PresentationWe'll go ahead and get started. We're very pleased to welcome to the stage the CFO for LyondellBasell, Agustin Izquierdo. He's relatively new to the company, came in 2022. So he hasn't seen the good stuff yet as far as the chemical cycle goes. But he wanted to start off. He's got a few slides he wants to walk through. So Agustin, if you want to go ahead and run through those, and then we'll jump into the Q&A when you're done.Agustin IzquierdoExecutive VP & CFO Excellent. Thank you, Duffy, and th ...

Summary of LyondellBasell Industries Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) - **Date of Conference**: December 03, 2025 - **Speaker**: Agustin Izquierdo, CFO Key Highlights Financial Performance - **Q3 Performance**: Reported a strong recovery in the olefins and polymers segment, particularly in the Americas, with a positive impact from the absence of the Channelview turnaround, which had a $200 million impact on earnings [2][3] - **Cash Generation**: Historically strong cash conversion with a long-term average of 80%. Achieved 90% over the last 12 months and 135% in Q3 alone [3] - **Cash Improvement Plan**: Aiming for at least $1.1 billion in cash improvements over 2025 and 2026, with $600 million targeted for 2025 [4] Operational Strategies - **Cost Management**: Focus on working capital release of at least $200 million, aggressive fixed cost reductions targeting $200 million, and CapEx reductions from an initial target of $2.2 billion down to $1.7 billion [4][5] - **CapEx Plans**: Maintenance CapEx projected at $1.2 billion for the next year, with a focus on essential projects and operational improvements [7][8] Market Outlook - **North America**: Inventory days on hand have decreased from 45 to 40 days, indicating improved discipline in the industry. Operating rates have dropped to around 83% from mid-90s [9][10] - **Europe**: Facing challenges with price compression in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), with prices dropping by $70 per ton for PE and $40 per ton for PP [10] - **Asia**: Continues to experience pressure from new capacity additions, with uncertain future impacts from anti-evolution policies [10] End Markets - **Packaging**: Remains resilient, while the building and construction sector is depressed due to stagnant existing home sales [11] - **Automotive**: No significant deterioration noted, with share gains in the APS business [11] - **Oxyfuels**: Improved performance in Q3 after a challenging summer season, with expectations for normal seasonality in Q4 [11] Future Projections - **2025 vs. 2026**: Anticipated improvement of $400 million to $450 million from 2025 to 2026, driven by the absence of major turnarounds and a normal oxyfuels season [15][16] - **Demand Growth**: Expected to continue at 3% annually, with potential boosts from housing and automotive sectors [16] Industry Dynamics - **Supply and Demand**: Projected supply increase of 9% and demand growth of 6% over the next couple of years, with a focus on rationalization in Europe and Asia [20] - **Polyethylene Capacity**: New capacities in the U.S. Gulf Coast expected to run at full rates, while Chinese capacities may operate at 65%-70% [22] Strategic Initiatives - **Portfolio Optimization**: Actions taken to improve profitability, including the sale of non-core assets and a focus on high-return projects [25][26] - **European Asset Sale**: Expected to close in the first half of 2026, with minimal EBITDA impact from the divested assets [28][29] Environmental Initiatives - **MoReTec Technology**: On track for a 2027 start, with strong demand for chemically recycled plastics, particularly in Europe [42][43] Financial Health and Dividends - **Cash Position**: Started the year with $3.4 billion in cash, with ongoing efforts to maintain investment-grade status while managing dividends [34][35] - **Debt Management**: Targeting a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.5 times, with a focus on maintaining liquidity and operational flexibility [36][37] Additional Insights - **Polypropylene Market**: Currently facing challenges with zero margins, dependent on the recovery of durable goods [45] - **Acetic Acid Business**: Positioned well with ongoing investments and a stable EBITDA contribution [46] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, highlighting LyondellBasell's financial performance, operational strategies, market outlook, and future projections.