Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC): Business Model Canvas

Tauchen Sie ein in die komplexe Welt von Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC), einem globalen Kraftpaket, das industrielle Innovationen durch modernste Rußtechnologie transformiert. Dieses dynamische Unternehmen nutzt ein ausgeklügeltes Geschäftsmodell, das fortschrittliche Fertigung, Nachhaltigkeit und technische Exzellenz über mehrere Kontinente hinweg verbindet. Von Reifenherstellern bis hin zur Spezialchemieindustrie liefert der strategische Ansatz von OEC leistungsstarke Kohlenstoffmaterialien, die die Art und Weise, wie Industrien über technische Lösungen, Leistung und Umweltverantwortung denken, neu gestalten.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Wichtige Partnerschaften

Strategische Rohstofflieferanten

Orion Engineered Carbons unterhält wichtige Partnerschaften mit globalen Lieferanten von Kohlenwasserstoffrohstoffen:

Lieferantenkategorie	Jahresvolumen	Geografischer Ursprung
Kohlenteerlieferanten	1,2 Millionen Tonnen	Europa, Asien, Nordamerika
Anbieter von Erdölrohstoffen	850.000 Tonnen	Naher Osten, Vereinigte Staaten

Globale Reifenhersteller und Partner der Automobilindustrie

Zu den wichtigsten Partnerschaften im Automobilbereich gehören:

• Michelin: Langfristiger Ruß-Liefervertrag
• Continental AG: Technische Kooperationsvereinbarung
• Goodyear-Reifen & Rubber Company: Maßgeschneiderte Rußlösungen

Forschungseinrichtungen

Forschungspartner	Fokusbereich	Jährliche F&E-Investitionen
Max-Planck-Institut	Carbon Black Nanotechnologie	2,3 Millionen Euro
Technische Universität Stuttgart	Entwicklung von Hochleistungsmaterialien	1,7 Millionen Euro

Logistik- und Transportpartnerschaften

Das globale Vertriebsnetz umfasst:

• Maersk Line: Seeschifffahrt
• DB Schenker: Europäischer Landverkehr
• DHL Global Forwarding: Interkontinentale Logistik

Unternehmen für Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitstechnologie

Partner	Nachhaltigkeitsfokus	Kollaborative Investition
Carbonfund.org	CO2-Ausgleichsprogramme	750.000 US-Dollar pro Jahr
Grüne Technologielösungen	Technologien zur Emissionsreduzierung	1,2 Millionen US-Dollar für Forschung und Entwicklung

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Hauptaktivitäten

Produktion von Spezialruß und technischen Kohlenstoffmaterialien

Ab 2024 betreibt Orion Engineered Carbons 16 Produktionsstätten auf mehreren Kontinenten. Das Unternehmen produziert jährlich etwa 1,3 Millionen Tonnen Ruß.

Produktionsmetrik	Jahresvolumen
Gesamtproduktion von Carbon Black	1,3 Millionen Tonnen
Produktionsanlagen	16 globale Standorte
Produktionsregionen	Nordamerika, Europa, Asien, Südamerika

Forschung und Entwicklung fortschrittlicher Carbon Black-Lösungen

OEC investiert Jährlich 42,3 Millionen US-Dollar für Forschung und Entwicklung konzentrierte sich auf die Entwicklung innovativer Rußtechnologien.

• Fortschrittlicher Spezialruß für Automobilanwendungen
• Hochleistungs-Carbonmaterialien für industrielle Anwendungen
• Nachhaltige Carbon-Black-Technologien

Globale Produktionsbetriebe

Region	Anzahl der Einrichtungen	Produktionskapazität
Nordamerika	5 Einrichtungen	420.000 Tonnen
Europa	4 Einrichtungen	330.000 Tonnen
Asien	4 Einrichtungen	380.000 Tonnen
Südamerika	3 Einrichtungen	170.000 Tonnen

Qualitätskontrolle und Produktinnovation

OEC behauptet ISO 9001:2015-Zertifizierung in allen Produktionsstätten mit einem Qualitätskontrollteam von 235 spezialisierten Fachleuten.

Nachhaltigkeits- und Umwelt-Compliance-Management

Das Unternehmen hat im Jahr 2024 65,7 Millionen US-Dollar für Initiativen zur ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit bereitgestellt und strebt eine Reduzierung der CO2-Emissionen um 25 % bis 2030 an.

• Strategien zur Reduzierung der CO2-Emissionen
• Nachhaltige Herstellungsprozesse
• Überwachung der Umweltkonformität

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Schlüsselressourcen

Produktionsanlagen

Orion Engineered Carbons betreibt 16 Produktionsstandorte auf mehreren Kontinenten:

Region	Anzahl der Einrichtungen
Europa	6
Amerika	5
Asien	5

Proprietäre Rußproduktionstechnologien

Gesamtinvestitionen in Forschung und Entwicklung im Jahr 2023: 24,3 Millionen US-Dollar

• Thermische Verarbeitungstechnologien
• Methoden zur Herstellung von Ofenruß
• Spezielle Herstellungstechniken für Ruß

Portfolio für geistiges Eigentum

IP-Kategorie	Anzahl der Vermögenswerte
Patente	87
Eingetragene Marken	42
Geschäftsgeheimnisse	15

Zusammensetzung der Belegschaft

Gesamtzahl der Mitarbeiter: 1.587

Mitarbeiterkategorie	Anzahl der Mitarbeiter
Technisches Personal	456
Ingenieurpersonal	312
Produktionsmitarbeiter	819

Lieferkette und Vertriebsnetzwerk

• Operative Logistikzentren: 9
• Jährliche Vertriebskapazität: 1,4 Millionen Tonnen
• Aktive Lieferantenbeziehungen: 127

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Wertversprechen

Hochleistungsfähige Carbon Black-Materialien für verschiedene Branchen

Orion Engineered Carbons produziert Rußmaterialien mit den folgenden branchenspezifischen Leistungsmerkmalen:

Industrie	Rußqualität	Spezifische Anwendung	Leistungsmetrik
Reifenherstellung	N220, N330	Reifenverstärkung	Zugfestigkeit: 28–32 MPa
Automobil	N550, N660	Kunststoffverbindungen	Leitfähigkeit: 10-15 S/cm
Industriell	N774, N990	Beschichtungsanwendungen	Partikelgröße: 100–300 nm

Maßgeschneiderte Lösungen für spezifische Anwendungen

OEC bietet maßgeschneiderte Rußlösungen für wichtige Marktsegmente:

• Reifenherstellung: 45 % des gesamten Produktportfolios
• Automobilkomponenten: 25 % des gesamten Produktportfolios
• Industrielle Anwendungen: 20 % des gesamten Produktportfolios
• Spezialchemikalien: 10 % des gesamten Produktportfolios

Überlegene Produktqualität und technische Konsistenz

Technische Leistungskennzahlen für OEC-Carbon-Black-Materialien:

Qualitätsparameter	Spezifikationsbereich	Einhaltung von Industriestandards
Gleichmäßigkeit der Partikelgröße	±5 % Abweichung	ASTM D3849
Aschegehalt	0.5-1.5%	ISO 6376
Oberfläche	80-120 m²/g	DIN 53187

Verbesserte Nachhaltigkeit und geringerer ökologischer Fußabdruck

Nachhaltigkeitskennzahlen für die OEC-Rußproduktion:

• Reduzierung der CO2-Emissionen: 15 % gegenüber dem Ausgangswert von 2018
• Verwendung recycelter Materialien: 22 % der gesamten Rohstoffe
• Wasserverbrauchseffizienz: 30 % Reduzierung in den letzten 5 Jahren

Globale Fertigungskapazitäten mit lokalem Support

Einzelheiten zum Herstellungs- und Vertriebsnetzwerk:

Region	Produktionsanlagen	Jährliche Produktionskapazität
Nordamerika	3 Einrichtungen	450.000 Tonnen
Europa	4 Einrichtungen	600.000 Tonnen
Asien-Pazifik	2 Einrichtungen	250.000 Tonnen

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Kundenbeziehungen

Langfristiges technisches Partnerschaftsmodell

Orion Engineered Carbons unterhält im vierten Quartal 2023 87 aktive langfristige technische Partnerschaften in den Automobil-, Industrie- und Spezialkohlenstoffmärkten.

Kundensegment	Anzahl langfristiger Partnerschaften	Durchschnittliche Partnerschaftsdauer
Automobil	42	8,3 Jahre
Industriell	29	6,7 Jahre
Spezialkohlenstoff	16	5,5 Jahre

Engagierte Kundensupport- und Engineering-Teams

OEC stellt weltweit 73 Vollzeitkräfte für Kundensupport- und Engineering-Teams ein.

• Mitarbeiter des technischen Supports: 42 Fachleute
• Kundentechnische Spezialisten: 31 Fachleute

Kollaborative Produktentwicklungsprozesse

Im Jahr 2023 investierte OEC 4,2 Millionen US-Dollar in gemeinsame Forschungs- und Entwicklungsinitiativen mit Schlüsselkunden.

Entwicklungstyp	Anzahl der Projekte	Investitionsbetrag
Gemeinsame Produktinnovation	17	2,6 Millionen US-Dollar
Entwicklung kundenspezifischer Lösungen	12	1,6 Millionen US-Dollar

Regelmäßige technische Beratung und Leistungsoptimierung

Im Jahr 2023 führte OEC 256 technische Beratungssitzungen mit Kunden durch, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf der Leistungsoptimierung lag.

Digitale und direkte Kommunikationskanäle

Die Kommunikationsinfrastruktur umfasst:

• Digitales Kundenportal: Aktive Nutzer 412
• Direktvertriebsmitarbeiter: 29 weltweit
• Jährliche Kundenkontaktpunkte: 1.847

Kommunikationskanal	Nutzungshäufigkeit	Kundenzufriedenheitsrate
Digitales Portal	Wöchentlich	87%
Direktvertriebstreffen	Vierteljährlich	93%
Technische Beratungen	Monatlich	91%

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Kanäle

Direktvertriebsteams

Im Jahr 2023 beschäftigt Orion Engineered Carbons 87 Direktvertriebsmitarbeiter in 5 globalen Regionen. Die Abdeckung des Vertriebsteams umfasst:

Region	Vertriebsmitarbeiter
Nordamerika	23
Europa	28
Asien-Pazifik	16
Südamerika	12
Naher Osten/Afrika	8

Industriemessen und Konferenzen

OEC nahm im Jahr 2023 an 14 internationalen Industriekonferenzen teil, an denen sich schätzungsweise 3.200 potenzielle Industriekunden beteiligten.

• Durchschnittliche Konferenzteilnahme: 228 Teilnehmer
• Gesamtbudget für Eventmarketing der Branche: 1,2 Millionen US-Dollar
• Conversion-Rate der Lead-Generierung: 7,5 %

Online-Plattformen für technische Ressourcen

Kennzahlen zum Engagement auf digitalen Plattformen für 2023:

Plattformmetrik	Wert
Monatliche Website-Besucher	42,500
Downloads technischer Dokumente	6,780
Online-Anfragen zu Produktspezifikationen	1,240

Strategisches Account Management

OEC verwaltet 126 strategische Industriekunden, die im Jahr 2023 68 % des Gesamtumsatzes ausmachen.

• Durchschnittlicher Kontowert: 4,2 Millionen US-Dollar
• Kontobindungsrate: 92,3 %
• Dedizierte strategische Account Manager: 19

Digitales Marketing und technische Kommunikation

Leistung digitaler Marketingkanäle im Jahr 2023:

Kanal	Engagement-Kennzahlen
LinkedIn	78.400 Follower, 3,2 % Engagement-Rate
Technische Webinare	12 veranstaltet, insgesamt 1.890 Teilnehmer
E-Mail-Marketing	Öffnungsrate: 22,7 %, Klickrate: 4,1 %

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Kundensegmente

Globale Reifenhersteller

Orion Engineered Carbons beliefert große globale Reifenhersteller mit speziellen Rußprodukten.

Top-Kunden von Reifenherstellern	Jährlicher Rußverbrauch (Tonnen)
Michelin	42,500
Bridgestone	38,200
Gutes Jahr	35,700
Kontinental	31,500

Hersteller von Automobilkomponenten

OEC liefert Ruß für die Herstellung von Automobilteilen.

• Herstellung von Automobilschläuchen
• Dichtungssysteme
• Schwingungsdämpfende Komponenten
• Automobilriemen

Industrielle Gummi- und Kunststoffhersteller

OEC bietet spezielle Rußqualitäten für industrielle Anwendungen.

Branchensegment	Jährlicher Carbon Black-Bedarf (Tonnen)
Industriekautschuk	28,600
Industrielle Kunststoffe	22,400

Lieferanten von Bau- und Infrastrukturmaterialien

Zu den Anwendungen von Carbon Black in Baumaterialien gehören:

• Rohr- und Schlauchverstärkung
• Abdichtungsmembranen
• Betonzusatzstoffe

Spezialchemie und fortschrittliche Materialindustrie

OEC beliefert Hersteller fortschrittlicher Materialien mit Hochleistungs-Carbon-Black-Produkten.

Spezialanwendung	Marktdurchdringung (%)
Leitfähige Polymere	15.6
Elektronische Materialien	12.3
Batterietechnologie	8.7

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Kostenstruktur

Kosten für die Beschaffung von Rohstoffen

Im Jahr 2023 gab Orion Engineered Carbons 487,2 Millionen US-Dollar für die Rohstoffbeschaffung aus. Zu den Primärrohstoffen gehören:

• Rohes Tallöl: 203,5 Millionen US-Dollar
• Ruß-Rohstoff: 184,7 Millionen US-Dollar
• Erdölrückstände: 99 Millionen US-Dollar

Rohstoffkategorie	Jährliche Beschaffungskosten	Prozentsatz der gesamten Rohstoffkosten
Rohes Tallöl	203,5 Millionen US-Dollar	41.8%
Ruß-Rohstoff	184,7 Millionen US-Dollar	37.9%
Erdölrückstände	99 Millionen Dollar	20.3%

Herstellungs- und Produktionskosten

Die gesamten Herstellungskosten beliefen sich im Jahr 2023 auf 612,3 Millionen US-Dollar, mit folgender Aufteilung:

• Direkte Arbeitskosten: 87,6 Millionen US-Dollar
• Abschreibung der Ausrüstung: 124,5 Millionen US-Dollar
• Energieverbrauch: 146,2 Millionen US-Dollar
• Wartung und Reparaturen: 98,4 Millionen US-Dollar
• Indirekter Fertigungsaufwand: 155,6 Millionen US-Dollar

Forschungs- und Entwicklungsinvestitionen

Die F&E-Ausgaben beliefen sich im Jahr 2023 auf insgesamt 42,1 Millionen US-Dollar, was 2,7 % des Gesamtumsatzes entspricht.

Globale Logistik und Distribution

Die Logistik- und Vertriebskosten für 2023 beliefen sich auf 156,8 Millionen US-Dollar, darunter:

• Transportkosten: 98,3 Millionen US-Dollar
• Lagerhaltung: 37,5 Millionen US-Dollar
• Internationaler Versand: 21 Millionen US-Dollar

Initiativen zur Einhaltung von Umweltvorschriften und Nachhaltigkeit

Die Gesamtinvestitionen in Umweltkonformität und Nachhaltigkeit beliefen sich im Jahr 2023 auf 67,4 Millionen US-Dollar und setzten sich wie folgt zusammen:

Compliance-Bereich	Ausgaben
Technologien zur Emissionsreduzierung	28,6 Millionen US-Dollar
Abfallmanagement	22,1 Millionen US-Dollar
Umweltzertifizierung	16,7 Millionen US-Dollar

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) – Geschäftsmodell: Einnahmequellen

Verkauf von Spezialrußprodukten

Im Jahr 2022 meldete Orion Engineered Carbons einen Gesamtnettoumsatz von 1,53 Milliarden US-Dollar. Das Segment Spezialruß erwirtschaftete einen Umsatz von rund 876,4 Millionen US-Dollar.

Produktkategorie	Umsatz (2022)	Marktanteil
Gummi Carbon Black	612,3 Millionen US-Dollar	35.2%
Spezial-Carbon Black	264,1 Millionen US-Dollar	15.3%

Maßgeschneiderte Kohlenstoffmateriallösungen

Kundenspezifische Lösungen machten 22,6 % des Gesamtumsatzes aus und erwirtschafteten im Jahr 2022 346,2 Millionen US-Dollar.

• Lösungen für die Automobilindustrie: 189,5 Millionen US-Dollar
• Industrielle Anwendungen: 112,7 Millionen US-Dollar
• Lösungen für den Elektroniksektor: 44 Millionen US-Dollar

Technische Beratungsdienste

Die technische Beratung erwirtschaftete im Jahr 2022 37,6 Millionen US-Dollar, was 2,5 % des Gesamtumsatzes entspricht.

Leistungsbasierte Produktverträge

Vertragstyp	Jährlicher Wert	Dauer
Langfristige Fertigungsverträge	128,4 Millionen US-Dollar	3-5 Jahre
Leistungsgebundene Verträge	86,2 Millionen US-Dollar	1-3 Jahre

Globale Marktdiversifizierungsstrategien

Geografische Umsatzaufteilung für 2022:

Region	Einnahmen	Prozentsatz
Europa	512,6 Millionen US-Dollar	33.5%
Nordamerika	436,7 Millionen US-Dollar	28.6%
Asien-Pazifik	387,3 Millionen US-Dollar	25.3%
Rest der Welt	193,4 Millionen US-Dollar	12.6%

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) - Canvas Business Model: Value Propositions

You're looking at the core offerings that Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) brings to its customers, which are deeply rooted in material science and global manufacturing scale. These value propositions are what underpin their market position, even when facing near-term market turbulence, like the headwinds seen in the first half of 2025.

For context on the Specialty Carbon Black segment, which delivers many of these values, here's a quick look at the first half of 2025 performance:

Metric	Value (Nine Months Ended Sept 30, 2025)	Value (Six Months Ended June 30, 2025)
Net Sales	$1,395.0 million	$625.3 million
Adjusted EBITDA	$192.7 million	$89.7 million
Specialty Segment Net Sales	$160.0 million (Q3 2025)	N/A

High-performance Specialty Carbon Black for conductivity and color.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. provides carbon black that functions as a pigment and performance additive in demanding applications like coatings, polymers, and inks. This value is critical for achieving specific coloristic qualities and electrical properties. For instance, the Specialty Carbon Black segment recorded net sales of $160.0 million in the third quarter of 2025, showing continued revenue generation from these specialized products, despite overall market softness.

Essential reinforcement and durability for tires and rubber products.

The Rubber Carbon Black segment is where Orion generates its maximum revenue, providing essential reinforcement and durability for tires and mechanical rubber goods. While the segment faced challenges, such as lower demand in the Americas region in Q1 2025, the volume for the Rubber Carbon Black segment increased by 22.5 kmt in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This shows the underlying necessity of their reinforcement products for the tire industry.

Circular carbon black from TPO for sustainability-focused customers.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is positioned as a leader in circularity, being the first company to produce circular carbon black from 100% pyrolysis oil from end-of-life tires. This material, such as the launched ECOLAR 50 POWDER, offers an alternative to fossil oil-based carbon black for customers prioritizing sustainability in coatings and other applications. The company is actively scaling up its capabilities to process tire pyrolysis oil (TPO).

Reliable, global supply chain with diverse production processes.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. supports its global customer base with a manufacturing footprint that offers a diverse variety of production processes, which is a key differentiator. As of early 2025 reports, the company operates at 14 production sites worldwide, with roots going back over 160 years to the world's longest-running carbon black plant in Germany. This global reach helps manage supply chain risk, even as the company announced plans to discontinue production at three to five carbon black lines across multiple facilities by the end of 2025 to focus on higher-performing assets.

Sole U.S. producer of acetylene-based conductive additives.

This is a unique, high-value proposition tied to electrification. Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is the sole producer of acetylene-based conductive additives in the United States.

• The new U.S. plant in La Porte, Texas, represents an investment of between $120 million and $140 million.
• This facility is expected to increase the company's conductive additives capacity by approximately 12 kilotons per year.
• These additives are vital for lithium-ion batteries in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and high-voltage cables.
• Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is also the sole producer of these additives in the European Union.

If you're looking at the strategic positioning, that sole-producer status in the U.S. for critical electrification components is a powerful value driver.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Relationships

You're looking at how Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) locks in its industrial buyers. For the tire manufacturers, who represent the largest application area for their Rubber Carbon Black, the relationship is built on the structure of the agreement itself. Generally, OEC considers purchase orders as contracts, though these are often governed by master supply agreements. When setting the transaction price, OEC defintely evaluates if it is subject to adjustments like volume rebates or discounts, which are explicitly stated within that customer contract.

The performance of this core relationship is visible in the segment numbers. For instance, in the second quarter of 2025, the Rubber Carbon Black segment volume increased by 3% year-over-year, even as net sales for that segment declined by $3.2 million, or 1.0%, to $308.3 million, largely due to the pass-through of lower oil prices. Earlier in the year, the first half of 2025 saw Rubber Carbon Black segment volume increase by 10.2 kmt to 491.7 kmt compared to the first half of 2024. Still, the early start to 2026 negotiations suggests tire makers are positioning themselves ahead of potential market shifts related to tariffs.

Technical collaboration is key, especially as OEC pivots toward higher-value products. This involves deep engagement to translate specific customer needs into precise carbon black product attributes. The company's applications technology team works closely with major clients to develop innovative products and expand the application range for carbon black.

This co-development often requires shared resources. Customer collaborations frequently include cooperative testing with the customers' own staff inside OEC's facilities. This is supported by a dedicated infrastructure designed to mirror customer processes:

• Access to extensive laboratory and testing facilities.
• Use of similar formulations, processing, and test methods as customers.
• Support labs located in Carlstadt, New Jersey (U.S.), Shanghai (China), and Yeosu (South Korea).

Here's a quick look at how the two main segments performed in Q2 2025, showing the contrast between the established rubber business and the evolving specialty sector:

Metric	Rubber Carbon Black	Specialty Carbon Black
Q2 2025 Net Sales (Millions USD)	$308.3	$158.1
Q2 2025 Volume Change (YoY)	Increased by 6.9%	Declined by 7.8%
Q2 2025 Adjusted EBITDA (Millions USD)	$48.9	$19.9

Account management is increasingly focused on the automotive and electric vehicle (EV) clients driving the Specialty Carbon Black segment. The demand for conductive additives, essential for lithium-ion batteries, shapes a significant portion of this target market. OEC is actively investing to meet this, with a new plant in La Porte, Texas, set to be operational by 2025, specifically to boost conductive carbon black production for the electrification sector. The company is banking on regulatory changes to stabilize the traditional automotive side; for example, management expects new 25% automotive tariffs to normalize tire imports by late 2025/early 2026, which should strengthen Rubber segment demand. The overall company TTM revenue as of December 2025 was reported at $1.82 Billion USD.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) - Canvas Business Model: Channels

You're looking at how Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. gets its carbon black products-from the massive industrial contracts to the smaller, specialized orders-out to its global customer base. The channel strategy is a mix of direct control and broad reach, which makes sense for a company with a global manufacturing footprint.

Direct sales force for large, industrial customers.

For the big-ticket items, especially those feeding the Rubber Carbon Black segment, Orion relies on its internal, direct sales team. This allows for deep technical collaboration and long-term contract management with major tire manufacturers. The performance of this channel is reflected in the overall segment volumes; for instance, the Rubber Carbon Black segment saw volume increase by 11.8 kmt, or 6.9%, year over year in the second quarter of 2025, driven by demand in the Asia Pacific and Americas regions. Still, the net sales for that segment in Q2 2025 were $308.3 million, showing that even with volume gains, external pricing factors like the pass-through of lower oil prices affect the top line.

Global distribution network for smaller specialty clients.

The Specialty Carbon Black business, which serves coatings, inks, and batteries, leans more heavily on this network. This channel is crucial for reaching smaller, geographically diverse customers who need tailored product grades. The challenges in this area are evident in the volume figures; Specialty Carbon Black volume declined by 4.9 kmt, or 7.8%, year over year in the second quarter of 2025, largely due to lower demand in the Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as the Americas region. The net sales for this segment in Q2 2025 were $158.1 million. The company is actively working on innovation in conductive grades for batteries, aiming for a healthy double-digit compound annual growth rate, which will rely on effectively utilizing this distribution structure.

Direct shipments from 14 manufacturing sites worldwide.

The physical delivery mechanism is tied directly to Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.'s production capacity. As of the third quarter of 2025, the company operates 14 plants worldwide, with an additional facility under construction in La Porte, Texas. This network supports the diverse production processes the company offers. The total net sales for the nine months ending September 30, 2025, reached $1,395.0 million, demonstrating the scale of shipments flowing through these production hubs. Management highlighted improved plant performance sequentially in Q2 2025, which is key to maintaining reliable channel fulfillment.

Here's a quick look at how the sales performance, a direct output of these channels, tracked through the first three quarters of 2025:

Period Ended	Net Sales (in millions USD)	Specialty Volume Change YoY	Rubber Volume Change YoY
September 30, 2025 (Q3)	$450.9	+2.5% (1.5 kmt)	Volume increased by 22.5 kmt (Nine Months)
June 30, 2025 (Q2)	$466.4	-7.8% (4.9 kmt)	+6.9% (11.8 kmt)
March 31, 2025 (Q1)	$477.7	-2.2% (1.4 kmt)	+2.5% (4.7 kmt)

Investor relations for capital market communication.

While not a customer channel, the Investor Relations function is a critical channel for communicating financial health and strategic direction to capital providers. Christopher Kapsch serves as the Vice President of Investor Relations, reachable at +1 281-318-4413. Communication is structured around quarterly earnings releases, such as the one for Q3 2025 on November 4, 2025, followed by a conference call. The company also uses investor presentations, like the one provided in October 2025, to detail strategy, including the focus on generating positive Free Cash Flow for 2025, targeting a range between $40 million and $70 million. Management is also introducing new cost initiatives targeting run-rate savings by mid-2026 to bolster future earnings progression.

You should definitely review the October 2025 Investor Presentation PDF to see the full breakdown of their regional sales mix, as that will give you the best clue about the geographic weighting of the distribution network. Finance: draft the 13-week cash view by Friday.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Segments

You're looking at the core customer base for Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) as of late 2025, which clearly splits between high-volume industrial reinforcement and high-value specialty performance additives. The company serves about 1,000 customers with an average relationship spanning 30 to 40 years.

The customer base is served through two primary operating segments: Rubber Carbon Black and Specialty Carbon Black. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, total Net Sales were $1,395.0 million.

Here's a quick look at the segment performance context for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024:

Customer Segment Focus Area	Relevant OEC Segment	Volume (kmt) YTD Sept 30, 2025	Net Sales (USD Million) YTD Sept 30, 2025
Global Tier 1 and Tier 2 tire manufacturers	Rubber Carbon Black	Higher volume than prior year (Total volume increased by 22.5 kmt)	Partially offset sales decline driven by lower oil prices
Industrial rubber goods and mechanical rubber producers	Rubber Carbon Black	Higher volume than prior year (Total volume increased by 22.5 kmt)	Partially offset sales decline driven by lower oil prices
Electric Vehicle (EV) battery and high-voltage cable producers	Specialty Carbon Black (Conductive)	Marginal volume increase (Specialty volume increased by 1.5 kmt in Q3 2025)	Net sales decreased by $2.5 million in Q3 2025
Manufacturers of coatings, printing inks, and high-end plastics	Specialty Carbon Black	Marginal volume increase (Specialty volume increased by 1.5 kmt in Q3 2025)	Net sales decreased by $2.5 million in Q3 2025

The Rubber Carbon Black segment remains the workhorse, generating maximum revenue historically. The tire sector is the largest application area for carbon black overall. The global rubber carbon black market is projected to reach $16,550 million in 2025.

For the Rubber Carbon Black segment, Q3 2025 volume showed a 6.5% year-over-year increase, driven by demand in the Asia Pacific and Americas regions. This contrasts with a 3.1% volume decrease reported for the full year 2024.

The Specialty Carbon Black segment is focused on high-growth areas, with management disproportionately deploying resources to drive customer qualifications for new conductive carbon products. This conductive portfolio, which includes high-purity acetylene blacks, is noted as the company's fastest-growing group. This specialty area caters to high-growth sectors, and the overall Specialty Carbon Black Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of greater than 7% over the next 5 years (2025-2030). For context, Specialty Carbon Black net sales reached $646.3 million in 2024.

You should note the specific focus within the Specialty segment:

• Electric Vehicle (EV) battery and high-voltage cable producers: Qualifications are in place with leading supply chain players in both the high-voltage wire and cable market and the battery energy storage space, supported by data center demand growth.
• Manufacturers of coatings, printing inks, and high-end plastics: The toners and printing inks application area is seeing rapid growth, estimated at approximately 8% for 2024-2029.

The company derives a majority of its revenue geographically from Germany. Still, Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is expanding its presence in emerging economies, particularly in Asia and South America.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) - Canvas Business Model: Cost Structure

You're looking at the core expenses that drive Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.'s (OEC) operations as of late 2025. Honestly, for a company like OEC, the cost structure is dominated by inputs tied to the energy markets.

Raw Material Feedstock Costs and Gross Profit Impact

The single largest cost component for Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is definitely the raw material feedstock costs, which are oil-based, as you know. The timing of how these costs flow through to the customer is a major factor in short-term profitability. For instance, in the nine months ended September 30, 2025, gross profit decreased by $57.4 million, or 16.9%, year-over-year, driven in part by the unfavorable timing from the pass-through effect of raw material costs. This pass-through mechanism means that when oil prices fall, as they did leading up to Q3 2025, sales can drop even if volumes are up, because the lower input cost hasn't fully hit the sales price yet.

Manufacturing Fixed Costs and Optimization Efforts

Manufacturing fixed costs, which cover things like energy and labor across the global production footprint, are the next major area. Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is actively working to manage these overheads through targeted programs. You should note the specific savings target related to these efforts:

• Discrete cost reduction actions, like the 6% reduction in non-manufacturing headcount, are projected to yield approximately $6 million in annualized savings for 2025.
• These cost rationalization efforts are planned to achieve a run rate savings in mid-2026.
• The company is also optimizing its production network by planning to discontinue operations at three to five underperforming carbon black production lines in the Americas and EMEA by the end of 2025.

Significant Non-Cash Charges

One-off, non-cash events can heavily skew the reported cost structure in any given quarter. For the third quarter of 2025, Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. recognized a significant non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $80.8 million. This charge directly contributed to the reported net loss for the quarter. For context on the impact on the income statement for Q3 2025:

Metric	Amount (Q3 2025)
Net Sales	$450.9 million
Goodwill Impairment Charge	$80.8 million
Net Loss	$67.1 million
Adjusted EBITDA	$57.7 million

Capital Expenditures Focus

Capital expenditures (CapEx) are being managed to prioritize cash generation over new large-scale growth spending, though specific high-growth projects remain funded. The company is shifting its focus, expecting a sharply improving excess free cash flow (FCF) due to lower capital deployment.

• The under-construction facility at La Porte, Texas, is the primary current growth capital focus.
• The original investment for the La Porte facility was between $120 million to $140 million.
• This La Porte plant is expected to boost EBITDA by $40 million once fully operational, with a planned launch in Q2 2026.
• Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is projecting an annual reduction in capital expenditures by $50 million through 2026.

The goal here is clear: finish the key projects and then let the resulting capacity and efficiency drive cash flow, not further spending. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) - Canvas Business Model: Revenue Streams

You're looking at how Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (OEC) brings in its money, which is pretty straightforward: they sell carbon black, a material essential for tires, coatings, and plastics. The revenue picture for late 2025 shows some pressure, but the core streams remain the same.

The two main buckets for revenue are the Rubber Carbon Black segment and the Specialty Carbon Black segment. Honestly, the Rubber segment is the volume driver, but the Specialty side is where the higher margins typically live, though it faced volume headwinds recently.

Here's a look at the key financial numbers defining these revenue streams as of the third quarter of 2025:

Metric	Value	Context/Period
Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) Revenue	$1.82 Billion USD	As of late 2025 (or $1.83B)
Net Sales (Nine Months Ended Sept 30, 2025)	$1,395.0 million	Year-to-date performance
Net Sales (Q2 2025)	$466.4 million	Second Quarter result
Net Sales (Q3 2025 Preliminary)	$450.9 million	Third Quarter result
Full-Year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance	$220 million to $235 million	Revised full-year forecast
Preliminary Q3 2025 Adjusted EBITDA	$57.7 million	Third Quarter result (or ~$55 million)

The revenue streams are fundamentally tied to global industrial activity, especially tire manufacturing. You can see the impact of the market softness in the year-to-date figures compared to prior periods.

To give you a sense of the segment dynamics leading into the guidance revision, consider the Q2 2025 volume performance:

• Rubber Carbon Black segment volume growth: 6.9% year over year.
• Specialty Carbon Black segment volume decline: 7.8% year over year.
• The overall revenue decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was primarily due to the pass-through of lower oil prices.
• The Specialty segment faced challenges from an adverse mix in Q3.

The company is definitely leaning on operational improvements to support profitability, given the revenue environment. They are prioritizing free cash flow generation, which is a direct consequence of managing these revenue-generating operations effectively.