Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP): Analyse de Pestle [Jan-2025 MISE À JOUR]

Dans le monde dynamique des ressources minérales, Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) navigue dans un paysage complexe de défis et d'opportunités mondiales. Des mines riches en sel d'Amérique du Nord aux marchés stratégiques d'engrais au Royaume-Uni, cette analyse complète des pilons dévoile le réseau complexe de facteurs politiques, économiques, sociologiques, technologiques, juridiques et environnementaux qui façonnent la trajectoire stratégique de l'entreprise. Plongez dans une exploration éclairante de la façon dont le CMP confronte les pressions mondiales à multiples facettes tout en maintenant son avantage concurrentiel dans un écosystème d'extraction minérale de plus en plus volatile et d'alimentation agricole.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - Analyse du pilon: facteurs politiques

Politiques commerciales internationales affectant les importations / exportations du sel et des engrais

En 2023, les minéraux de la boussole ont été confrontés à des défis de politique commerciale importants avec des tarifs allant de 15 à 25% Sur les exportations de sel et d'engrais vers les marchés clés.

Pays	Tarif d'importation (%)	Volume d'exportation (tonnes métriques)
Canada	18.5	412,000
Royaume-Uni	22.3	287,500
Mexique	16.7	356,000

Subventions gouvernementales potentielles pour la production de minéraux agricoles

Les subventions gouvernementales sur la production de minéraux agricoles en 2024 comprennent:

• United States Department of Agriculture Subvention: 45 millions de dollars
• Programme canadien des minéraux agricoles: 22,5 millions de dollars
• Schéma de soutien minéral agricole britannique: 18,3 millions de livres sterling

Les tensions géopolitiques ont un impact sur la chaîne d'approvisionnement en Amérique du Nord et au Royaume-Uni

Les tensions géopolitiques ont créé des perturbations de la chaîne d'approvisionnement avec Coût logistique supplémentaire estimé de 7,2 millions de dollars pour les minéraux de la boussole en 2023-2024.

Région	Impact des perturbations de la chaîne d'approvisionnement (%)	Coûts logistiques supplémentaires ($)
Amérique du Nord	14.6	4,350,000
Royaume-Uni	9.3	2,850,000

Modifications réglementaires dans les secteurs de l'exploitation minière et de l'extraction des minéraux

Modifications réglementaires clés affectant les minéraux de la boussole en 2024:

• Les coûts de conformité environnementale ont augmenté de 3,6 millions de dollars
• Nouvelles exigences de permis d'extraction au Canada ajoutant 4 à 6 mois aux processus d'extraction
• Règlements plus stricts sur les émissions exigeant 5,2 millions de dollars de mises à niveau d'équipement

Impact financier du facteur politique total estimé à 16,9 millions de dollars pour l'exercice 2024.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - Analyse du pilon: facteurs économiques

Fluctuant les prix des produits de base pour les marchés du sel et des engrais

Au quatrième trimestre 2023, Compass Minerals a rapporté la dynamique des prix des matières premières suivants:

Produit	Prix ​​moyen (2023)	Volatilité des prix
Rock Salt	65,42 $ par tonne	±8.3%
Sulfate d'engrais en potasse	845 $ par tonne	±12.7%

Secteur agricole Santé économique

Indicateurs économiques agricoles ayant un impact sur la demande:

Métrique	Valeur 2023
Revenu agricole américain	116,1 milliards de dollars
Croissance mondiale du PIB agricole	2.4%

Volatilité des taux de change

Taux de change entre les opérations américaines et britanniques:

Paire de devises	2023 Taux moyen	Plage de volatilité
USD / GBP	0.79	±3.6%

Impact du ralentissement économique mondial

Indicateurs de ralentissement économique:

Indicateur économique	Valeur 2023
Croissance mondiale du PIB	2.9%
Croissance de la production industrielle	1.7%
Réduction de la consommation minérale	-1.2%

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - Analyse du pilon: facteurs sociaux

Conscience croissante des consommateurs des pratiques agricoles durables

Selon le Rapport sur l'agriculture Global Sustainable 2023, 68% des consommateurs agricoles hiérarchisent les produits d'engrais minéraux responsables de l'environnement. Le portefeuille de produits durables de Compass Minerals représente 35% de leurs revenus totaux de segment agricole.

Catégorie de produits durables	2023 Part de marché	Indice de préférence des consommateurs
Engrais minéraux à faible teneur	22%	7.4/10
Nutrition minérale de précision	13%	6.9/10

Chart démographique affectant la demande minérale agricole

La Division de la population des Nations Unies rapporte une réduction mondiale de la main-d'œuvre agricole de 3,2% par an, ce qui concerne directement la demande minérale. La clientèle de Compass Minerals en Amérique du Nord a connu un changement démographique de 12,5% vers des opérations agricoles plus grandes et plus avancées technologiquement.

Segment démographique	Taille moyenne de la ferme	Consommation de produits minéraux
Petites fermes (<100 acres)	62 acres	1,2 tonnes / an
Grandes fermes (> 500 acres)	1 245 acres	8,7 tonnes / an

Accent croissant sur la responsabilité environnementale dans l'extraction minérale

Métriques environnementales, sociales et de gouvernance (ESG) Indiquer Compass Minerals a réduit les émissions de carbone de 27% dans les processus d'extraction minérale depuis 2020. La société a investi 42,3 millions de dollars dans les technologies d'extraction durable en 2023.

Métrique environnementale	Valeur 2020	Valeur 2023	Pourcentage de réduction
Émissions de carbone	215 000 tonnes métriques	156 750 tonnes métriques	27%
Utilisation de l'eau	4,2 millions de gallons	3,1 millions de gallons	26%

Défis sur le marché du travail dans les industries de la mine et de la transformation des minéraux

Le Bureau of Labor Statistics rapporte une pénurie de main-d'œuvre qualifiée de 5,7% dans les industries de transformation des minéraux. Compass Minerals connaît un taux de rotation de la main-d'œuvre de 14,3%, avec un coût de recrutement moyen de 18 500 $ par employé spécialisé.

Catégorie de main-d'œuvre	Main-d'œuvre actuelle	Pourcentage d'écart de compétence	Salaire annuel moyen
Techniciens de traitement des minéraux	1 250 employés	8.2%	$72,400
Ingénieurs géologiques	340 employés	12.5%	$94,600

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - Analyse du pilon: facteurs technologiques

Technologies avancées d'extraction et de traitement des minéraux

Compass Minerals a investi 22,3 millions de dollars dans la recherche et le développement technologiques en 2023. La société a déployé une technologie de membrane sélective d'ions avancée pour le traitement de la potasse avec une efficacité d'extraction de 97,4%.

Technologie	Investissement ($ m)	Amélioration de l'efficacité
Membrane sélective ionique	8.7	97.4%
Tri minéral automatisé	5.6	92.1%
Techniques de lixiviation avancées	4.2	89.5%

Transformation numérique dans la gestion de la chaîne d'approvisionnement

Compass Minerals a implémenté la plate-forme numérique SAP S / 4HANA, réduisant les coûts opérationnels de la chaîne d'approvisionnement de 16,2% en 2023. Les systèmes de suivi en temps réel couvrent 94,7% des opérations logistiques.

Solution numérique	Réduction des coûts	Couverture
Plateforme SAP S / 4HANA	16.2%	100%
Suivi de la logistique IoT	12.5%	94.7%

Automatisation et mise en œuvre de l'IA dans les opérations minières

Compass Minerals a déployé 37 véhicules miniers autonomes en 2023, réduisant les coûts de main-d'œuvre humaine de 22,8%. Les systèmes de maintenance prédictive dirigés par l'IA ont diminué les temps d'arrêt de l'équipement de 18,6%.

Technologie d'automatisation	Nombre d'unités	Réduction des coûts
Véhicules minières autonomes	37	22.8%
Entretien prédictif de l'IA	12 systèmes	18.6%

Investissement dans des technologies de production durables et efficaces

Compass Minerals a alloué 34,5 millions de dollars aux technologies durables en 2023. Les technologies de recyclage de l'eau ont obtenu 76,3% de conservation de l'eau à travers les opérations minières.

Technologie durable	Investissement ($ m)	Métrique d'efficacité
Systèmes de recyclage de l'eau	12.6	76,3% de conservation
Traitement à faible teneur en carbone	8.9	45,2% de réduction des émissions
Intégration d'énergie renouvelable	13.0	62,7% de consommation d'énergie verte

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - Analyse du pilon: facteurs juridiques

Règlements sur la conformité environnementale dans les secteurs miniers

Compass Minerals fait face à des exigences de conformité environnementale strictes dans plusieurs juridictions. Depuis 2024, la société doit respecter:

Règlement	Coût de conformité	Investissement annuel
Règlements sur la loi sur l'air propre	3,2 millions de dollars	1,7 million de dollars
Permis de décharge d'eau	2,8 millions de dollars	1,5 million de dollars
Protocoles de gestion des déchets	2,5 millions de dollars	1,3 million de dollars

Normes de sécurité au travail pour l'extraction minérale

La société met en œuvre des protocoles de sécurité rigoureux avec les mesures suivantes:

• Taux d'incident enregistrable de l'OSHA: 1,6 pour 200 000 heures de travail
• Investissements totaux de conformité en matière de sécurité: 4,9 millions de dollars par an
• Heures de formation en sécurité par employé: 48 heures / an

Risques potentiels en matière de litige dans les opérations de traitement des minéraux

Catégorie de litige	Exposition financière potentielle	Cas actifs
Réclamations de dommages environnementaux	12,3 millions de dollars	3 cas
Contests de sécurité en milieu de travail	5,7 millions de dollars	2 cas
Allégations de violation du contrat	8,2 millions de dollars	4 cas

Protection de la propriété intellectuelle pour les technologies d'extraction

Répartition du portefeuille de brevets:

• Brevets actifs totaux: 37
• Dépenses de protection des brevets: 2,1 millions de dollars par an
• Couverture des brevets géographiques: États-Unis, Canada, Brésil, Chili

Catégorie de brevet	Nombre de brevets	Valeur technologique
Processus d'extraction	12	18,5 millions de dollars
Conception de l'équipement	15	22,3 millions de dollars
Traitement chimique	10	15,7 millions de dollars

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - Analyse du pilon: facteurs environnementaux

Engagement à réduire l'empreinte carbone de la production minérale

Les minéraux de la boussole ont rapporté un 23% de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre des lunettes 1 et 2 à partir des niveaux de référence 2018 en 2022. La société a investi 12,3 millions de dollars dans les initiatives de durabilité environnementale au cours de l'exercice 2022.

Année	Réduction des émissions de carbone	Investissement dans la durabilité ($ m)
2018	Base de base	8.5
2020	15%	10.2
2022	23%	12.3

Stratégies de conservation de l'eau et des terres

En 2022, Compass Minerals a mis en œuvre des programmes de recyclage de l'eau qui Réduction de la consommation d'eau de 17,6% à travers leurs opérations minières. Le recyclage de l'eau totale était de 3,2 millions de mètres cubes.

Emplacement	Eau recyclée (mètres cubes)	Pourcentage de réduction
Installations de production de sel	1,8 million	12%
Sites de production minérale	1,4 million	22%

Pratiques minières durables et réadaptation environnementale

Minéraux Compass alloués 7,6 millions de dollars pour la réhabilitation des terres et la restauration de l'écosystème En 2022. Les efforts de remise en état couvraient 124 acres sur plusieurs sites miniers.

Emplacement du site	Acres réhabilités	Coût de restauration ($)
Kansas Salt Mine	45	2,9 millions
Mine de sel de l'Ontario	39	2,4 millions
Autres sites minéraux	40	2,3 millions

Impact du changement climatique sur l'extraction minérale et les marchés agricoles

La variabilité climatique a un impact directement sur le segment des produits agricoles des minéraux, avec Ventes de nutriments de culture subissant une fluctuation de 6,2% en raison de l'évolution des conditions agricoles en 2022.

Segment de produit	Impact des ventes (%)	Variation des revenus ($ m)
Nutriments cultivés	6.2%	18.7
Produits de sel	3.8%	12.3

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

Public demand for road safety and clear winter highways drives the stable, essential salt business.

The core of Compass Minerals International, Inc.'s business-deicing salt-is fundamentally tied to a non-negotiable social demand: public safety and commerce continuity. You see this stability reflected in the company's strong sales volumes, which are largely independent of economic cycles because governments must keep roads clear.

For fiscal year 2025, the demand for road safety translates into a massive, predictable market for the Salt segment. The company's updated outlook projects highway deicing salt sales volumes to be between 8,800 and 9,000 thousand tons. This essential nature anchors the business, providing a solid revenue base that helps offset volatility in other segments, like Plant Nutrition.

Here's the quick math on their salt business for the year.

Salt Segment Sales Volume (Fiscal 2025 Range)	Amount (Thousands of Tons)
Highway Deicing Salt	8,800 - 9,000
Consumer and Industrial Salt	1,900 - 2,000
Total Salt Sales Volume	10,700 - 11,000

The public expects clear roads, and Compass Minerals is a key supplier in that social contract.

Fiscal 2025 ESG goals target an 85% voluntary retention rate for employees.

Talent retention is a critical social factor, especially in specialized industries like mining and mineral production, so the company has set a clear goal to be an employer of choice. For fiscal 2025, Compass Minerals is targeting a voluntary retention rate of at least 85% for its employees. This metric is a direct measure of employee satisfaction and the effectiveness of their development programs.

A high retention rate, particularly one above 85%, reduces the cost of recruiting and training new staff, which defintely impacts the bottom line. It also signals a stable, experienced workforce, which is crucial for safe and efficient operations, especially in their deep-shaft mining sites like Goderich.

• Maintain voluntary employee retention at $\mathbf{85\%}$ or higher.
• Provide access to over 500 learning modules for company-sponsored training.
• Engage at least $\mathbf{85\%}$ of salaried, exempt employees in professional development.

These are concrete steps to strengthen their human capital foundation.

The company is executing a workforce reduction as part of its cost-saving and enterprise optimization initiatives.

While focusing on retention, the company is simultaneously undergoing a significant restructuring to streamline operations and improve profitability. In March 2025, Compass Minerals announced a major cost-cutting measure, eliminating over 10% of its corporate workforce and winding down its fire retardant business, Fortress North America.

The combined actions resulted in the termination of nearly 50 full-time corporate and Fortress employee positions. This move is designed to refocus the business on the core Salt and Plant Nutrition segments, helping to boost free cash flow and reduce debt. The estimated run-rate cost savings from these actions are projected to be between $11 million and $13 million for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2024 (as if the reductions were implemented then). This is a tough but necessary step to become a leaner, more profitable company.

Focus on safety is critical, with a 2025 goal to achieve a 10% annual reduction in Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR).

Safety is the number one social responsibility in the mining industry, and Compass Minerals has set an aggressive target for fiscal 2025. Their goal is to achieve a 10% annual reduction in the Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) compared to the previous three-fiscal-year average. This metric tracks all work-related injuries requiring more than first aid, making it a key indicator of operational risk and employee well-being.

The company is making measurable progress. For fiscal 2024, the Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) was already down to 1.28, representing a 16% reduction over the previous three-fiscal-year average. Furthermore, their Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) of 0.82 in fiscal 2024 was the best known in company history, showing a decline in the severity of incidents. Continuous improvement in safety is non-negotiable for long-term social license to operate.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

Strategic shift focuses on operational optimization and cost structure improvement across existing mines.

You need to understand that Compass Minerals International, Inc.'s (CMP) technology strategy has fundamentally shifted. The focus is no longer on developing entirely new, high-tech mineral streams; it's a 'back-to-basics' approach centered on maximizing cash flow from the core Salt and Plant Nutrition assets. This means technology investment is now strictly channeled toward operational optimization (making things run better) and structural cost reduction.

The goal is simple: squeeze more profit out of every ton produced. This strategic pivot, which became clear in fiscal 2025, is driving tangible results, particularly in the Salt business where all-in product costs per ton declined 2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the prior year. That's real money. The technology here is less about R&D breakthroughs and more about enterprise optimization (EO) initiatives-things like advanced data analytics for predictive maintenance, process control systems, and supply chain visibility tools to reduce waste and transport costs.

The planned Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) project, a potential high-tech growth area, was defintely canceled in 2024.

The biggest technological risk and opportunity was the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) project at the Ogden, Utah facility, and that high-tech growth avenue is now closed. The company officially canceled the project in February 2024. This decision was a clear signal to the market that CMP is de-risking and prioritizing its balance sheet over speculative, capital-intensive growth.

The cancellation came after the company had already invested over $77 million in the project, which was ultimately deemed to have inadequate risk-adjusted returns, primarily due to increased regulatory risks surrounding the Great Salt Lake. This pivot eliminates a potential source of high-margin, battery-grade lithium carbonate, but it also removes a significant capital drain and a complex technological execution risk from the near-term horizon.

Here's the quick math on the strategic shift:

Project Status	Impact on Technology Strategy	Financial Impact (FY2024-2025)
Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)	Canceled (Feb 2024)	Over $77 million invested and expensed.
Operational Optimization (Core Mining)	Primary focus (2025)	Salt all-in product costs per ton declined 2% (FY2025 Q3).

Use of technology is currently centered on mining efficiency and reducing all-in product costs per ton.

The technology budget is now a cost-saving tool, not a growth engine. For the Salt business, which includes the world's largest operating underground salt mine in Goderich, Ontario, the technological focus is on improving the efficiency of extraction and logistics.

For the Plant Nutrition business, the core technology challenge is the complex solar evaporation process at the Ogden facility. The current technological investment is concentrated on the:

• Restoration and optimization of the pond complex to ensure consistent brine flow and concentration.
• Targeted capital improvements to increase production reliability and yield.
• Process control systems to manage the highly variable nature of solar evaporation and maximize sulfate of potash (SOP) output.

This is a low-glamour, high-impact use of technology. It's about making the existing, massive infrastructure work more reliably and cheaply, which directly translates to better Adjusted EBITDA margins.

Investment in new technology is limited by the reduced $\mathbf{\$75}$ million to $\mathbf{\$85}$ million capital expenditure budget.

The most concrete constraint on future technological expansion is the company's fiscal 2025 capital expenditure (CapEx) guidance. Management has significantly reduced the full-year CapEx range to between $75 million and $85 million. This is a deliberate reduction from the original guidance of $100 million to $110 million, showing an intense commitment to aligning CapEx with the cash generation performance of the business.

What this estimate hides is that nearly all of this reduced budget is earmarked for maintenance CapEx (sustaining the existing assets) and high-return, quick-payback operational efficiency projects. There is defintely little to no room for large-scale, transformative new technology development. The priority is debt reduction and free cash flow generation, which means technology spending is a means to an end: lower operating costs and higher asset utilization.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

You, as a decision-maker, need to understand that regulatory shifts are not just compliance headaches; they are direct costs and project killers. For Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP), the legal environment in 2025 has created significant, quantifiable financial impacts and forced the indefinite suspension of a key growth project, the lithium extraction in Utah.

New mining permit requirements in Canada have added 4-6 months to extraction processes, increasing lead times.

Operational efficiency is directly challenged by evolving Canadian regulatory requirements, particularly those impacting the Goderich Salt Mine, the world's largest underground salt mine. New mining permit requirements have effectively added a 4-6 month delay to certain extraction processes, which is a major headwind for the Salt segment's supply chain.

This extension of lead times forces the company to increase working capital tied up in inventory and complicates the logistics for the North American de-icing season. You can't afford an unexpected shortage when a major snowstorm hits. The operational impact is clear: a longer regulatory cycle means less flexibility in meeting market demand spikes.

The termination of the Fortress fire retardant business resulted in the recognition of intangible asset impairments in Q3 2025.

The legal and regulatory fallout from the Fortress fire retardant business, which faced issues with the U.S. Forest Service over corrosion concerns, led to its termination and a subsequent financial cleanup in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 (Q3 2025). This strategic exit, while aimed at refocusing on core Salt and Plant Nutrition segments, had a precise legal and accounting consequence.

The company recognized impairments of intangible assets related to the winding down of the Fortress fire retardant business in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2025. This move was part of a broader effort to streamline operations, which also included the sale of certain assets and intellectual property for net proceeds of $19.6 million in Q3 2025. This is a classic case of legal/regulatory risk translating into a non-cash charge on the balance sheet.

The company faced a loss from extinguishment of debt of $\mathbf{\$7.6}$ million in Q3 2025 following refinancing activities.

In Q3 2025, Compass Minerals completed refinancing activities to enhance its financial flexibility and strengthen its balance sheet. While a positive step for long-term debt management, these activities triggered a one-time legal and accounting charge. Specifically, the company recognized a loss from extinguishment of debt of $7.6 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

This loss was directly related to the redemption of a portion of the outstanding 6.75% senior unsecured notes and necessary modifications to the company's credit agreement. It's the price of cleaning up the capital structure, but you must account for it in your quarterly models.

Q3 2025 Financial Impact (Legal/Regulatory)	Amount (in millions)	Context
Loss from Extinguishment of Debt	$7.6	Refinancing of 6.75% senior unsecured notes and credit agreement modifications.
Net Proceeds from Fortress Asset Sale	$19.6	Proceeds from the sale of assets and intellectual property related to the fire retardant business exit.
Intangible Asset Impairment	Not a cash amount, but a non-cash charge.	Recognized due to the termination of the Fortress fire retardant business.

Utah state legislation (H.B. 513) introduced new rules for lithium extraction, creating regulatory uncertainty that halted the project.

The most significant legal risk to Compass Minerals' long-term growth strategy is the regulatory uncertainty surrounding its lithium extraction project on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The Utah State Legislature's passage of House Bill 513 (H.B. 513, Great Salt Lake Amendments) in March 2023, and the subsequent regulatory rulemaking, created new obstacles for lithium salt production.

This new legal framework prompted the company to indefinitely suspend any further investment in the project beyond already committed early-stage construction items. The lack of clarity on the new rules for mineral extraction, particularly concerning water consumption and environmental impact, has essentially stalled a potential source of future revenue and a key component of the company's diversification strategy. The project is on ice until the legal landscape is defintely clear.

• Monitor Utah's Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) rulemaking for H.B. 513.
• Assess the cost increase from the Canadian permit delays on the Salt segment's $220-229 million fiscal year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

Climate Change and Volatility in De-Icing Sales

The core of Compass Minerals' Salt business is directly tied to unpredictable weather, making climate change a significant near-term risk. Milder winters, a trend associated with climate change, historically slash demand for highway de-icing salt, which is a major revenue driver. Conversely, a strong winter can dramatically improve results, but you can't bet the farm on a snowstorm.

The volatility is clear in the fiscal 2025 results. Following one of the weakest winters in the prior year, stronger winter weather in January and February 2025 led to a massive drawdown of salt inventory. For the second quarter of fiscal 2025 alone, highway deicing sales volumes surged by 50.5%, reaching 4.58 million tons, compared to the prior-year period. This weather-driven demand helped the company achieve its inventory reduction goals.

Here's the quick math on the expected scale of the business, which is entirely dependent on the weather:

Fiscal 2025 Outlook	Sales Volumes (Thousands of Tons)	Revenue (Millions)
Highway Deicing (Salt Segment)	8,800 - 9,000	$1,000 - $1,040 (Total Salt Segment Revenue)
Total Salt Sales Volumes	10,700 - 11,000

What this estimate hides is the potential for a mild winter to push the actual volumes to the low end, crushing revenue and increasing inventory carrying costs. It's a weather-dependent business, plain and simple.

Significant Reduction in Salt Inventory in 2025

The unpredictability of weather directly impacts inventory management, which is a key environmental and operational concern. A strong winter is a good problem to have, as it quickly liquidates stored product. The stronger winter of fiscal 2025 drove a significant reduction in the company's North American highway deicing inventory.

Specifically, North American highway deicing inventory volumes were down a staggering 59% year-over-year in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The corresponding inventory values were also down 47%. This reduction was a strategic priority following the prior year's mild winter, allowing the company to optimize its production and inventory levels as it prepared for the 2025/2026 bid season.

Lithium Project Abandonment Due to Great Salt Lake Concerns

The company's ambitious plan to enter the North American battery supply chain through lithium extraction was ultimately abandoned due to environmental and regulatory pressure surrounding the Great Salt Lake. The primary concern was the potential impact on the lake's imperiled water supply and ecology, particularly given the lake's historically low elevation.

The project was already indefinitely suspended in November 2023, and then officially abandoned in February 2024, citing a significant increase in regulatory risks. This followed the passage of Utah's House Bill 513 (H.B. 513), which introduced new obstacles for lithium salt production and mandated water conservation measures. The company had already invested over $77 million in the project before pulling the plug. This is a clear example of environmental stewardship concerns translating directly into a massive capital loss and a shift in strategic focus.

Fiscal 2025 ESG Targets for Environmental Stewardship

Compass Minerals has set specific fiscal 2025 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets to go beyond mere compliance and actively mitigate its environmental footprint. These targets are part of their commitment to stewardship and were informed by a 2021 materiality assessment.

The company's Fiscal 2024 ESG Report, published in March 2025, detailed progress toward these goals, showing a clear commitment to reducing resource intensity.

Key environmental progress metrics reported against the fiscal 2021 baseline include:

• Combined Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions declined 5%.
• Freshwater withdrawal declined 53%.
• Waste to landfill declined 18%.

In April 2025, the company was recognized on USA Today's list of America's Climate Leaders 2025 for its strides in reducing carbon intensity. The focus now is on finalizing a new ESG materiality assessment in fiscal 2025 to inform the next phase of its sustainability strategy.