DuPont de Nemours, Inc. held a groundbreaking ceremony on November 18, 2025 for a new MOLYKOTE specialty lubricants manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China. The facility is slated to be operational by early 2027 and will expand DuPont’s capacity to serve the transportation, industrial, energy, and electronics markets in China, a key growth region for the company.
DuPont’s Q3 2025 earnings, released on November 6, 2025, provide context for the investment. Net sales rose 7% to $3.1 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $2.9 billion, while GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations fell to $0.70 from $1.02 a year earlier, below the $1.16 consensus. Adjusted EPS, however, topped the $1.04 estimate at $1.09, largely due to disciplined cost management and a favorable mix shift toward higher‑margin segments. Operating EBITDA increased 6% to $840 million, driven by organic growth and productivity gains, but the GAAP income from continuing operations dropped 32% to $308 million because of higher separation transaction costs and the absence of prior‑year gains. Management raised full‑year operating EBITDA guidance for the “new DuPont” to $1.6 billion, but lowered Q4 2025 revenue and EPS guidance, signaling caution about near‑term demand.
The new plant in Zhangjiagang is part of DuPont’s broader global expansion strategy for MOLYKOTE. By locating the facility in the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone, DuPont can reduce lead times, enhance local formulation capabilities, and strengthen collaboration with Chinese customers. The investment reflects confidence in the long‑term potential of China’s automotive, electronics, and industrial sectors, and aligns with the company’s portfolio realignment that includes the separation of its Electronics business and the divestiture of its Aramids unit. The plant is expected to create local jobs and support the company’s goal of delivering high‑performance materials worldwide.
Management emphasized the strategic importance of the new facility. Vice President and General Manager of DuPont™ MOLYKOTE®, Eugenio Toccalino, said the groundbreaking marks “a new chapter in our journey to better serve our customers in China, innovate faster, and be a partner of choice for solving wear and friction challenges across industries.” Regional President Yi Zhang added that the plant will “enable us to address current needs and future trends for specialty lubricants, reinforcing our commitment to deliver faster, more resilient, and locally tailored solutions.”
DuPont’s Q3 earnings highlight a mixed outlook: while revenue and adjusted earnings beat expectations, the lower Q4 guidance reflects concerns about near‑term demand and the impact of separation costs. The new plant, however, signals a long‑term bet on China’s growth and the MOLYKOTE brand’s ability to capture demand in transportation, industrial, energy, and electronics markets. Analysts noted that the company’s focus on high‑margin specialty lubricants and strategic investments in key growth regions may offset short‑term headwinds, but the lower quarterly guidance remains a point of caution for investors.
The announcement of the new plant is a significant milestone for DuPont’s “new DuPont” strategy, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding its specialty lubricants footprint in China while navigating the challenges highlighted in its Q3 earnings report. The investment aligns with DuPont’s broader portfolio transformation and positions the company to capitalize on long‑term growth opportunities in high‑performance materials.
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