LyondellBasell

Second quarter profit hit 559 million dollars, up from 125 million dollars just three months earlier and 115 million dollars a year ago. Sales jumped to 9.2 billion dollars from 7.2 billion. Stripped of one-time charges, earnings power reached 1.4 billion dollars, roughly seven times the prior year's level.

The company pulled in 752 million dollars of cash from operations this quarter, a sharp reversal from last quarter's outflow. They also sold four European plants and are on track to squeeze out 500 million dollars in extra cash by the end of 2026 through cost cuts and lower spending. American plants ran at about 90 percent capacity to grab every bit of the tight market.

Selling those European plants cost them a 734 million dollar loss, plus another 74 million in writedowns. That is why reported profit was 559 million dollars instead of 1.4 billion. Cash on hand sits at 2.6 billion dollars with a debt payment due in September, so the balance sheet still needs work.

Most of this boom comes from Middle East supply disruptions that could unwind at any time, with recovery possibly stretching into 2027. Management already expects to dial North American plants back to 85 percent and European plants to 70 percent next quarter, and planned downtime at the Clinton facility will cut plastic volumes in the second half.