Kumho Petro Chemical (011780) Q3 2026 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Q3 2026 sales were KRW 1,921.5bn, up 16.9% YoY and down 15.3% QoQ; operating profit, pretax income and net income turned to losses.

• Results are preliminary and under audit; forecasts may differ from actual results as business conditions and other variables change.

Financial highlights

• Operating loss was KRW 20.8bn versus profit of KRW 339.0bn in Q2 and KRW 84.5bn in Q3 2025.

• EBITDA was KRW 55.4bn, down 86.7% QoQ and 65.9% YoY; EBITDA margin was 2.9% versus 18.4% and 9.9%, respectively.

• Pretax loss was KRW 43.8bn; net loss attributable to controlling interests was KRW 22.0bn.

• Equity income was KRW 25.4bn, down 32.3% QoQ and 32.1% YoY.

Outlook and guidance

• Synthetic rubbers: Q4 profitability expected to improve QoQ as raw-material price volatility moderates; NB Latex volume and profit expected to rise, despite year-end destocking.

• Synthetic resins: defend profitability through product-mix optimization and selective sales; firm benzene prices and China's T/A expected to limit SM market-price declines.

• Phenol derivatives: profitability expected to improve on low-base effects and fading negative lag, despite scheduled maintenance and weak demand.

• EPDM/TPV profitability expected to edge lower on continued weak year-end demand; energy profitability expected to decline slightly on maintenance and lower SMP.

• BD prices expected to stay firm with rising oil/naphtha costs and reduced deep-sea supply amid high freight rates.