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Investing.com -- Moody’s Ratings has downgraded Huntsman (NYSE:HUN) International LLC’s senior unsecured ratings to Ba1 from Baa3, while maintaining a negative outlook.
The rating agency cited reduced earnings, elevated debt leverage, and limited operational and financial flexibility as key factors behind the downgrade. Moody’s also assigned a Ba1 Corporate Family Rating, a Ba1-PD Probability of Default Rating, and an SGL-2 Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating to Huntsman Corporation.
Governance considerations played a significant role in the rating action, with Moody’s specifically pointing to Huntsman’s large dividend payments despite ongoing earnings weakness as adding to its financial strain.
The chemical company has faced a significant downturn in the commodity chemical sector over the last three years, resulting in earnings erosion. Demand recovery prospects remain unclear due to weak construction and automotive demand amid high interest rates in the US, sluggish property sector in China, and subdued industrial activities in Europe.
According to Moody’s, escalating trade tensions have dampened business sentiment and slowed customer orders in the seasonally strongest second quarter, making 2025 likely to be another year of earnings decline for Huntsman. While a demand pickup in 2026 appears likely given the cyclical nature of MDI, maleic anhydride, and epoxy resins, price competition and suboptimal plant utilization are expected to persist.
The rating agency noted that Huntsman’s adjusted debt/EBITDA rose to 5.7x at the end of March 2025, up from 2.1x at the end of 2022, mainly due to earnings erosion. Moody’s now expects this ratio to remain volatile, averaging around 4.0x based on its updated view of through-the-cycle earnings.
Huntsman’s SGL-2 Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating is supported by approximately $1 billion in liquidity, including $334 million cash on hand and $924 million availability under its $1.2 billion Revolving Credit Facility as of March 31, 2025.
The negative outlook reflects Huntsman’s stressed credit metrics, negative free cash flow, and uncertain trajectory of earnings recovery amid a volatile macroeconomic environment.
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