Gross profit
Gross profit of $83.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, increased $15.8 million, or 23%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. Gross margin increased 280 basis points to 32.1% of net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 29.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The improvement in gross margin is primarily due to favorable product mix and lower input costs.
Animal Health gross profit increased $13.7 million due to higher sales volume. Mineral Nutrition gross profit increased $0.9 million, driven by higher sales volume, partially offset by a decrease in average selling prices. Performance Products gross profit increased $1.1 million primarily as a result of higher demand.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) of $65.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, decreased $2.7 million, or 4%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. SG&A for the three months ended September 30, 2024 included $3.4 million for acquisition-related costs, $0.4 million of costs associated with Phibro Forward income growth initiatives, and $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense. SG&A for the three months ended September 30, 2023 included $10.4 million of pension settlement cost and $0.1 million of stock-based compensation expense. Excluding these items, SG&A increased $3.9 million.
Animal Health SG&A increased $2.2 million, primarily as a result of an increase in employee-related costs, due in part to support new product launches and business activities related to the Acquisition, and partially offset by lower research and development expense. Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products SG&A were comparable to the prior year. Corporate costs increased by $1.7 million due to an increase in employee-related costs.
Interest expense, net
Interest expense, net of $7.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, increased by $3.1 million, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by costs associated with the refinancing of the Company’s debt, higher average credit facility borrowings, and higher interest rates in the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Foreign currency losses, net
Foreign currency losses, net for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were $0.4 million, as compared to $6.7 million of net losses for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Current period losses were driven by fluctuations in certain currencies related to the U.S. dollar.
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
The provision for income taxes was $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, on pre-tax income of $9.6 million, compared to a benefit for income taxes of $3.9 million on a pre-tax loss of $12.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The effective income tax rate was 27.5% and 33.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effective income tax rate in the current year included (i) a $0.3 million expense from changes in uncertain tax positions related to prior years and (ii) certain charges, including acquisition transaction costs, foreign currency losses, and stock-based compensation, which had lower tax benefit rates.
The benefit for income taxes during the three months ended September 30, 2023, included (i) a $1.2 million benefit related to the determination of whether a foreign tax is eligible for a U.S. foreign tax credit related to our fiscal year 2023, based on IRS guidance provided subsequent to our fiscal year-end, (ii) a $0.2 million expense from changes in uncertain tax positions related to prior years, and (iii) certain charges, including acquisition-related costs, foreign currency losses, and stock-based compensation, which had lower tax benefit rates.
Excluding the items discussed above, the effective income tax rate was 22.8% and 27.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the improvement primarily driven by a favorable mix of international earnings.