collective decline!

5.
AkzoNobel

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 were EUR 2,242 million, down 3% year-on-year (at constant exchange rates); operating income was EUR 173 million, up 154% year-on-year
.
Net sales for the full year of 2019 were 9.
276 billion euros, basically the same as the previous year; operating income increased by 39% year-on-year to 841 million euros; driven by pricing initiatives and cost savings, adjusted operating income increased by 24% year-on-year, reached 991 million euros
.

Thierry Vanlancker, CEO of AkzoNobel, said: "Our full-year 2019 results show that we have made good progress despite headwinds from rising raw material costs and weakening end-market demand
.

We are on track to deliver on our commitments, with the sale of the Specialty Chemicals business returning €6.
5 billion to shareholders
.
Our €50 million wood paint factory in the US has officially opened, completing the acquisition of Mapaero to strengthen our global position in aerospace coatings
.
"

6.
Corning

In the fourth quarter of 2019, GAAP sales were US$2.
82 billion and core sales were US$2.
85 billion; for the full year, GAAP sales were US$11.
5 billion and core sales were US$11.
7 billion
.
Growth in three businesses in the company's strong business portfolio mitigated the impact of market instability on other businesses, resulting in a 2% increase in full-year sales
.
Through 2023, Corning expects to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 6% to 8% in sales
.

In an environment of mid-single-digit declines in the overall automotive market, Environmental Technologies' full-year sales rose 16% thanks to the innovative application of Corning's proprietary gasoline particulate filter (GPF)
.
While overall smartphone market sales fell 3%, specialty materials sales rose 8% for the full year, thanks to innovative use of industry-leading cover glass
.
In 2020, the specialty materials and environmental technology businesses are expected to continue to grow
.

7.
Clariant

In local currencies, sales from continuing operations increased by 3% to CHF 4,399 million in 2019
.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations remained unchanged at CHF 740 million, corresponding to a margin of 16.
8%
.
Compared to 2018, the overall net amount decreased from CHF 356 million to CHF 38 million
.

In local currencies, Clariant's catalysts and natural resources business continued to grow sales throughout 2019, driven by positive contributions from petrochemicals and syngas, as well as significant expansion in oil and mining services and a small amount of functional minerals growth
.
However, weakness in the electrical and electrical and automotive industries negatively impacted the company's sales in the additive business
.

8.
Honeywell

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 were $9.
496 billion
.
Full-year sales in 2019 were US$36.
709 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5%, of which the Performance Materials and Technology Group achieved US$10.
834 billion
.
The company is expected to continue growing in 2020, with sales of $36.
7 billion to $37.
8 billion and a segmental profit margin of 21%
.

9.
PPG 

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 were approximately $3.
7 billion, an increase of approximately 1% year-on-year; net profit from continuing operations was $295 million, and adjusted net profit was $313 million
.
In 2019, net sales from continuing operations were approximately US$15.
1 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.
5%; net profit was US$1.
2 billion
.

MichaelH.
McGarry, chairman and chief executive officer of PPG, said that despite the negative impact of global manufacturing weakness on the company's multiple industrial end-user markets, it still achieved strong performance; Several acquisitions including specialties, Dexmet and Texstars; the functional coatings business is expected to continue to maintain organic growth; the industrial coatings business is expected to achieve sales growth again in the second half of 2020
.
 

10.
Celanese

2019 GAAP earnings per diluted share were $6.
89 and adjusted earnings per share were $9.
53
.

Net sales in 2019 were US$6.
3 billion (2018: US$7.
15 billion), of which engineering materials reached US$2.
4 billion, down 8% from 2018; acetate tow reached US$640 million, prices remained stable year-on-year, and sales were year-on-year A decrease of 2%, mainly due to the continued gradual decline in market demand; the acetyl product chain reached US$3.
4 billion, a decrease of 16% compared to 2018
.

Operating profit for the full year of 2019 reached US$834 million (US$1.
334 billion in 2018), of which US$450 million for engineering materials, US$52 million for acetate tow and US$678 million for the acetyl product chain
.

11.
Eastman 

In the fourth quarter of 2019, Eastman sales revenue was $2.
205 billion, EBIT was $62 million, and adjusted EBIT was $279 million; Eastman’s sales revenue for the full year of 2019 was $9.
273 billion (2018 $10.
151 billion for the year) EBIT of $1.
12 billion (2018: $1.
552 billion) and adjusted EBIT of $1.
389 billion (2018: $1.
633 billion)
.

Among them, the sales revenue of additives and functional materials decreased, mainly due to the decline in sales volume, lower sales prices and unfavorable changes in exchange rates
.
Specialty materials sales revenue decreased due to a slight decrease in sales volume and unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates
.
The decline in sales revenue of chemical intermediates was primarily due to lower sales prices across the business as a result of lower raw material prices and increased competition
.
The decrease in sales revenue was mainly due to a decrease in acetate tow sales
.
The company is expected to continue its slow growth in 2020, at a rate similar to 2019
.

12.
Huntsman

Full-year 2019 achieved net income of $598 million (2018: $650 million)
.
Adjusted EBITDA was $846 million (2018: $1,161 million)
.
The biggest achievement in 2019 was the divestiture of the $2 billion chemical intermediates and surfactants business, enhancing the ability to focus resources on developing core downstream businesses
.

Huntsman also acquired the remaining 50 percent of the maleic anhydride joint venture from Sasol Chemical and opened a new polyurethane compounding plant in Dubai
.
In early December, it announced the acquisition of Icynene-Lapolla, which will double the size of the currently high-growth spray foam business
.
On these foundations, entering 2020, the downstream business will develop steadily and there is room for continued growth.
The opportunities will outweigh the challenges
.