D&L Industries optimistic on H2 2026 after 8% profit growth in H1

Chemicals and food ingredients giant D&L Industries Inc. on Wednesday expressed optimism on a positive second half of 2026 after booking higher profits in the January to June period. At a virtual press briefing, D&L president and CEO Alvin Lao said the company posted an 8% net income growth to P1.5 billion in the first six months of the year, despite the economic challenges posed by the Middle East crisis. “In the last couple of weeks, the traffic seems to have returned. There are a lot of people in restaurants and malls. So, it seems like it (consumer spending) is coming back a little. So, that's a sign. It looks like the consumer economy and our food ingredients business as well is getting better,” said Lao. “Meanwhile, the gradual normalization of coconut oil prices is a welcome development. Our Food Ingredients business delivered a significant turnaround in the second quarter of 2026, which we believe signals that earnings have likely bottomed and reached an inflection point. As raw material costs stabilize and our portfolio optimization initiatives continue to gain traction, we are optimistic about the segment’s ability to deliver more stable and improved profitability moving forward,” he added. However, the D&L chief said that 2026 remains a challenging year, marked by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, elevated inflation, and higher interest rates. “Despite these headwinds, the company was able to grow its earnings by 8% in the first half of the year. The diversified nature of our business, coupled with the essential nature of our products, has enabled us to navigate volatility with resilience. In many ways, periods of disruption—particularly those affecting global supply chains—have created opportunities for us to further strengthen our position as a reliable partner to our customers,” Lao said. “These situations allow us to demonstrate the value we bring through our differentiated products, technical capabilities, and ability to ensure business continuity for our customers. Together, these strengths continue to deepen customer relationships and reinforce our competitive position in the marketplace,” he added. —LDF, GMA News