Commenting on the third quarter results, Patrick S. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, said,
“As anticipated, this quarter was a substantial improvement over the prior quarter, although the recovery in some of our businesses has been slower than we had hoped. Sales and operating income grew sequentially across all business units and regions, and we again generated excellent cash flow while continuing to fund our key organic growth projects.
Performance Chemicals delivered very strong results with sales growing year over year. Along with gross margin improvement, operating income increased 33 percent over the same period in 2019. We expect to see increased customer sales in chemistries that are more natural, mild and require less single use packaging. We believe that we are well positioned to support our customers in their drive to deliver these new technologically advanced products to consumers.
In Fuel Specialties, global fuel demand increased from the second quarter low point. Operating income was down significantly compared to 2019 but gross margins were within our expected range. Key drivers of our Fuel Specialties segment such as automotive, trucking and aviation fuel demand are still below 2019 levels but are expected to continue improving as we move through the fourth quarter and into 2021.
In Oilfield Services, growth in production and drag reducing agent sales helped offset a delayed recovery in US completions. Sequential operating results improved substantially as a result of increased sales, gross margins returning to their expected range, and our focus on cost control. We feel confident that we will achieve strong operating leverage as oilfield and midstream activity increases.
We delivered excellent cash flow which allowed us to repay all our external bank debt in the quarter and maintain cash on the balance sheet.”
Revenues in Fuel Specialties were $120.0 million for the quarter down 17 percent from last year. Volumes were down by 12 percent reflecting the reduction in fuel demand and there was a negative price/mix effect of 5 percent with negligible currency impact. Gross margins of 33.6 percent were within our expected range but down 3.9 points from a strong prior year comparative quarter. Operating income was $22.2 million down from $31.1 million a year ago. Sequentially operating income improved by $17.5 million over the second quarter of this year.
In Performance Chemicals, revenues of $102.0 million were up 2 percent from $99.9 million a year ago as an increase in volumes of 5 percent and a positive currency impact of 3 percent offset an adverse price/mix of 6 percent. Gross margins improved to 23.5 percent up 0.9 percentage points on the same quarter in 2019. Operating income was up by 33 percent from last year at $12.4 million.
In Oilfield Services, revenues of $43.1 million were down by 64 percent on the third quarter of 2019, driven by low levels of customer activity in US completions. Gross margins were 33.4 percent down slightly from 33.9 percent in the prior year. This translated into an operating loss of $4.5 million compared to an operating income of $10.0 million in the same quarter last year. Sequentially operating results improved by $7.9 million over the second quarter of this year.
Corporate costs for the quarter were $13.3 million, similar to the $13.0 million recorded a year ago.
The effective tax rate for the quarter was 37.1 percent compared to 20.4 percent last year primarily due to the change in the U.K. tax rate. The adjusted effective tax rate was 23.3 percent compared to 21.8 percent last year as a consequence of the geographical location of taxable profits.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter was $55.5 million, compared to $40.0 million a year ago. As of September 30, 2020, Innospec had $66.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, and finance lease debt of $0.6 million, resulting in a net cash position of $66.0 million.
Mr. Williams concluded,
“We remain focused in all our businesses on helping our customers innovate the next generation of products that are intended to drive growth in the post Covid world.
In Performance Chemicals, we plan to continue to invest in global capacity to produce our leading mild and natural home and personal care products as well as to advance our position in the agricultural, mining and construction end-markets. We believe that consumer preferences for natural and environmentally friendly products have further strengthened since the onset of the pandemic.