Ball ceased production at its Phoenix, Arizona aluminum beverage can manufacturing facility in the fourth quarter of 2022, and ceased production at its aluminum beverage can manufacturing facility in St. Paul, Minnesota in the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2023 Ball announced the planned closure of its aluminum beverage can manufacturing facility in Wallkill, New York.
Segment sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, were $238 million lower and $343 million lower, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2022. The decreases for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, were primarily due to decreased volumes and the pass through of lower aluminum prices, partially offset by the pass-through of inflationary costs.
Comparable operating earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, were $11 million higher and $20 million higher, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2022. The increase for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was primarily due to the pass-through of inflationary costs, fixed cost savings from rightsizing production through the facility actions noted above, lower depreciation expense associated with the third quarter 2022 revision of estimated useful lives and SG&A cost-out initiatives, partially offset by customer/product mix and decreased volumes. The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was primarily due to the pass-through of inflationary costs, fixed cost savings from rightsizing production through the facility actions noted above, income recognized from the termination of a long term power supply contract that offsets higher energy costs, lower depreciation expense associated with the third quarter 2022 revision of estimated useful lives and SG&A cost-out initiatives, partially offset by customer/product mix and decreased volumes.
Beverage Packaging, EMEA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
($ in millions) | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net sales | | $ | 920 | | $ | 1,133 | | $ | 1,754 | | $ | 2,075 | |
Comparable operating earnings | | | 98 | | | 129 | | | 171 | | | 229 | |
Comparable operating earnings as a % of segment net sales | | | 11 | % | | 11 | % | | 10 | % | | 11 | % |
Segment sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, were $213 million lower and $321 million lower, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2022. The decreases for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, were primarily due to decreased volumes resulting from the sale of the Russian aluminum beverage packaging business, currency translation and the pass through of lower aluminum prices, partially offset by the pass-through of inflationary costs and increased volumes outside of Russian shipments.
Comparable operating earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, were $31 millon lower and $58 million lower, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2022. The decrease for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was primarily due to the sale of the Russian aluminum beverage packaging business, currency translation and new facility start-up costs, partially offset by the pass-through of inflationary costs, lower depreciation expense associated with the third quarter 2022 revision of estimated useful lives and increased volumes outside of Russian shipments. The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was primarily due to the sale of the Russian aluminum beverage packaging business, customer/product mix, currency translation and new facility start-up costs, partially offset by the pass-through of inflationary costs, lower depreciation expense associated with the third quarter 2022 revision of estimated useful lives and increased volumes outside of Russian shipments.
During the third quarter of 2022, and further to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the company sold its Russian business, composed of three manufacturing facilities, for total cash consideration of $530 million. The historical operations and results of the Russian aluminum beverage packaging business, including the gain on sale, are included in the beverage packaging, EMEA segment. See Note 4 of these consolidated financial statements for additional discussion regarding the sale and its impact to Ball’s financial results.