Tronox Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

STAMFORD, Conn., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) ("Tronox" or the "Company"), the world's leading integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide ("TiO₂") pigment, today reported its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, as follows:

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

• Revenue of $738 million, a 9% increase compared to the prior quarter and a 5% decrease compared to the prior year
• Loss from operations of $61 million; Net loss of $111 million including $87 million of restructuring and other charges, primarily non-cash costs associated with the idling of the Company's Botlek pigment plant as announced in March; adjusted net loss was $24 million (non-GAAP)
• GAAP diluted loss per share was $0.70; Adjusted diluted loss per share was $0.15 (non-GAAP)
• Adjusted EBITDA of $112 million; Adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.2% (non-GAAP)
• Capital expenditures of $110 million in the quarter

Outlook:

• Maintaining previous guidance for 2025 Revenue ($3.0-3.4 billion), Adjusted EBITDA ($525-625 million), and free cash flow (greater than $50 million)
• Capital expenditures reduced to be less than $365 million in 2025
• Actions underway expected to deliver $125-$175 million in sustainable, run-rate cost improvements by end of 2026

This outlook is based on Tronox's views on current global economic activity and is subject to changes and impacts associated with the macroeconomic conditions, global supply chain, and inflation-related challenges, among others.

Summary of Select Financial Results for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2025

CEO's Remarks

Chief Executive Officer John D. Romano commented, "Tronox realized stronger than normal seasonable demand uplift in TiO₂, sequentially. Europe led this growth bolstered by the finalization of anti-dumping duties in January, with sales volumes recovering to levels not seen since Q2 2021. North America also realized stronger seasonable trends, while competitive activity in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia continued to exert pressure on sales. Zircon sales were lower both compared to the prior year and sequentially, as anticipated, due to weaker overall demand, primarily in China. Despite increased competitive dynamics across all products, pricing for the quarter came in as anticipated. Our production costs in the first quarter were higher than expected, primarily due to lower operating rates at Botlek and increases in direct material prices. Our focus on cost reduction drove SG&A lower in the quarter. As a result of these factors, we delivered an Adjusted EBITDA of $112 million and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.2%.

"In response to ongoing macroeconomic volatility, Tronox has taken decisive strategic actions to manage the levers within our control. The idling of our Botlek pigment plant as announced in March is expected to result in improved free cash flow in 2025 due to the draw down of pigment inventories and more than $30 million of cost improvements from 2026 onwards. Our team is working diligently to execute on our cost improvement program, which we expect to deliver sustainable, run-rate cost improvements of $125-175 million by the end of 2026. Our capital expenditures are primarily focused on critical maintenance and ensuring the completion of our South Africa mining projects this year to maintain our vertical integration cost advantage. Once complete, we expect to realize a $50-60 million improvement in our mining cost profile from 2025 to 2026. We anticipate offsetting the Company's first quarter free cash flow use by generating positive free cash flow across the balance of the year. These measures underscore our commitment to operational efficiency and enhanced earnings." 

Mr. Romano concluded, "As we navigate through the uncertainties of tariffs, inflation, interest rates and the broader macroeconomic environment, Tronox remains focused on what we can control. We are committed to reducing our costs and improving cash flow through strategic actions. Our continued advocacy for the implementation of anti-dumping tariffs in Brazil, India, and Saudi Arabia is a testament to our proactive approach in combating competitive pressures. We have ample levers within our control to ensure sufficient liquidity under various economic scenarios. Through these focused initiatives and execution, we are confident in our ability to create sustainable value for our stakeholders."

First Quarter 2025 Results
(Comparisons are to prior year (Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024) unless otherwise noted)

The Company recorded first quarter revenue of $738 million, a decrease of 5% primarily driven by lower zircon sales volumes and lower average selling prices of zircon and TiO₂.

Revenue from TiO₂ sales was $584 million, a decline of 3% driven by a 1% decline in volumes, a 1% decrease in average selling prices including mix and a 1% decrease due to exchange rates. Sequentially, TiO₂ sales increased 10%, driven by a 12% increase in sales volumes, partially offset by a 2% decrease in average selling prices including mix.

Zircon revenue decreased 22% to $69 million, driven by a 15% decline in sales volume and a 7% decrease in average selling prices including mix. Sequentially, zircon revenue decreased 8%, driven by a 6% decline in sales volumes and a 2% decrease in average selling prices including mix.

Revenue from other products was $85 million, an increase of 5% year-over-year primarily due to higher sales volumes of pig iron and opportunistic sales of ilmenite. Sequentially, revenue from other products increased 25%.

Net loss attributable to Tronox in the quarter was $111 million, or a loss of $0.70 per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to Tronox of $9 million, or a loss of $0.06 per diluted share in the year-ago period. Non-recurring adjustments totaled $87 million, or $0.55 per diluted share. Excluding these items, adjusted net loss attributable to Tronox (non-GAAP) was $24 million, or a loss of $0.15 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA of $112 million represented a 15% decrease, driven by lower sales volumes, lower average selling prices including mix, higher average freight costs and headwinds from exchange rate movements, partially offset and lower production and corporate costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.2%.

Sequentially, Adjusted EBITDA decreased 13% due to higher production costs, lower average selling prices including mix and higher corporate costs, partially offset by higher sales volumes and favorable exchange rate movements.

The Company's selling, general and administrative expenses were $74 million for the quarter, a decrease of 6%. Tronox's net interest expense in the quarter was $40 million. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense was $71 million.

Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
Tronox ended the quarter with $3.0 billion of total debt, $2.8 billion of net debt and a net leverage ratio of 5.2x on a trailing twelve-month basis. Available liquidity at the end of the quarter totaled $443 million, including $138 million in cash and cash equivalents and $305 million available under our revolving credit agreements. The next significant debt maturity for the Company is not until 2029. Tronox does not have any financial covenants on its term loans or bonds.

Free cash flow for the quarter was a use of $142 million. Capital expenditures were $110 million, including investments in the Company's key capital projects to replace existing mines reaching their end of life and sustain the Company's vertical integration benefit.

Outlook
Tronox is maintaining its previous guidance for 2025. While volatility and uncertainty have increased, the Company has not seen significant enough impacts to its business to adjust its outlook. For the full year 2025, the Company is expecting revenue to be $3.0-3.4 billion driven by improving TiO₂ and zircon volumes, partially offset by lower sales from other products. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $525-625 million, due to improved pigment production costs, partially offset by higher mining production costs. The Company expects the second half of 2025 to be stronger than the first, building on the momentum from the anti-dumping measures being realized in Europe and the additional benefits expected in India and Brazil if anti-dumping measures are finalized. The Company reduced its expected capital expenditures to be less than $365 million. Free cash flow is expected to be greater than $50 million. The Company identified $125-175 million of sustainable, run-rate cost improvements deliverable by the end of 2026. The Company expects the majority of these savings to be realized in 2026. 

Webcast Conference Call
Tronox will conduct a webcast conference call on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 9:00 AM ET (New York). The live call is open to the public and can be accessed via live webcast and teleconference. Please visit investor.tronox.com for a link to register for the live webcast and to view the accompanying slides.

Replay: A webcast replay will be available at investor.tronox.com following the call.

About Tronox
Tronox Holdings plc is one of the world's leading producers of high-quality titanium products, including titanium dioxide pigment, specialty-grade titanium dioxide products and high-purity titanium chemicals, and zircon. We mine titanium-bearing mineral sands and operate upgrading facilities that produce high-grade titanium feedstock materials, pig iron and other minerals, including the rare earth-bearing mineral, monazite. With approximately 6,500 employees across six continents, our rich diversity, unmatched vertical integration model, and unparalleled operational and technical expertise across the value chain, position Tronox as the preeminent titanium dioxide producer in the world. For more information about how our products add brightness and durability to paints, plastics, paper and other everyday products, visit tronox.com. 

Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance, anticipated completion of extensions and upgrades to our mining operations, anticipated trends in our business and industry, including trade defense measures, anticipated costs, benefits and timing of capital projects including planned mining expansions, the Company's anticipated capital allocation strategy including future capital expenditures, the benefits and timing of the Company's cost improvement plan, and our sustainability goals, commitments and programs. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance, actual costs, benefits and timing of capital projects, or the cost improvement plan, or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance, anticipated costs, benefits and timing of capital projects, or the cost improvement plan, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, macroeconomic conditions; policy changes affecting international trade, including import/export restrictions and tariffs; inflationary pressures and energy costs; currency movements; political instability, including the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and any expansion of such conflicts, and other geopolitical events; supply chain disruptions; market conditions and price volatility for titanium dioxide, zircon and other feedstock materials, as well as global and regional economic downturns, that adversely affect the demand for our end-use products; disruptions in production at our mining and manufacturing facilities; and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal and regulatory factors. These and other risk factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, synergies or achievements. Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information or future developments.

Use of Non-GAAP Information
To provide investors and others with additional information regarding the financial results of Tronox Holdings plc, we have disclosed in this release certain non-U.S. GAAP operating performance measures of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Adjusted net income attributable to Tronox, including its presentation on a per share basis, and a non-U.S. GAAP liquidity measure of Free Cash Flow and net leverage ratio on a trailing twelve-month basis. These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures are a supplement to and not a substitute for or superior to, the Company's results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented by other companies. Specifically, the Company believes the non-U.S. GAAP information provides useful measures to investors regarding the Company's financial performance by excluding certain costs and expenses that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results. The presentation of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results or guidance prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP results is included herein.

Investor Relations and Media Contact: Jennifer Guenther
+1.203.705.3701 extension: 103701 (Media)
+1.646.960.6598 (Investor Relations)

SOURCE Tronox Holdings plc