DILUTED | 10,431,924 | 10,471,924 | 10,431,924 | 10,471,924 |
AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||
(Expressed in | |||||||
(UNAUDITED) | |||||||
Six-Month Period Ended | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (1,239,563 | ) | $ | 3,781,848 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||
Amortization on capital lease obligation | 56,461 | 69,696 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 10,596,765 | 10,275,874 | |||||
Unrealized exchange (gain) loss on translation of inter-company balances | (26,708 | ) | 38,248 | ||||
Deferred tax asset | (393,255 | ) | 1,249,763 | ||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 3,152,419 | 4,683,856 | |||||
Inventories | 791,146 | 94,412 | |||||
Prepayments and deposits | 52,136 | (2,790,331 | ) | ||||
Other receivables | (1,222 | ) | — | ||||
Accounts and Other payable and accrued expenses | (1,518,073 | ) | 2,219,224 | ||||
Taxes payable | (288,429 | ) | (56,516 | ) | |||
Operating lease | (170,121 | ) | (1,073,677 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) by operating activities | 11,011,556 | 18,492,397 | |||||
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (48,352 | ) | (33,217,987 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (48,352 | ) | (33,217,987 | ) | |||
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Repayment of finance lease obligation | (267,810 | ) | (283,915 | ) | |||
Net cash used in financing activities | (267,810 | ) | (283,915 | ) | |||
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (3,648,129 | ) | (1,642,327 | ) | |||
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 7,047,265 | (16,651,832 | ) | ||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 108,226,214 | 95,767,263 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD | $ | 115,273,479 | $ | 79,115,431 |
Years Ended | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION | |||||||
Cash paid during the year for: | |||||||
Paid for taxes | $ | 3,761,055 | $ | 3,835,926 | |||
Interest on finance lease obligation | $ | 56,461 | $ | 69,696 | |||
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
About
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release contain forward-looking information about
CONTACT:Gulf Resources, Inc. Web: http://www.gulfresourcesinc.com Director of Investor RelationsHelen Xu (Haiyan Xu ) beishengrong@vip.163.com
Source:
2023 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source