Key insights
- Campine confirmed its H1 EBITDA target of €40M, driven by strong performance in antimony, lead, and plastics recycling. The company is exploring setting up a US factory with subsidy support, a move potentially influenced by China's antimony export ban. This strategic exploration of US manufacturing, coupled with favorable recycling market dynamics, suggests potential for future growth and diversification, offering a positive, albeit cautious, outlook.
Campine CEO: H1 EBITDA target of €40M confirmed, US factory with subsidies being explored
Campine is again expecting strong results this year and has confirmed its €40 million EBITDA target for the first half.
CEO Wim De Vos sounded confident on the H1 target, saying he feels relaxed about reaching it, though he would not yet predict whether the company can match its annual record.
The antimony business is still performing well, despite lower prices. Lead recycling is benefiting from higher lead prices and the recent scale-up from acquiring three French Ecobat plants. Plastics recycling is also expected to contribute more profit this year after two difficult years, helped by rising prices following recent supply disruptions.
The company is also getting more strategic attention since China’s antimony export ban. De Vos said Campine is now approached almost weekly with proposals around flame retardants, new mines, or smelters.
One notable development: shortly after the Chinese export ban took effect, Campine received a serious call from the US about possibly setting up a factory there with subsidy support. De Vos described it as a luxury to have options, but said the company is moving carefully because the market remains volatile.