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Albemarle Corporation is a global leader in transforming essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity, and health. The company operates through three main segments: Energy Storage, Specialties, and Ketjen. Albemarle's diverse product portfolio and strategic focus on innovation and sustainability are key drivers of its earnings growth . The company sells lithium compounds, specialty chemicals, and refinery catalysts, which are crucial for applications in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and cleaner fuel production .
- Energy Storage - Focuses on lithium compounds essential for applications such as lithium batteries used in consumer electronics and electric vehicles, contributing significantly to the company's revenue .
- Specialties - Includes products that enhance fire safety, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce emissions, serving markets like electronics and automotive .
- Ketjen - Provides refinery catalysts that help produce cleaner fuels and other oil derivatives, with a focus on hydroprocessing and fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts .
| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
J. Kent Masters ExecutiveBoard | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Board Member at Vibrantz Technologies; Member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council | J. Kent Masters has been CEO since April 2020, with significant global business experience in relevant industries. | View Report → |
Cynthia R. Lima Executive | Senior Vice President, Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer | Founding Member and Chair of The Heather Abbott Foundation; Board Member of Albemarle Foundation; Board of Trustees Member for Charlotte Regional Business Alliance | Cynthia Lima joined Albemarle in February 2023, leading communications and external affairs. | |
Donald J. LaBauve, Jr. Executive | Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer | None | Donald LaBauve has been with Albemarle since 1990, holding various financial leadership roles. | |
Eric W. Norris Executive | Chief Commercial Officer | Board Member at Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg | Eric Norris joined Albemarle in January 2018, leading strategic planning and the Energy Storage business. | |
Mark R. Mummert Executive | Senior Vice President, Chief Capital, Resources and Supply Chain Officer | Board Member at Talison Spodumene Mine | Mark Mummert joined Albemarle in 2019, focusing on supply chain and operational excellence. | |
Melissa H. Anderson Executive | Executive Vice President, Chief People and Transformation Officer | Board Member at Vulcan Materials; Advisory Board Member for HR Policy Association and Center for Executive Succession; Board Member for SHRM | Melissa Anderson joined Albemarle in January 2021, leading HR and transformation initiatives. | |
Michael J. Simmons Executive | President of the Ketjen Global Business Unit | None | Michael Simmons joined Albemarle in June 2023, with over 30 years of experience as an operating executive. | |
Neal R. Sheorey Executive | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | None | Neal R. Sheorey joined Albemarle in November 2023 as CFO, previously held leadership roles at The Dow Chemical Company. | |
Netha N. Johnson Executive | Chief Operations Officer | Board Member at Xcel Energy, Inc. | Netha N. Johnson joined Albemarle in 2018, overseeing global manufacturing and operations. | |
Stacy G. Grant Executive | Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer | None | Stacy G. Grant joined Albemarle in May 2023, overseeing legal and compliance functions. | |
Alejandro D. Wolff Board | Director | Board Member at Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. | Alejandro D. Wolff has been a director since 2015, with a distinguished career in international diplomacy. | |
Dean L. Seavers Board | Director | Board Member at Ametek, Inc. | Dean L. Seavers has been a director since 2018, with extensive executive leadership experience in energy and technology. | |
Diarmuid B. O’Connell Board | Director | Board Member at Dana Incorporated and Volvo Car AB | Diarmuid B. O’Connell has been a director since 2018, with expertise in the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. | |
Gerald A. Steiner Board | Director | Founder of Alta Grow Consulting LLC; Executive Chair at Pluton BioSciences and Stony Creek Colors; Trustee Emeritus at The Keystone Center | Gerald A. Steiner has been a director since 2013, with experience in renewable fuels and agricultural industry. | |
Glenda J. Minor Board | Director | Board Member at Radius Recycling and Curtiss-Wright Corporation | Glenda J. Minor has been a director since 2019, with extensive financial and international leadership experience. | |
Holly A. Van Deursen Board | Director | Board Member at Kimball Electronics Inc. and Synthomer plc | Holly A. Van Deursen has been a director since 2019, with extensive experience in the chemical and industrial sectors. | |
James J. O'Brien Board | Lead Independent Director | Board Member at Eastman Chemical Company | James J. O'Brien has been a director since 2012, with a long career at Ashland Inc.. | |
M. Lauren Brlas Board | Director | Board Member at Constellation Energy Corporation, Autoliv, Inc., and Graphic Packaging International, LLC | M. Lauren Brlas has been a director since 2017, with extensive financial and operational leadership experience. | |
Ralf H. Cramer Board | Director | Industry Advisor at Knowledge Experienced; Senior Consultant at Shenzhen Shentou Investment Co Ltd.; Board Member at Knorr-Bremse Truck, Metalsa S.A., and Coperion GmbH | Ralf H. Cramer has been a director since 2022, with expertise in the automotive industry and international leadership. |
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Given the ongoing low lithium prices, do you believe more supply needs to be removed from the market to support price recovery, and what specific measures is Albemarle taking to address this supply-demand imbalance?
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Can you provide clarity on your asset sale plans, particularly regarding stakes in Greenbushes and other non-core assets like Ketjen, and how these sales align with your long-term strategic objectives?
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With the planned reduction of capital expenditures by at least $800 million or about 50%, how will this impact Albemarle's long-term growth prospects and ability to remain competitive in a market recovery?
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The targeted $300 million to $400 million in cost and productivity improvements has a broad range; what are the main factors contributing to this variability, and how confident are you in achieving the higher end of this target?
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Considering potential changes in government policies after the upcoming election, including tariffs and EV subsidies, how is Albemarle adjusting its strategy to mitigate risks and capitalize on the global energy transition?
Competitors mentioned in the company's latest 10K filing.
| Company | Description |
|---|---|
Shell Catalysts & Technologies | A major competitor in the Clean Fuels Technologies (CFT) catalysts market, which includes hydroprocessing catalysts, isomerization, and alkylation catalysts. |
Advanced Refining Technologies | A significant competitor in the CFT catalysts market, which focuses on upgrading oil fractions to clean fuels and other usable products. |
Haldor Topsoe | Competes in the CFT catalysts market, emphasizing product performance and quality. |
W.R. Grace & Co. | A major competitor in the fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts market, which assists in high-yield cracking of refinery petroleum streams. |
BASF Corporation | Competes in the FCC catalysts market, focusing on refining petroleum streams into higher-value products. |
A significant competitor in the FCC catalysts market, which includes additives to reduce emissions and boost octane in gasoline. | |
Nouryon | A major competitor in the Performance Catalyst Solutions (PCS) market, which includes organometallics and curatives. |
Lanxess AG | Competes in both the PCS market and the Specialties segment, which includes bromine and lithium solutions. |
Arxada | A competitor in the PCS market, focusing on organometallics and curatives. |
A significant competitor in the Specialties segment, which serves industries like energy, mobility, and health. | |
A major competitor in the global lithium compounds market, which is characterized by rapid growth and aggressive expansion. | |
Sichuan Tianqi Lithium | Competes in the lithium compounds market, focusing on product quality and reliability of supply. |
Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium | A significant player in the lithium compounds market, emphasizing product diversity and customer service. |
A competitor in the lithium compounds market, leveraging its position as a large, well-capitalized diversified miner. | |
Pilbara Minerals | Competes in the lithium compounds market, focusing on index-based market pricing and supply reliability. |
Arcadium Lithium | A competitor in the lithium compounds market, which is increasingly characterized by differentiated product offerings. |
A competitor in the lithium compounds market, representing new entrants such as automotive OEMs. |
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
Western Lithium subsidiary of Lithium Power International | 2023 | Acquisition completed in July 2023 via a cash deal valued at just over $20 million, providing Albemarle with prospect exploration tenements near its renowned Greenbushes spodumene mine. |
Qinzhou lithium conversion plant in Guangxi, China | 2022 | Acquisition completed on October 25, 2022 after signing a definitive cash deal of approximately $200 million to acquire Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Materials Co., Ltd.; the plant, located near the Port of Qinzhou, has an annual capacity of 25,000 metric tons LCE and produces battery-grade materials. |
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for ALB.
- Q1 2025 net sales reached $1.1 billion (down from $1.4 billion, a 21% drop) with an adjusted EBITDA of $267 million .
- Reported a net income of $41 million, a significant improvement from the prior-year quarter .
- Achieved strong operational improvements with enhanced cash conversion exceeding 200%, a 90% run rate toward a $350 million savings target, and capital expenditures reduced by over 50% year-over-year .
- Revenue dynamics saw lower pricing in Energy Storage partially offset by an 11% volume increase in Specialties .
- Provided an optimistic outlook forecasting 15% to 40% lithium demand growth in 2025 and expecting lithium demand to more than double by 2030, while maintaining a full-year 2025 outlook despite global tariff pressures and anticipating minimal tariff impacts due to critical mineral exemptions .
- Maintained a strong balance sheet with an estimated liquidity of $3.1 billion, supporting the company’s long-term competitive position .