Westlake Corporation reported net sales of $3.0 billion and net income of $174 million for the first quarter of 2024. The company's HIP segment achieved record first quarter EBITDA, driven by strong demand in housing end markets, while the PEM segment faced challenges due to weak global industrial and manufacturing activity.
Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP) achieved record first quarter income from operations of $210 million with a 20% operating income margin.
HIP EBITDA of $264 million rose 29% year-over-year with a record first quarter EBITDA margin of 25%.
Performance and Essential Materials (PEM) sales volume grew 3% sequentially from gradual demand recovery with stable average sales prices.
Overall sales volume for the Company increased 6% sequentially from the previous quarter.
Looking ahead, Westlake expects continued growth in the HIP segment despite economic headwinds, while the PEM segment is expected to remain relatively stable due to weak end market demand and low-priced Asian imports. Efforts are underway to improve the profitability of European operations.
Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income