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EX-32.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e612592_ex32-1.htm
EX-31.2 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e612592_ex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e612592_ex31-1.htm
 
 UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014
   
 
Or
   
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission File Number: 001-34499

GULF RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
13-3637458
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
Level 11,Vegetable Building, Industrial Park of the East City,
Shouguang City, Shandong,
 
262700
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +86 (536) 567 0008

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every, Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) o
Smaller reporting company x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No x
 
As of August 6, 2014, the registrant had outstanding 38,726, 415 shares of common stock.
       
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
 AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 


   
June 30, 2014
Unaudited
   
December 31, 2013
Audited
 
Current Assets
               
Cash
 
$
128,952,302
   
$
107,828,800
 
Accounts receivable
   
45,303,424
     
44,885,354
 
Inventories
   
5,574,197
     
5,301,995
 
Prepayments and deposits
   
20,833
     
4,583
 
Prepaid land leases
   
471,249
     
50,548
 
Deferred tax assets
   
1,642
     
1,657
 
Total Current Assets
   
180,323,647
     
158,072,937
 
Non-Current Assets
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
131,472,898
     
146,400,436
 
Property, plant and equipment under capital leases, net
   
1,515,561
     
1,701,328
 
Prepaid land leases, net of current portion
   
738,300
     
753,928
 
Deferred tax assets
   
2,295,135
     
2,316,176
 
Total non-current assets
   
136,021,894
     
151,171,868
 
Total Assets
 
$
316,345,541
   
$
309,244,805
 
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
$
6,824,423
   
$
5,645,831
 
Retention payable
   
-
     
209,126
 
Capital lease obligation, current portion
   
106,205
     
202,392
 
Taxes payable
   
4,566,861
     
5,248,486
 
Total Current Liabilities
   
11,497,489
     
11,305,835
 
Non-Current Liabilities
               
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion
   
2,810,930
     
2,943,878
 
Total Liabilities
 
$
14,308,419
   
$
14,249,713
 
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
PREFERRED STOCK; $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding
 
$
     
$
   
COMMON STOCK; $0.0005 par value; 80,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 38,911,014 and 38,765,201 shares issued; and 38,726,415 and 38,580,602 shares outstanding as of June 30,
2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
   
19,456
     
19,383
 
Treasury stock; 184,599 shares as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 at cost
   
(500,000
)
   
(500,000
)
Additional paid-in capital
   
80,063,908
     
80,033,981
 
Retained earnings unappropriated
   
175,984,180
     
166,421,427
 
Retained earnings appropriated
   
17,653,969
     
17,265,572
 
Cumulative translation adjustment
   
28,815,609
     
31,754,729
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
   
302,037,122
     
294,995,092
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
316,345,541
   
$
309,244,805
 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
                         
NET REVENUE
                       
Net revenue
 
$
31,752,814
   
$
32,853,896
   
$
57,344,990
   
$
55,356,476
 
                                 
OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES)
                               
Cost of net revenue
   
(22,566,923
)
   
(23,260,201
)
   
(41,301,327
)
   
(41,245,673
)
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
   
(27,215
)
   
(25,115
)
   
(49,729
)
   
(45,418
)
Research and development cost
   
(32,558
)
   
(54,480
)
   
(63,338
)
   
(72,182
)
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment
   
(9,866
)
   
-
     
(9,866
)
   
-
 
General and administrative expenses
   
(1,701,601
)
   
(2,422,452
)
   
(3,022,119
)
   
(4,391,669
)
Other operating income
   
116,921
     
287,127
     
234,605
     
382,689
 
     
(24,221,242
)
   
(25,475,121
)
   
(44,211,774
)
   
(45,372,253
)
                                 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
   
7,531,572
     
7,378,775
     
13,133,216
     
9,984,223
 
                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
                               
Interest expense
   
(52,428
)
   
(53,583
)
   
(105,140
)
   
(106,589
)
Interest income
   
119,171
     
79,429
     
225,646
     
152,272
 
INCOME BEFORE TAXES
   
7,598,315
     
7,404,621
     
13,253,722
     
10,029,906
 
                                 
INCOME TAXES
   
(1,933,503
)
   
(2,048,722
)
   
(3,302,572
)
   
(2,791,042
)
NET INCOME
 
$
5,664,812
   
$
5,355,899
   
$
9,951,150
   
$
7,238,864
 
                                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
                               
NET INCOME
 
$
5,664,812
   
$
5,355,899
   
$
9,951,150
   
$
7,238,864
 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
                               
- Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
(34,932
)
   
4,298,508
     
(2,939,120
)
   
5,066,274
 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
$
5,629,880
   
$
9,654,407
   
$
7,012,030
   
$
12,305,138
 
                                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                               
BASIC
 
$
0.15
   
$
0.14
   
$
0.26
   
$
0.19
 
DILUTED
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.14
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.19
 
                                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES:
                               
                                 
BASIC
   
38,726,415
     
38,367,471
     
38,662,773
     
38,367,471
 
DILUTED
   
39,341,228
     
38,591,127
     
39,309,946
     
38,546,042
 
 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
   
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2014
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
 
   
Common stock
                                 
   
Number
   
Number
   
Number
               
Additional
   
Statutory
       
Cumulative
     
   
of shares
   
of shares
   
of treasury
         
Treasury
   
paid-in
   
common
   
Retained
 
translation
     
   
issued
   
outstanding
   
stock
   
Amount
   
stock
   
capital
   
reserve
   
earnings
 
adjustment
 
Total
 
                     
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
$
 
$
 
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013 Audited
   
38,765,201
     
38,580,602
     
184,599
     
19,383
     
(500,000
)
   
80,033,981
     
17,265,572
     
166,421,427
 
31,754,729
   
294,995,092
 
Translation adjustment
 
- 
     
-
     
-
   
- 
           
- 
   
- 
   
- 
 
(2,939,120)
   
(2,939,120
)
Cashless exercise of stock options
   
145,813
     
145,813
     
-
     
73
     
-
     
(73)
     
-
     
-
 
-
   
-
 
Issuance of stock options to employees and directors
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
30,000
     
-
     
-
 
-
   
30,000
 
Net income for six-month period ended June 30, 2014
 
- 
     
-
     
-
   
- 
     
-
   
- 
   
- 
     
9,951,150
 
- 
   
9,951,150
 
Transfer to statutory common reserve fund
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
388,397
     
(388,397
)
-
   
-
 
BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2014 Unaudited
   
38,911,014
     
38,726,415
     
184,599
     
19,456
     
(500,000
)
   
80,063,908
     
17,653,969
     
175,984,180
 
28,815,609
   
302,037,122
 
 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
 
   
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
   
 
 
Net income
 
$
9,951,150
   
$
7,238,864
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
Interest on capital lease obligation
   
104,767
     
106,206
 
Amortization of prepaid land leases
   
201,411
     
189,918
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
13,808,998
     
13,685,539
 
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment
   
9,866
     
-
 
Exchange (gain) loss on inter-company balances
   
(238,647
)
   
431,147
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
30,000
     
532,300
 
Deferred tax asset
   
-
   
-
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
             
Accounts receivable
   
(804,584
)
   
(2,621,905
)
Inventories
   
(323,463
   
715,714
 
Prepayments and deposits
   
(16,250
)
   
(18,750
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
1,229,869
     
(296,268
)
Retention payable
   
(207,047
)
   
(1,055,003
)
Taxes payable
   
(643,039
)
   
1,797,837
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
23,103,031
     
20,705,599
 
               
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
             
Additions of prepaid land leases
   
(614,773
)
   
(588,830
)
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
   
21,514
     
-
 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
   
(39,586
)
   
-
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(632,845
)
   
(588,830
)
               
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Repayment of capital lease obligation
   
(304,806
)
   
(302,498
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(304,806
)
   
(302,498
)
               
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
(1,041,878
)
   
1,367,206
 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
21,123,502
     
21,181,477
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
$
107,828,800
     
65,241,035
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD
 
$
128,952,302
   
$
86,422,512
 
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Income taxes
 
$
3,931,589
   
$
1,287,273
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING
AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of common stock upon cashless exercise of options
 
$
73
   
$
-
 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
   
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)           Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared by Gulf Resources, Inc. a Delaware corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), without audit, in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not necessarily include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair statement of its financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”).

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 presented reflects all adjustments, which are only normal and recurring, necessary for a fair statement of results of operations, financial position and cash flows. These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Company’s  2013 Form 10-K. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results may be different from the estimates. The Company also exercises judgments in the preparation of these condensed financial statements in the areas including classification of leases and related party transactions.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gulf Resources, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Upper Class Group Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, which owns 100% of Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong (“HKJI”). HKJI owns 100% of Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited ("SCHC") which owns 100% of Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited (“SYCI”).  All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
 
(b)           Nature of the Business

The Company manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited ("SCHC"), and manufactures chemical products for use in the oil industry and paper manufacturing industry through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited ("SYCI") in The People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).

(c)           Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

As of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, allowances for doubtful accounts were nil. No allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to the income statement for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

(d)           Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to credit risk in the normal course of business, primarily related to accounts receivable and cash and cash equivalents. Substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained with financial institutions in the PRC, namely, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited and China Merchants Bank Company Limited, which are not insured or otherwise protected. The Company placed $128,952,302 and $107,828,800 with these institutions as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts in the PRC.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable exists as the Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers. However, such concentrations of credit risks are limited since the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and due to the generally short payment terms.  About 77.7% and 74% of the balances of accounts receivable as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, are outstanding for less than three months. For the balances of accounts receivable aged more than 90 days as of June 30, 2014, about 71% were settled in July 2014. 
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(e)           Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Expenditures for new facilities or equipment, and major expenditures for betterment of existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the estimated productive lives. All other ordinary repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Mineral rights are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Mineral rights are amortized ratably over the term of the lease, or the equivalent term under the units of production method, whichever is shorter.

Construction in progress primarily represents direct costs of construction of plant, machinery and equipment. Costs incurred are capitalized and transferred to property and equipment upon completion, at which time depreciation commences.

The Company’s depreciation and amortization policies on property, plant and equipment, other than mineral rights and construction in progress, are as follows:
 
   
Useful life
(in years) 
Buildings (including salt pans)
 
8 - 20
Plant and machinery (including protective shells, transmission channels and ducts)
 
5 - 8
Motor vehicles
 
5
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
 
8
 
Property, plant and equipment under capital leases are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets, or where shorter, the term of the lease, which is 20 years.

(f)           Retirement Benefits

Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, the Company participates in a defined contribution retirement plan for its employees arranged by a governmental organization. The Company makes contributions to the retirement scheme at the applicable rate based on the employees’ salaries. The required contributions under the retirement plans are charged to the consolidated income statement on an accrual basis when they are due. The Company’s contributions totaled $193,729 and $124,158 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and totaled $319,030 and $243,913 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(g)           Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue, net of value-added tax, when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the goods has occurred, customer acceptance has been obtained, which means the significant risks and ownership have been transferred to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(h)           Recoverability of Long-lived Assets

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10-35 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets”, long-lived assets to be held and used are analyzed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable or that the useful lives of those assets are no longer appropriate. The Company evaluates at each balance sheet date whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate possible impairment.

The Company determines the existence of such impairment by measuring the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) and comparing such amount to the carrying amount of the assets. An impairment loss, if one exists, is then measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the discounted estimated future cash flows. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value of such assets less costs to sell. Asset impairment charges are recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the long-lived asset that will be sold or disposed of to their estimated fair values. Charges for the asset impairment reduce the carrying amount of the long-lived assets to their estimated salvage value in connection with the decision to dispose of such assets.

For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2014, the Company determined that there are no events or circumstances indicating possible impairment of its long-lived assets.

(i)           Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share of Common Stock

Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods presented.  Diluted earnings per share are computed using weighted average number of common shares plus dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period. Potential common shares that would have the effect of increasing diluted earnings per share are considered to be anti-dilutive, i.e. the exercise prices of the outstanding stock options were greater than the market price of the common stock. Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents which were excluded from the calculation of number of dilutive common stock equivalents amounted to 1,971,251 and 5,282,849 shares for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and amounted to 1,782,469 and 5,189,462 shares for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These awards could be dilutive in the future if the market price of the common stock increases and is greater than the exercise price of these awards.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(i)           Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share of Common Stock – Continued

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
  
 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
2014
   
2013
     
2014
     
2013
 
Numerator
                           
Net income
 
$
5,664,812
   
$
5,355,899
   
$
9,951,150
   
$
7,238,864
 
                                 
Denominator
                               
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period
   
38,726,415
     
38,367,471
     
38,662,773
     
38,367,471
 
Add: Dilutive effect of stock options
   
614,813
     
223,656
     
647,173
     
178,571
 
Diluted
   
39,341,228
     
38,591,127
     
39,309,946
     
38,546,042
 
                                 
Net income per share
                               
Basic
 
$
0.15
   
$
0.14
   
$
0.26
   
$
0.19
 
Diluted
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.14
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.19
 
 
(j)           Reporting Currency and Translation

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency, Renminbi (“RMB”), as the functional currency; whereas the functional currency and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“USD” or “$”).

As such, the Company uses the “current rate method” to translate its PRC operations from RMB into USD, as required under ASC 830 “Foreign Currency Matters”. The assets and liabilities of its PRC operations are translated into USD using the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. The capital accounts are translated at the historical rate. Adjustments resulting from the translation of the balance sheets of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are recorded in stockholders’ equity as part of accumulated comprehensive income. The statement of income and comprehensive income is translated at average rates during the reporting period. Gains or losses resulting from transactions in currencies other than the functional currencies are recognized in net income for the reporting periods as part of general and administrative expense. The statement of cash flows is translated at average rates during the reporting period, with the exception of issuance of shares and payment of dividends which are translated at historical rates.
 
(k)           Foreign Operations

All of the Company’s operations and assets are located in PRC.  The Company may be adversely affected by possible political or economic events in this country.  The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted.

(l)           New Accounting Pronouncements

No accounting standards and guidance with an effective date during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 or issued during 2014 had or are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of:
 
   
June 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
             
Raw materials
 
$
1,102,680
   
$
651,810
 
Finished goods
   
4,478,086
     
4,656,814
 
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventory
   
(6,569
)
   
(6,629
)
   
$
5,574,197
   
$
5,301,995
 
 
NOTE 3 – PREPAID LAND LEASES
 
The Company prepaid for land leases with lease terms for periods ranging from one to fifty years to use the land on which the office premises, production facilities and warehouses of the Company are situated. The prepaid land lease is amortized on a straight line basis.

During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $96,439 and $91,703, respectively, which were recorded as cost of net revenue. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $201,411 and $189,918, respectively, which were recorded as cost of net revenue.

The Company has the rights to use certain parcels of land located in Shouguang, the PRC, through lease agreements signed with local townships. Such parcels of land are collectively owned by local townships and accordingly, the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates on these parcels of land. The parcels of land that the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates cover a total of approximately 59.39 square kilometers with an aggregate carrying value of $1,167,487 and approximately 59.39 square kilometers with an aggregate carrying value of $761,496 as at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
 
NOTE 4 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following:
 
   
June 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
At cost:
           
Mineral rights
 
$
6,470,836
   
$
6,530,158
 
Buildings
   
52,858,833
     
53,343,419
 
Plant and machinery
   
171,267,783
     
172,842,611
 
Motor vehicles
   
9,337
     
9,423
 
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment
   
4,858,090
     
4,902,627
 
Total
   
235,464,879
     
237,628,238
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(103,991,981
)
   
(91,227,802
)
Net book value
 
$
131,472,898
   
$
146,400,436
 

The Company has certain buildings and salt pans erected on parcels of land located in Shouguang, PRC, and such parcels of land are collectively owned by local townships. The Company has not been able to obtain property ownership certificates over these buildings and salt pans as the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates on the underlying parcels of land. The aggregate carrying values of these properties situated on parcels of the land are $38,110,068 and $39,565,302 as at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 4 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET – Continued

During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $6,788,929, of which $6,469,584 and $319,345 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses, respectively. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $6,812,181, of which $6,504,164 and $308,017 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses, respectively. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $13,638,256, of which $12,997,481 and $640,775 were recorded as cost of sales and administrative expenses respectively. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $13,554,571, of which $12,758,306 and $796,264 were recorded as cost of sales and administrative expenses respectively.

NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT UNDER CAPITAL LEASES, NET

Property, plant and equipment under capital leases, net consist of the following:

   
June 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
At cost:
           
Buildings
 
$
133,749
   
$
134,975
 
Plant and machinery
   
2,514,085
     
2,537,133
 
Total
   
2,647,834
     
2,672,108
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(1,132,273
)
   
(970,780
)
Net book value
 
$
1,515,561
   
$
1,701,328
 
 
The above buildings erected on parcels of land located in Shouguang, PRC, are collectively owned by local townships.  The Company has not been able to obtain property ownership certificates over these buildings as the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates on the underlying parcels of land.  

During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $81,829 and $65,870, respectively, which was recorded as cost of net revenue. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $170,742 and $130,968, respectively, which was recorded as cost of net revenue.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 6 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Accounts payable
 
$
4,996,333
   
$
3,998,660
 
Salary payable
   
228,823
     
212,138
 
Social security insurance contribution payable
   
88,747
     
57,674
 
Price adjustment funds
   
1,258,054
     
861,071
 
Other payables
   
252,466
     
516,288
 
Total
 
$
6,824,423
   
$
5,645,831
 
 
NOTE 7 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014, the Company borrowed $100,000 and $199,974, respectively, and fully repaid later during the same period, from Jiaxing Lighting Appliance Company Limited (Jiaxing Lighting”), in which Mr. Ming Yang, a shareholder and the Chairman of the Company, had a 100% equity interest in Jiaxing Lighting. The amounts due to Jiaxing Lighting were unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

On September 25, 2012, the Company purchased five stories of a commercial building in the PRC, through SYCI, from Shandong Shouguang Vegetable Seed Industry Group Co., Ltd. (the “Seller”) at a cost of approximately $5.7 million in cash, of which Mr. Ming Yang, the Chairman of the Company, had a 99% equity interest in the Seller. The cost of the five stories of the commercial building was valued by an independent appraiser on September 17, 2012 to its fair value and recorded as property, plant and equipment. The Company commenced using the property as the new headquarters for the office in early January, 2013. During the fiscal year 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with the Seller to provide property management services for an annual amount of approximately $100,704 for five years from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017. The expense associated with this agreement for the three- month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were $25,327 and $25,135. The expense associated with this agreement for the six- month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were $50,820 and $49,976.

NOTE 8 – TAXES PAYABLE
 
Taxes payable consists of the following:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Income tax payable
 
$
2,007,310
   
$
2,653,168
 
Mineral resource compensation fee payable
   
341,323
     
300,856
 
Value added tax payable
   
1,054,847
     
1,079,143
 
Land use tax payable
   
944,316
     
952,972
 
Other tax payables
   
219,065
     
262,347
 
Total
 
$
4,566,861
   
$
5,248,486
 
   
NOTE 9 – CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
 
The components of capital lease obligations are as follows:
 
 
Imputed
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
Interest rate
 
2014
 
2013
Total capital lease obligations
6.7%
 
$
2,917,135
   
$
3,146,270
 
Less: Current portion
     
(106,205
)
   
(202,392
)
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion
   
$
2,810,930
   
$
2,943,878
 

Interest expenses from capital lease obligations amounted to $52,213 and $53,416 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were charged to the income statements. Interest expenses from capital lease obligations amounted to $104,767 and $106,206 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were charged to the income statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 10 ––EQUITY

(a)
Authorized shares

During the annual general meeting held on June 18, 2013, the shareholders of the Company approved the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to decrease the number of the authorized shares of the Company’s comment stocks to 80,000,000. The Company has completed the filing of the amendment and restatement of the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware to decrease the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock and accordingly 80,000,000 is disclosed as the authorized shares of the Company’s common stock in the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

(b)
Retained Earnings - Appropriated

In accordance with the relevant PRC regulations and the PRC subsidiaries’ Articles of Association, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are required to allocate its profit after tax to the following reserve:

Statutory Common Reserve Funds

SCHC and SYCI are required each year to transfer at least 10% of the profit after tax as reported under the PRC statutory financial statements to the Statutory Common Reserve Funds until the balance reaches 50% of the registered share capital.  This reserve can be used to make up any loss incurred or to increase share capital.  Except for the reduction of losses incurred, any other application should not result in this reserve balance falling below 25% of the registered capital. The Statutory Common Reserve Fund as of June 30, 2014 for SCHC and SYCI is 37% and 50% of its registered capital respectively.

NOTE 11 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, the total aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance is 4,341,989 shares. As of June 30, 2014, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance is 1,528,489.

The fair value of each option award below is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk free rate is based on the yield-to-maturity in continuous compounding of the US Government Bonds with the time-to-maturity similar to the expected tenor of the option granted, volatility is based on the annualized historical stock price volatility of the Company, and the expected life is based on the estimated average of the life of options using the “simplified” method, as prescribed in FASB ASC 718, due to insufficient historical exercise activity during recent years as a basis from which to estimate future exercise patterns.

In early March 2014, the Company granted to an independent director an option to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.55 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $10,200 fair value, with assumed 67.14% volatility, a three-year expiration term with expected tenor of 1.49 years, a risk free rate of 0.21% and no dividend yield. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, $10,200 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

On May 7, 2014, the Company granted to an independent director an option to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.83 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $7,900 fair value, with assumed 69.24% volatility, a three-year expiration term with expected tenor of 1.49 years, a risk free rate of 0.25% and no dividend yield. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, $7,900 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

On June 30, 2014, the Company granted to an independent director an option to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.15 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $8,200 fair value, with assumed 64.48% volatility, a three-year expiration term with expected tenor of 1.50 years, a risk free rate of 0.27% and no dividend yield. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, $8,200 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

During the six months ended June 30, 2014, 145,813 shares of common stock were issued upon cashless exercise of 223,000 options.

The following table summarizes all Company stock option transactions between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014.

   
Number of Option
and Warrants
Outstanding and exercisable
 
Weighted- Average Exercise price of Option
and Warrants
 
Range of
Exercise Price per Common Share
 
Balance, January 1, 2014
   
2,470,971
 
$3.36
  $
0.95 - $12.60
 
Granted and vested during the period
ended June 30, 2014
   
37,500
 
$2.18
  $
1.83-2.55
 
Exercised during the period ended
June 30, 2014
   
(223,000
)
$0.95
  $
0.95
 
Expired during the
period ended June 30, 2014
   
(50,000
)
$9.10
  $
3.22-12.00
 
Balance, June 30, 2014
   
2,235,471
 
$3.44
  $
0.95 - $12.60
 
 
     
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 11 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – Continued

  Stock and Warrants Options Exercisable and Outstanding  
               
Weighted Average
 
               
Remaining
 
   
Outstanding at June 30, 2014
   
Range of
Exercise Prices
   
Contractual Life
 (Years)
 
 
Exercisable and outstanding
    2,235,471     $ 0.95 - $12.60       1.69  
 
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable as of June 30, 2014 was $1,615,362.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $67,274 and $0 for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

There were no options exercised in the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
 
NOTE 12 – INCOME TAXES

The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10.

(a)           United States

Gulf Resources, Inc. is subject to the United States of America Tax law at a tax rate of 35%. No provision for the US federal income taxes has been made as the Company had no US taxable income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, and management believes that its earnings are permanently invested in the PRC.

(b)           BVI

Upper Class Group Limited, a subsidiary of Gulf Resources, Inc., was incorporated in the BVI and, under the current laws of the BVI, it is not subject to tax on income or capital gain in the BVI. Upper Class Group Limited did not generate assessable profit for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

(c)           Hong Kong

Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited, a subsidiary of Upper Class Group Limited, was incorporated in Hong Kong and is subject to Hong Kong profits tax. The Company is subject to Hong Kong taxation on its activities conducted in Hong Kong and income arising in or derived from Hong Kong.  No provision for profits tax has been made as the Company has no assessable income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.  The applicable statutory tax rates for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 are 16.5%.

(d)           PRC

Enterprise income tax (“EIT”) for SCHC and SYCI in the PRC is charged at 25% of the assessable profits.

The operating subsidiaries SCHC and SYCI are wholly foreign-owned enterprises (“FIE”) incorporated in the PRC and are subject to PRC Foreign Enterprise Income Tax Law.

On February 22, 2008, the Ministry of Finance (“MOF”) and the State Administration of Taxation (“SAT”) jointly issued Cai Shui [2008] Circular 1 (“Circular 1”). According to Article 4 of Circular 1, distributions of accumulated profits earned by a FIE prior to January 1, 2008 to foreign investor(s) in 2008 will be exempted from withholding tax (“WHT”) while distribution of the profit earned by an FIE after January 1, 2008 to its foreign investor(s) shall be subject to WHT at 5% effective tax rate.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2012
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 12 – INCOME TAXES – Continued

As of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the accumulated distributable earnings under the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP”) of PRC are $232,455,778 and $225,003,631, respectively. Since the Company intends to reinvest its earnings to further expand its businesses in mainland China, its foreign invested enterprises do not intend to declare dividends to their immediate foreign holding companies in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company has not recorded any WHT on the cumulative amount of distributable retained earnings of its foreign invested enterprises in China. As of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the unrecognized WHT are $10,515,811 and $10,133,056, respectively.

The Company’s tax returns are subject to the various tax authorities’ examination. The federal, state and local authorities of the United States may examine the Company’s tax returns filed in the United States for three years from the date of filing. The Company’s US tax returns since 2010 are currently subject to examination. Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong may examine the Company’s tax returns filed in Hong Kong for seven years from date of filing. The Company’s Hong Kong tax returns since incorporation in year 2007 are currently subject to examination. The tax authorities of the PRC may examine the Company’s PRC tax returns for three years from the date of filing. The Company’s PRC tax returns since 2010 are currently subject to examination.
 
The components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations are:

 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
Current taxes – PRC
 
$
1,933,503
   
$
2,048,722
   
$
3,302,572
   
$
2,791,042
 
Deferred taxes – PRC
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
   
$
1,933,503
   
$
2,048,722
   
$
3,302,572
   
$
2,791,042
 
 
The effective income tax expenses differ from the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% from continuing operations in the PRC as follows:
03

 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
Reconciliations
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Statutory income tax rate
 
25
%
   
25
%
   
25
%
   
25
%
 
Non-taxable item
 
-
     
1
%
   
-
     
1
%
 
US federal net operating loss
 
-
     
2
%
   
-
     
2
%
 
Effective tax rate
 
25
%
   
28
%
   
25
     
28
%
 


Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
2014
   
2013
 
Deferred tax liabilities
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
                 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventories
 
$
1,642
   
$
1,657
 
Impairment on property, plant and equipment
   
474,799
     
479,151
 
Exploration costs
   
1,820,336
     
1,837,025
 
Compensation costs of unexercised stock options
   
1,944,923
     
2,053,310
 
US federal net operating loss
   
9,600,548
     
9,272,734
 
Total deferred tax assets
   
13,842,248
     
13,643,877
 
Valuation allowance
   
(11,545,471
)
   
(11,326,044
)
Net deferred tax asset
 
$
2,296,777
   
$
2,317,833
 
                 
Current deferred tax asset
 
$
1,642
   
$
1,657
 
Long-term deferred tax asset
 
$
2,295,135
   
$
2,316,176
 

The increase in valuation allowance for each of the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 is $199,223 and $148,308, respectively, and six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 is $219,427 and $247,693, respectively.

There were no unrecognized tax benefits and accrual for uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 13 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company has three reportable segments:  bromine, crude salt and chemical products. The reportable segments are consistent with how management views the markets served by the Company and the financial information that is reviewed by its chief operating decision maker.

An operating segment’s performance is primarily evaluated based on segment operating income, which excludes share-based compensation expense, certain corporate costs and other income not associated with the operations of the segment. These corporate costs (income) are separately stated below and also include costs that are related to functional areas such as accounting, treasury, information technology, legal, human resources, and internal audit. The Company believes that segment operating income, as defined above, is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of its segments. All the customers are located in PRC.

Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2014
 
Bromine*
   
Crude
 Salt*
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
Net revenue
(external customers)
 
$
16,214,612
   
$
 2,915,445
   
$
12,622,757
   
$
31,752,814
   
$
-
   
$
31,752,814
 
Net revenue
(intersegment)
   
836,840
     
-
     
-
     
836,840
     
-
     
836,840
 
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
   
3,599,026
     
(116,798
)
   
4,191,572
     
7,673,800
     
(142,228
)
   
7,531,572
 
Income taxes
   
735,834
     
141,819
     
1,055,850
     
1,933,503
     
-
     
1,933,503
 
Income (loss) from operations after taxes
   
2,863,192
     
(258,617
)
   
3,135,722
     
5,740,297
     
(142,228
)
   
5,598,069
 
Total assets
   
189,852,951
     
53,961,678
     
72,505,351
     
316,319,980
     
25,561
     
316,345,541
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
4,378,252
     
1,604,960
     
887,546
     
6,870,758
     
-
     
6,870,758
 
Capital expenditures
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
 
-
 

Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2013
 
Bromine*
   
Crude
 Salt*
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
Net revenue
(external customers)
 
$
17,473,276
   
$
3,629,976
   
$
11,750,644
   
$
32,853,896
   
$
-
   
$
32,853,896
 
Net revenue
(intersegment)
   
777,746
     
-
     
-
     
777,746
     
-
     
777,746
 
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
   
3,882,612
     
728,638
     
3,572,036
     
8,183,286
     
(804,511
)
   
7,378,775
 
Income taxes
   
941,322
     
209,755
     
897,645
     
2,048,722
     
-
     
2,048,722
 
Income (loss) from operations after taxes
   
2,941,290
     
518,883
     
2,674,391
     
6,134,564
     
(804,511
)
   
5,330,053
 
Total assets
   
174,524,258
     
56,693,091
     
60,193,635
     
291,410,984
     
86,337
     
291,497,321
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
4,309,920
     
1,687,487
     
880,645
     
6,878,052
     
-
     
6,878,052
 
Capital expenditures
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
 
-
 
 
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 13 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS – Continued
 
Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2014
 
Bromine*
   
Crude
 Salt*
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
Net revenue
(external customers)
 
$
27,976,528
   
$
5,357,340
   
$
24,011,122
   
$
57,344,990
   
$
-
   
$
57,344,990
Net revenue
(intersegment)
   
1,620,833
     
-
     
-
     
1,620,833
     
-
   
1,620,833
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
   
4,617,298
     
526,509
     
7,961,305
     
13,105,112
     
28,104
   
13,133,216
Income taxes
   
1,100,419
     
197,059
     
2,005,094
     
3,302,572
     
-
   
3,302,572
Income (loss) from operations after taxes
   
3,516,879
     
329,450
     
5,956,211
     
9,802,540
     
28,104
   
9,830,644
Total assets
   
189,852,951
     
53,961,678
     
72,505,351
     
316,319,980
     
25,561
   
316,345,541
Depreciation and amortization
   
8,928,395
     
3,099,717
     
1,780,886
     
13,808,998
     
-
   
13,808,998
Capital expenditures
   
34,378
     
5,208
     
-
     
39,586
     
-
   
39,586
 
Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2013
 
Bromine*
   
Crude
 Salt*
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
Net revenue
(external customers)
 
$
29,207,643
   
$
6,080,762
   
$
20,068,071
   
$
55,356,476
   
$
-
   
$55,356,476
Net revenue
(intersegment)
   
1,392,476
     
-
     
-
     
1,392,476
     
-
   
1,392,476
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
   
4,210,425
     
1,266,858
     
5,668,715
     
11,145,998
     
(1,161,775
)
 
9,984,223
Income taxes
   
1,121,955
     
243,020
     
1,426,067
     
2,791,042
     
-
   
2,791,042
Income (loss) from operations after taxes
   
3,088,471
     
1,023,837
     
4,242,648
     
8,354,956
     
(1,161,775
)
 
7,193,181
Total assets
   
174,524,258
     
56,693,091
     
60,193,635
     
291,410,984
     
86,337
   
291,497,321
Depreciation and amortization
   
8,687,891
     
3,246,686
     
1,750,962
     
13,685,539
     
-
   
13,685,539
Capital expenditures
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
   
-


* Certain common production overheads, operating and administrative expenses and asset items (mainly cash and certain office equipment) of bromine and crude salt segments in SCHC were split by reference to the average selling price and production volume of respective segment.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 13 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS – Continued

   
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
Reconciliations
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Total segment operating income
 
$
7,673,800
   
$
8,183,286
   
$
13,105,112
   
$
11,145,998
 
Corporate costs
   
(142,228
)
   
(804,511
)
   
28,104
     
(1,161,775
)
Income from operations
   
7,531,572
     
7,378,775
     
13,133,216
     
9,984,223
 
Other income, net of expense
   
66,743
     
25,846
     
120,506
     
45,683
 
Income before taxes
 
$
7,598,315
   
$
7,404,621
   
$
13,253,722
   
$
10,029,906
 
 

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total
Revenue (%)
  1  
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
  $ 2,505     $ 693     $ 1,935     $ 5,133       16.2 %
TOTAL
      $ 2,505     $ 693     $ 1,935     $ 5,133       16.2 %

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total
Revenue (%)
  1  
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
  $ 4,088     $ 1,264     $ 3,320     $ 8,672       15.1 %
TOTAL
      $ 4,088     $ 1,264     $ 3,320     $ 8,672       15.1 %
 
The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total
Revenue (%)
  1  
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
  $ 2,166     $ 751     $ 1,125     $ 4,042       12.3 %
TOTAL
      $ 2,166     $ 751     $ 1,125     $ 4,042       12.3 %

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total
Revenue (%)
  1  
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
  $ 3,347     $ 1,494     $ 2,055     $ 6,896       12.5 %
TOTAL
      $ 3,347     $ 1,494     $ 2,055     $ 6,896       12.5 %
 
NOTE 14 – MAJOR SUPPLIERS

During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014, the Company purchased 89.7% and 89.6% of its raw materials from its top five suppliers, respectively.  As of June 30, 2014, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $4,487,708. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, the Company purchased 83.4% and 82.6% of its raw materials from its top five suppliers, respectively.  As of June 30, 2013, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $4,289,947. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 15 – CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

The Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers.  During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014, the Company sold 43.1% and 41.2% of its products to its top five customers, respectively. As of June 30, 2014, amounts due from these customers were $21,865,317. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, the Company sold 40.0% and 40.3% of its products to its top five customers, respectively. As of June 30, 2013, amounts due from these customers were $16,955,022. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.

NOTE 16 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
The carrying values of financial instruments, which consist of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable and other payables, approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.  There were no material unrecognized financial assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

NOTE 17 – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

The total research and development expenses recognized in the income statements during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 were $32,558 and $63,338, respectively, of which the consumption of bromine produced by the Company amounted to $8,574 and $17,508, respectively. The total research and development expenses recognized in the income statements during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 were $54,480 and $72,182, respectively, of which the consumption of bromine produced by the Company amounted to $12,461 and $18,582, respectively.

NOTE 18 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

As of June 30, 2014, the Company has leased a real property adjacent to Factory No. 1, with the related production facility, channels and ducts, other production equipment and the buildings located on the property, under capital lease. The future minimum lease payments required under capital lease, together with the present value of such payments, are included in the table show below.
 
The Company has leased nine pieces of land under non-cancelable operating leases, which are fixed in rentals and expired through December 2021, December 2030, December 2031, December 2032, December 2040, February 2059, August 2059 and June 2060, respectively. The Company accounts for the leases as operating leases.

The Company has no purchase commitment as of June 30, 2014.

The following table sets forth the Company’s contractual obligations as of June 30, 2014:

   
Capital Lease Obligations
   
Operating Lease Obligations
   
Property Management Fees
 
Payable within: 
                 
the next 12 months
$
305,069
   
$
977,474
   
$
101,397
 
the next 13 to 24 months
   
305,069
     
999,436
     
101,397
 
the next 25 to 36 months
   
305,069
     
1,019,185
     
101,397
 
the next 37 to 48 months
   
305,069
     
1,043,157
     
50,697
 
the next 49 to 60 months
   
305,069
     
1,064,850
     
-
 
thereafter
   
3,355,757
     
20,844,067
     
-
 
Total
 
$
4,881,102
   
$
25,948,169
   
$
354,888
 
Less: Amount representing interest
   
(1,963,967
)
               
Present value of net minimum lease payments
 
$
2,917,135
                 
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2014
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 18 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS – Continued

Rental expenses related to operating leases of the Company amounted to $243,791 and $237,214, which were charged to the income statements for the three-month ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Rental expenses related to operating leases of the Company amounted to $489,041 and $471,533, which were charged to the income statements for the six-month ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 
 
 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
The discussion below contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  We have used words such as “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “expects” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities and the timing of certain events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation, those matters discussed in Item 1A of Part I of our 2013 Form 10-K.  Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances, or for any other reason.  The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing in our 2013 Form 10-K and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Overview
 
Gulf Resources conducts operations through its two wholly-owned China subsidiaries, SCHC and SYCI. Our business is also reported in these three segments, Bromine, Crude Salt, and Chemical Products.
 
Through SCHC, we produce and sell bromine and crude salt. We are one of the largest producers of bromine in China, as measured by production output. Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a wide variety of brominated compounds used in industry and agriculture. Bromine is commonly used in brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines, and disinfectants.
 
Through SYCI, we manufacture and sell chemical products that are used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals.
 
Our Corporate History
     
We were incorporated in Delaware on February 28, 1989. From November 1993 through August 2006, we were engaged in the business of owning, leasing and operating coin and debit card pay-per copy photocopy machines, fax machines, microfilm reader-printers and accessory equipment under the name “Diversifax, Inc.”. Due to the increased use of internet services, demand for our services declined sharply, and in August 2006, our Board of Directors decided to discontinue our operations.
 
Upper Class Group Limited, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in July 2006, acquired all the outstanding stock of SCHC, a company incorporated in Shouguang City, Shandong Province, PRC, in May 2005. At the time of the acquisition, members of the family of Mr. Ming Yang, our president and former chief executive officer, owned approximately 63.20% of the outstanding shares of Upper Class Group Limited. Since the ownership of Upper Class Group Limited and SCHC was then substantially the same, the acquisition was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby Upper Class Group Limited recognized the assets and liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts.

On December 12, 2006, we, then known as Diversifax, Inc., a public “shell” company, acquired Upper Class Group Limited and SCHC. Under the terms of the agreement, the stockholders of Upper Class Group Limited received 13,250,000 (restated for the 2-for-1 stock split in 2007 and the 1-for-4 stock split in 2009) shares of voting common stock of Gulf Resources, Inc. in exchange for all outstanding shares of Upper Class Group Limited. Members of the Yang family received approximately 62% of our common stock as a result of the acquisition.  Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, the share exchange is considered to be a capital transaction rather than a business combination. That is, the share exchange is equivalent to the issuance of stock by Upper Class Group Limited for the net assets of Gulf Resources, Inc., accompanied by a recapitalization, and is accounted for as a change in capital structure. Accordingly, the accounting for the share exchange is identical to that resulting from a reverse acquisition, except no goodwill is recorded. Under reverse takeover accounting, the post reverse acquisition comparative historical financial statements of the legal acquirer, Gulf Resources, Inc., are those of the legal acquiree, Upper Class Group Limited. Share and per share amounts stated have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the share exchange. On February 20, 2007, we changed our corporate name to Gulf Resources, Inc.
 
 
   
On February 5, 2007, we acquired SYCI, a company incorporated in PRC, in October 2000. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the stockholders of SYCI received a total of 8,094,059 (restated for the 2-for-1 stock split in 2007 and the 1-for-4 stock split in 2009) shares of common stock of Gulf Resources, Inc. in exchange for all outstanding shares of SYCI's common stock. Simultaneously with the completion of the acquisition, a dividend of $2,550,000 was paid to the former stockholders of SYCI. At the time of the acquisition, approximately 49.1% of the outstanding shares of SYCI were owned by Ms. Yu, Mr. Yang’s wife, and the remaining 50.9% of the outstanding shares of SYCI were owned by SCHC, all of whose outstanding shares were owned by Mr. Yang and his wife. Since the ownership of Gulf Resources, Inc. and SYCI are substantially the same, the acquisition was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby Gulf Resources, Inc. recognized the assets and liabilities of SYCI at their carrying amounts. Share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the acquisition.

To satisfy certain ministerial requirements necessary to confirm certain government approvals required in connection with the acquisition of SCHC by Upper Class Group Limited, all of the equity interest of SCHC were transferred to a newly formed Hong Kong corporation named Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited (“Hong Kong Jiaxing”) all of the outstanding shares of which are owned by Upper Class Group Limited. The transfer of all of the equity interest of SCHC to Hong Kong Jiaxing received approval from the local State Administration of Industry and Commerce on December 10, 2007.

As a result of the transactions described above, our corporate structure is linear. That is Gulf Resources owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Upper Class Group Limited, which owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Hong Kong Jiaxing, which owns 100% of the outstanding shares of SCHC, which owns 100% of the outstanding shares of SYCI.

On October 12, 2009 we completed a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of our common stock, such that for each four shares outstanding prior to the stock split there was one share outstanding after the reverse stock split. All shares of common stock referenced in this report have been adjusted to reflect the stock split figures. On October 27, 2009 our shares began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GFRE” and on June 30, 2011 we changed our ticker symbol to “GURE” to better reflection of our corporate name.

Our current corporate structure chart is set forth in the following diagram:
 
 
As a result of our acquisitions of SCHC and SYCI, our historical financial statements and the information presented below reflects the accounts of SCHC and SYCI. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.
 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following table presents certain information derived from the consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders equity for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013. 

Comparison of the Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

   
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2014
   
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2013
   
% Change
Net revenue
  $ 31,752,814     $ 32,853,896       (3 %)
Cost of net revenue
  $ (22,566,923 )   $ (23,260,201 )     (3 %)
Gross profit
  $ 9,185,891     $ 9,593,695       (4 %)
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
  $ (27,215 )   $ (25,115 )     8 %
Research and development costs
  $ (32,558 )   $ (54,480 )     (40 %)
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment
  $ (9,866 )   $ -       -  
General and administrative expenses
  $ (1,701,601 )   $ (2,422,452 )     (30 %)
Other operating income
  $ 116,921     $ 287,127       (59 %)
Income from operations
  $ 7,531,572     $ 7,378,775       2 %
Other income (expense), net
  $ 66,743     $ 25,846       158 %
Income before taxes
  $ 7,598,315     $ 7,404,621       3 %
Income taxes
  $ (1,933,503 )   $ (2,048,722 )     (6 %)
Net income
  $ 5,664,812     $ 5,355,899       6 %

Net revenue.  Net revenue was $31,752,814 for three-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of approximately $1.1 million (or 3%) as compared to the same period in 2013. This decrease was attributable to the decrease in our bromine and crude salt segments. Revenue from the bromine products segment decreased from $17,473,276 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $16,214,612 for the same period in 2014, a decrease of approximately 7%. Revenue from the crude salt segment decreased from $3,629,976 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $2,915,445 for the same period in 2014, a decrease of approximately 20%.

Revenue from the chemical products segment products increased from $11,750,644 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $12,622,757 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 7%.
 
   
Net Revenue by Segment
   
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Percent Increase/Decrease
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
of Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Bromine
 
$
16,214,612
     
51
%
 
$
17,473,276
     
53
%
   
(7
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
2,915,445
     
9
%
 
$
3,629,976
     
11
%
   
(20
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
12,622,757
     
40
%
 
$
11,750,644
     
36
%
   
7
%
 
Total sales
 
$
31,752,814
     
100
%
 
$
32,853,896
     
100
%
   
(3
%)
 
 
Bromine and crude salt segments 
 
Three-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
product sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2014
   
June 30, 2013
   
Increase/(Decrease)
Bromine (excluded volume sold to SYCI)
   
5,663
     
5,666
     
(0.06
%)
Crude Salt
   
89,528
     
89,140
     
0.44
%
 
   
Three-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
Chemical products segment sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2014
   
June 30, 2013
   
Increase/(Decrease)
Oil and gas exploration additives
   
3,857
     
3,493
     
10
%
Paper manufacturing additives
   
1,096
     
1,207
     
(9
%)
Pesticides manufacturing additives
   
859
     
800
     
7
%
Overall
   
5,812
     
5,500
     
6
%
 
 
Bromine segment
The decrease in net revenue from our bromine segment was mainly due to the decrease in the selling price of bromine. The selling price of bromine decreased from $3,084 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $2,863 tonnes for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 7%. The major reason for the decrease in the selling price of bromine was mainly attributable to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government beginning in the second half of 2011 to slow down the economy, which has affected our customers’ industries. As a result, we needed to offer competitive selling prices to our customers to compete with other bromine manufacturers. The average selling price for this quarter decrease $122 per tonne, as compared with the first quarter of 2014, which was $2,985 per tonne. We expect the average selling price of bromine to remain at the current level through the end of 2014 should the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy remain in place.
 
   
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Decrease in net revenue of bromine as a result of:
 
2014 vs. 2013
Decrease in average selling price
 
$
(1,249,357
)
Decrease in sales volume
 
$
(9,307
)
Total effect on net revenue of bromine
 
$
(1,258,664

Crude salt segment
The decrease in net revenue from our crude salt segment was mainly due to the decrease in the selling price of crude salt. The selling price of crude salt decreased by 20% from $40.72 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $32.56 per tonne for the same period in 2014. The decrease in the selling price was mainly due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government to slow down the economy, which has affected our customers’ industries.

We noted a downward trend in the average selling price of crude salt since the third quarter of 2013. The average selling price decreased 15% from the first quarter of 2014 to the second quarter of 2014. We expect the average selling price of crude salt to remain at current levels through the end of 2014.

   
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of crude salt as a result of:
 
2014 vs. 2013
Decrease in average selling price
 
$
(728,748
)
Increase in sales volume
 
$
14,217
 
Total effect on net revenue of crude salt
 
$
(714,531
 
 
Chemical products segment
 
   
Product Mix of Chemical Products Segment
 
Percent
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Change of
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
Net Revenue
Chemical Products
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
$
7,220,640
     
57
%
 
$
6,676,522
     
57
%
   
8
%
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
$
1,259,311
     
10
%
 
$
1,393,172
     
12
%
   
(10
%)
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
$
4,142,806
     
33
%
 
$
3,680,950
     
31
%
   
13
%
 
Total sales
 
$
12,622,757
     
100
%
 
$
11,750,644
     
100
%
   
7
%
 

Net revenue from our chemical products segment increased from $11,750,644 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $12,622,757 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 7%. The increase was attributable to the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and pesticides manufacturing additives. Our oil and gas exploration chemicals are the most popular products within the chemical products segment, which contributed $7,220,640 (or 57%) and $6,676,522 (or 57%) of our chemical segment revenue for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with an increase of $544,118, or 8%. Net revenue from our pesticides manufacturing additives increased from $3,680,950 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $4,142,806 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 13%.

Net revenue from our paper manufacturing additives decreased from $1,393,172 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $1,259,311 for the same period in 2014, a decrease of approximately 10%.

The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of major chemical products for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 from the same period in 2013.
 
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue,
for the three-month period ended June 30,
2014 vs. 2013, as a result of:
 
Oil and gas exploration additives 
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
Total
Increase / (Decrease) in average selling price
 
$
(144,476
 
$
(6,031
 
$
183,848
   
$
33,341
 
Increase / (Decrease) in sales volume
 
$
688,595
   
$
(127,831
)
 
$
278,008
   
$
838,772
 
Total effect on net revenue of chemical products
 
$
544,119
   
$
(133,862
)
 
$
461,856
   
$
872,113
 
 
Cost of Net Revenue
 
   
Cost of Net Revenue by Segment
 
% Change
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
of Cost of
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Bromine
 
$
11,653,753
     
52
%
 
$
12,705,212
     
55
%
   
(8
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
2,824,332
     
12
%
 
$
2,678,177
     
11
%
   
5
%
 
Chemical Products
 
$
8,088,838
     
36
%
 
$
7,876,812
     
34
%
   
3
%
 
Total
 
$
22,566,923
     
100
%
 
$
23,260,201
     
100
%
   
(3
%)
 
 
 
Cost of net revenue reflects mainly the raw materials consumed and the direct salaries and benefits of staff engaged in the production process, electricity, depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery and other manufacturing costs. Our cost of net revenue was $22,566,923 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $693,278 (or 3%) as compared to the same period in 2013. The decrease in overall cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the decrease in purchase price of raw materials of bromine product segment.

Bromine production capacity and utilization of our factories

The table below represents the annual capacity and utilization ratios for all of our bromine producing properties:

   
Annual Production Capacity (in tonnes)
 
Utilization
Ratio (i)
Three-month period ended June 30, 2013
   
47,347
     
51%
 
Three-month period ended June 30, 2014
   
47,347
     
50%
 
Variance of the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013
   
-
     
(1%
)

(i) Utilization ratio is calculated based on the annualized actual production volume in tonnes for the periods divided by the annual production capacity in tonnes.

Our utilization ratio decreased by 1% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 as compared with the same period in 2013.

In view of the trend of a decrease in the bromine concentration of the brine water being extracted at our production facilities as explained in 2013 Form 10-K, and in order to reduce the leakage rate and attempt to recover the annual production capacity of bromine and crude salt to a higher level in the future, we plan to carry out an enhancement project for our transmission channels and ducts in Factories No.10 and No 11 in 2014. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, no such enhancement work was carried out due to the extreme hot weather condition in the Shangdong region. We expect to resume the enhancement work in the third and fourth quarters of 2014 when weather conditions permit.

Bromine segment

For the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, the cost of net revenue for the bromine segment was $11,653,753, a decrease of $1,051,460 or 8% over the same period in 2013. The most significant components of the costs of net revenue for the bromine segment were cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $5,114,904 (or 44%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $4,259,921 (or 37%) and electricity of $933,494 (or 8%) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, the major components of the cost of net revenue were the cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $6,322,171 (or 50%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $4,202,661 (or 33%) and electricity of $918,704 (or 7%), the cost structure changed as compared with the same period in 2013 where the contribution from cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed decreased by 6% and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery increased by 4%. The decrease in net cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the decrease in purchase price of raw material.
 
The table below represents the major production cost component of bromine per tonne sold for respective periods:

Per tonne production cost
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
   
component of bromine segment
 
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Raw materials
 
$
903
     
44
%
 
$
1,116
     
50
%
   
(19
%)
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
752
     
37
%
 
$
742
     
33
%
   
1
%
 
Electricity
 
$
165
     
8
%
 
$
162
     
7
%
   
2
%
 
Others
 
$
238
     
11
%
 
$
222
     
10
%
   
7
%
 
Production cost of bromine per tonne
 
$
2,058
     
100
%
 
$
2,242
     
100
%
   
(8
%)
 
 
Our production cost of bromine per tonne sold was $2,058 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of 8% (or $184) as compared to the same period in 2013, which was attributable mainly to the component of raw materials consumed. The significant percentage decrease in raw materials consumed per tonne by 19% was due to the decrease in the purchase price of raw materials resulting from the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government.

Crude salt segment
The cost of net revenue for our crude salt segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 was $2,824,332, representing an increase of $146,156, or 5%, compared to $2,678,177 for the same period in 2013. The increase in cost was mainly due to increase salary and welfare for labor worker since April 2014 .The significant cost components for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 were depreciation and amortization of $1,955,138 (or 69%), resource taxes calculated based on crude salt sold of $290,768 (or 10%) and electricity of $222,328 (or 8%). The significant cost components for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 were depreciation and amortization of $1,854,237 (or 69%), resource taxes calculated based on crude salt sold of $287,316 (or 11%) and electricity of $228,176 (or 9%).The table below represents the major production cost component of crude salt per ton for respective periods:
 
Per tonne production cost
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
   
component of crude salt segment
 
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
21.8
     
69
%
 
$
20.8
     
69
%
   
5
%
Resource tax
 
$
3.2
     
10
%
 
$
3.2
     
11
%
   
0
%
Electricity
 
$
2.5
     
8
%
 
$
2.6
     
9
%
   
(3
%)
Others
 
$
4.0
     
13
%
 
$
3.4
     
11
%
   
18
%
Production cost of crude salt per tonne
 
$
31.5
     
100
%
 
$
30.0
     
100
%
   
5
%

Chemical products segment
Cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, was $8,088,838, representing an increase of $212,026 or 3% over the same period in 2013. The significant costs were cost of raw material and finished goods consumed of $6,624,338 (or 82%) and $6,846,444 (or 87%) and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $709,338 (or 9%) and $703,786 (or 9%) for each of the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As some of the components of our cost of net revenue are fixed costs such as depreciation and amortization of our manufacturing plant and machinery, the rate of increase of the cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment was less than that of net revenue.
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit was $9,185,891, or 29%, of net revenue for three-month period ended June 30, 2014 compared to $9,593,695, or 29%, of net revenue for the same period in 2013.

   
Gross Profit by Segment
 
% Point Change
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
of Gross
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
Profit Margin
Segment
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Bromine
 
$
4,560,859
     
28
%
 
$
4,768,064
     
27
%
   
1
%
 
Crude Salt
 
$
91,113
     
3
%
 
$
951,799
     
26
%
   
(23
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
4,533,919
     
36
%
 
$
3,873,832
     
33
%
   
3
%
 
Total Gross Profit
 
$
9,185,891
     
29
%
 
$
9,593,695
     
29
%
   
0
%
 

Bromine segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, the gross profit margin for our bromine segment was 28% compared to 27% for the same period in 2013. As mentioned in the net revenue discussion above, due to the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy to slow down the economy, our selling price in the three-month ended June 30, 2014 was affected. We cut the average selling price of bromine from $3,084 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $2,863 per tonne for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 7%, in order to compete with other bromine manufacturers. We expect that the average selling price and gross profit margin of bromine will remain at current level towards the end of 2014 should the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy remain in place.

Crude salt segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 the gross profit margin for our crude salt segment was 3% compared to 26% for the same period in 2013. This 23% decrease in our gross profit margin is mainly attributable to the selling price decreased from $40.72 tonnes for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 to 32.56 tonnes for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 20%, due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government, which has affected our customers’ industries.

Chemical products segment
The gross profit margin for our chemical products segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 was 36% compared to 33% for the same period in 2013, an increase of 3%. This 3% increase in our gross profit margin was mainly a result of the increase in average selling price of pesticides manufacturing additives, decrease in purchase price of raw materials and decrease in factory overhead per unit produced due to higher volume of production.

Research and Development Costs . The total research and development costs incurred for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were $32,558 and $54,480, respectively, a decrease of 40%. Research and development costs for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 represented raw materials used by SYCI for testing the manufacturing routine.
 
 
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $1,701,601 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $720,851 (or 30%) as compared to $2,422,452 for the same period in 2013. This decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) a non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees decrease from $524,400 for the three-month period ended June 30,2013 to $16,100 for the same period of 2014 ; and (ii) the unrealized exchange loss in relation to the translation difference of inter-company balances in USD and RMB for the three-month period ended June 30,2013 amounted to $366,028, as compared to the unrealized exchange gain for the same period in 2014 amounted to $3,223.

Other Operating Income Other operating income was $116,921 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, which represented the sales of wastewater to some of our customers. Other operating income was $287,127 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, which represented (i)the sales of wastewater to some of our customers in the amount of $116,035 and (ii) a sum of $171,092 for insurance compensation received in 2013 for legal fees incurred in 2012. Wastewater is generated from the production of bromine and eventually becomes crude salt when it evaporates. Not all of our bromine production plants have sufficient area on the property to allow for evaporation of wastewater to produce crude salt. Certain of our customers who have facilities located adjacent to our bromine production plants have agreed to allow us to channel our wastewater into brine pans on their properties for evaporation. These customers then are able to sell the resulting crude salt themselves. We signed agreements with four of our customers to sell them our wastewater at market prices.

Income from Operations. Income from operations was $7,531,572 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 (or 24% of net revenue), an increase of $152,797, or approximately 2%, over income from operations for the same period in 2013. The increase was primarily due to the decrease in general and administrative expense as described above, partially offset by decrease in bromine and salt segment revenue mainly due to decreased bromine and crude salt selling price.


   
Income /loss from Operations by Segment
   
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2014
 
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2013
Segment:
       
% of total
     
% of total
Bromine
 
$
3,599,026
   
  47%
 
$
3,882,612
   
  47%
Crude Salt
   
(116,798
)
 
   (2%)
   
728,638
   
  9%
Chemical Products
   
4,191,572
   
  55%
   
3,572,036
   
  44%
Income from operations before corporate costs
   
7,673,800
   
100%
   
8,183,286
   
100%
Corporate costs
   
(142,228
)
       
(804,511
)
   
Income from operations
 
$
7,531,572
       
$
7,378,775
     
 
 
Bromine segment
Income from operations from our bromine segment was $3,599,026 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $283,586 (or approximately 7%) as compared to the same period in 2013. This decrease resulted primarily from the decrease in the average selling price (contributed a decrease of approximately $1.25 million) as a result of the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy, which was partially offset by the decrease in purchase price of raw material.

Crude salt segment
Loss from operations from our crude salt segment was $116,798 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $845,436 (or approximately 116%) compared to the same period in 2013. This decrease resulted primarily from the decrease in selling price (contributed a decrease of approximately $0.73 million) in the three-month period end June 30, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2014 due to macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government and increasing salary and welfare for employees since April 2014 for this quarter as compare to the same period in 2013.

Chemical products segment
Income from operations from our chemical products segment was $4,191,572 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $619,536 (or approximately 17%) compared to the same period in 2013. This increase was primarily due to the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and pesticides manufacturing additives, which was partially offset by the drop in demand for our paper manufacturing additives.

Other Income, Net Other income, net of $66,743 represented bank interest income, net of capital lease interest expense for the three -month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $40,897 (or approximately 158%) as compared to the same period in 2013, mainly due to higher average bank balance held during the three months period ended June 30, 2014 compared to the same period ended June 30, 2013.

Net Income Net income was $5,664,812 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $308,913 (or approximately 6%) compared to the same period in 2013. The increase resulted primarily from the decrease in general and administrative expense as described above, partially offset by decrease in bromine and salt segment revenue which resulted from decrease in bromine and crude salt selling price.

Effective Tax Rate Our effective tax rate for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were 25% and 28% respectively. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 was 3% higher than the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% due to the US federal net operating loss incurred by the Company in which a full valuation allowance was booked and the unrealized exchange loss from the translation of inter-company balance owing in RMB.

Comparison of the Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

   
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2014
   
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2013
   
% Change
Net revenue
  $ 57,344,990     $ 55,356,476       4 %
Cost of net revenue
  $ (41,301,327 )   $ (41,245,673 )     0.1 %
Gross profit
  $ 16,043,663     $ 14,110,803       14 %
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
  $ (49,729 )   $ (45,418 )     9 %
Research and development costs
  $ (63,338 )   $ (72,182 )     (12 %)
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment
  $ (9,866 )   $ -       -  
General and administrative expenses
  $ (3,022,119 )   $ (4,391,669 )     (31 %) 
Other operating income
  $ 234,605     $ 382,689       (39 %)
Income from operations
  $ 13,133,216     $ 9,984,223       32 %
Other income, net
  $ 120,506     $ 45,683       164 %
Income before taxes
  $ 13,253,722     $ 10,029,906       32 %
Income taxes
  $ (3,302,572 )   $ (2,791,042 )     18 %
Net income
  $ 9,951,150     $ 7,238,864       37 %
 
 
Net revenue.  Net revenue for six-month period ended June 30, 2014 was $57,344,990, representing an increase of approximately $1.99million (or 4%) over the same period in 2013. Revenue from the bromine segment decrease from $29,207,643 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $27,976,528 for the same period in 2014, a decrease of approximately 4%. Revenue from the crude salt segment decrease from $6,080,762 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $5,357,340 for the same period in 2014, a decrease of approximately 12%. Revenue from the chemical segment increased from $20,068,071 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $24,011,122 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 20%.

   
Net Revenue by Segment
   
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Percent Increase /Decrease
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
of Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Bromine
 
$
27,976,528
     
49
%
 
$
29,207,643
     
53
%
   
(4
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
5,357,340
     
9
%
 
$
6,080,762
     
11
%
   
(12
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
24,011,122
     
42
%
 
$
20,068,071
     
36
%
   
20
%
 
Total sales
 
$
57,344,990
     
100
%
 
$
55,356,476
     
100
%
   
4
%
 


Bromine and crude salt segments 
 
Six-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
product sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2014
   
June 30, 2013
   
Increase
Bromine (excluded volume sold to SYCI)
   
9,603
     
9,509
     
1
%
Crude Salt
   
152,900
     
151,147
     
1
%
 
   
Six-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
Chemical products segment sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2014
   
June 30, 2013
   
Increase
Oil and gas exploration additives
   
7,226
     
5,984
     
21
%
Paper manufacturing additives
   
2,058
     
2,046
     
1
%
Pesticides manufacturing additives
   
1,651
     
1,484
     
11
%
Overall
   
10,935
     
9,514
     
15
%

Bromine segment
The decrease in net revenue from our bromine segment was mainly due to the decrease in the selling price of bromine. The selling price of bromine decreased from $3,072 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $2,913 per tonnes for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 5%. The major reason for the decrease in the selling price of bromine was mainly due to the continuing macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government beginning in the second half of 2011 to slow down the economy, which has affected our customers’ industries. As a result, we needed to offer competitive selling prices to our customers to compete with other bromine manufacturers. The average selling price for the first half of 2014 remained relatively stable at around $2,900 per tonne. We expect the average selling price of bromine to remain at the current level through the end of 2014 should the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy remain in place.

Due to the lower level of bromine price, our customers increased their inventories. The sales volume of bromine increased from 9,509 tonnes for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to 9,603 tonnes for the same period in 2014, an increase of 1%. The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of bromine for six-month period ended June 30, 2014 from the same period in 2013.

   
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of bromine as a result of:
 
2014 vs. 2013
Decrease in average selling price
 
$
(1,513,385
)
Increase in sales volume
 
$
282,270
 
Total effect on net revenue of bromine
 
$
(1,231,115
 
 
Crude salt segment
The decrease in net revenue from our crude salt segment was mainly due to the decrease in the average selling price of crude salt. The average selling price of crude salt decreased from $40.23 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $35.04 per tonne for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 12%. The decrease in the selling price was mainly due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government to slow down the economy, which has affected our customers’ industries.

   
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of crude salt as a result of:
 
2014 vs. 2013
Decrease in average selling price
 
$
(789,386
)
Increase in sales volume
 
$
65,964
 
Total effect on net revenue of crude salt
 
$
(723,422
)



Chemical products segment
   
Product Mix of Chemical Products Segment
 
Percent
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Change of
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
Net Revenue
Chemical Products
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
$
13,719,606
     
57
%
 
$
11,298,200
     
56
%
   
21
%
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
$
2,371,261
     
 10
%
 
$
2,283,844
     
 12
%
   
4
%
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
$
7,920,256
     
33
%
 
$
6,486,027
     
32
%
   
22
%
 
Total sales
 
$
24,011,122
     
100
%
 
$
20,068,071
     
100
%
   
20
%
 

Net revenue from our chemical products segment increased from $20,068,071 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $24,011,122 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 20%. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in demand for all our chemical products. Our oil and gas exploration chemicals are the most popular products within the chemical products segment, which contributed $13,719,606 (or 57%) and $11,298,200 (or 56%) of our chemical segment revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with an increase of $2,421,406, or 21%. Net revenue from our paper manufacturing additives increased from $2,283,844 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $2,371,261 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 4%. Net revenue from our pesticides manufacturing additives increased from $6,486,027 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 to $7,920,256 for the same period in 2014, an increase of approximately 22%.
 
 
The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of major chemical products for six-month period ended June 30, 2014 from the same period in 2013.
 
Increase in net revenue,
for the six-month period ended June 30,
2014 vs. 2013, as a result of:
 
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
Total
Increase in average selling price
 
$
69,857
   
$
73,806
   
$
668,710
   
$
812,373
 
Increase in sales volume
 
$
2,351,549
   
$
13,611
   
$
765,518
   
$
3,130,678
 
Total effect on net revenue of chemical products
 
$
2,421,406
   
$
87,417
   
$
1,434,228
   
$
3,943,051
 
 
Cost of Net Revenue
 
   
Cost of Net Revenue by Segment
 
% Change
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
of Cost of
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
     
Bromine
 
$
21,424,507
     
52
%
 
$
23,035,054
     
56
%
   
(7
%)
Crude Salt
 
$
4,457,682
     
11
%
 
$
4,374,856
     
11
%
   
2
%
Chemical Products
 
$
15,419,138
     
37
%
 
$
13,835,763
     
33
%
   
11
%
Total
 
$
41,301,327
     
100
%
 
$
41,245,673
     
100
%
   
0.1
%

Cost of net revenue reflects mainly the raw materials consumed and the direct salaries and benefits of staff engaged in the production process, electricity, depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery and other manufacturing costs. Our cost of net revenue was $41,301,327 for six-month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $55,654 (or 0.1%) over the same period in 2014.

Bromine production capacity and utilization of our factories

The table below represents the annual capacity and utilization ratios for all of our bromine producing properties:

   
Annual Production Capacity (in tonnes)
 
Utilization
Ratio (i)
Six-month period ended June 30, 2013
   
47,347
     
42%
 
Six-month period ended June 30, 2014
   
47,347
     
43%
 
Variance of the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013
   
-
     
1%
 

(i)
Utilization ratio is calculated based on the annualized actual production volume in tonnes for the periods divided by the annual production capacity in tonnes.

Our utilization ratio increased by 1% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 as compared with the same period in 2013.
 
 
Bromine segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, the cost of net revenue for the bromine segment was $21,424,507, a decrease of $1,610,547 or 7% over the same period in 2013. The most significant components of the costs of net revenue for the bromine segment were cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $8,656,305 (or 40%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $8,686,697 (or 41%) and electricity of $1,627,204 (or 8%) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, the major components of the cost of net revenue were the cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $10,929,289 (or 47%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $8,315,921 (or 36%) and electricity of $1,499,228 (or 7%), the cost structure changed as compared with the same period in 2013 where the contribution from cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed decreased by 7% and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery increased by 5%. The decrease in net cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the decrease in purchase price of raw material.

The table below represents the major production cost component of bromine per tonne sold for respective periods:

Per tonne production cost
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
   
component of bromine segment
 
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Raw materials
 
$
901
     
40
%
 
$
1,149
     
47
%
   
(22
%)
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
905
     
41
%
 
$
874
     
36
%
   
3
%
Electricity
 
$
169
     
8
%
 
$
158
     
7
%
   
7
%
Others
 
$
256
     
11
%
 
$
241
     
10
%
   
6
%
Production cost of bromine per tonne
 
$
2,231
     
100
%
 
$
2,422
     
100
%
   
(8
%)

Our production cost of bromine per tonne sold was $2,231 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of 8% (or $191) as compared to the same period in 2013, which was attributable mainly to the component of raw materials consumed. The significant percentage decrease in raw materials consumed per tonne by 22% was due to the decrease in the purchase price of raw materials due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government.

Crude salt segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, the cost of net revenue for our crude salt segment was $4,457,682, representing an increase of $82,826, or 2%, compared to $4,374,856 for the same period in 2013. The increase in cost was mainly due to increasing salary and welfare for employees since April 2014.The significant cost components for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 were depreciation and amortization of $3,117,460 (or 70%), resource taxes calculated based on crude salt sold of $497,932 (or 11%) and electricity of $305,095 (or 7%). The significant cost components for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 were depreciation and amortization of $3,075,645 (or 70%), resource taxes calculated based on crude salt sold of $484,834 (or 11%) and electricity of $314,627 (or 7%).The table below represents the major production cost component of crude salt per ton for respective periods:
 
Per tonne production cost
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
   
component of crude salt segment
 
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
20.4
     
70
%
 
$
20.3
     
70
%
   
0.5
%
Resource tax
 
$
3.3
     
11
%
 
$
3.2
     
11
%
   
3
%
Electricity
 
$
2.0
     
7
%
 
$
2.1
     
7
%
   
(5
%)
Others
 
$
3.5
     
12
%
 
$
3.3
     
12
%
   
6
%
Production cost of crude salt per tonne
 
$
29.2
     
100
%
 
$
28.9
     
100
%
   
1
%
 
 
Chemical products segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment was $15,419,138, representing an increase of $1,583,375 or 11% over the same period in 2013. The significant costs were cost of raw material and finished goods consumed of $12,788,769 (or 83%) and $11,822,839 (or 85%) and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $1,423,306 (or 9%) and $1,399,318 (or 10%) for each of the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As some of the components of our cost of net revenue are fixed costs such as depreciation and amortization of our manufacturing plant and machinery, the rate of increase of the cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment was less than that of net revenue.

Gross Profit. Gross profit was $16,043,663, or 28%, of net revenue for six-month period ended June 30, 2014 compared to $14,110,803, or 25%, of net revenue for the same period in 2013. The increase in gross profit percentage was primarily attributable to an increase in the margin percentage of chemical products segment.

   
Gross Profit by Segment
 
% Point Change
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
of Gross
   
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2013
 
Profit Margin
Segment
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Bromine
 
$
6,552,021
     
23
%
 
$
6,172,589
     
21
%
     
2%
 
Crude Salt
 
$
899,658
     
17
%
 
$
1,705,906
     
28
%
   
(11
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
8,591,984
     
36
%
 
$
6,232,308
     
31
%
   
5
%
 
Total Gross Profit
 
$
16,043,663
     
28
%
 
$
14,110,803
     
25
%
   
3
%
 

Bromine segment
The gross profit margin for our bromine segment for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 was 23% compared to 21% for the same period in 2013. This 2% increase is mainly due to the decrease in purchase price of raw materials, which was partially offset by the decrease in bromine price.

Crude salt segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, the gross profit margin for our crude salt segment was 17% compared to 28% for the same period in 2013. This 11% decrease in our gross profit margin is mainly attributable to the decrease in crude salt selling price.
 
 
Chemical products segment
The gross profit margin for our chemical products segment for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 was 36% compared to 31% for the same period in 2013, an increase of 5%. The 5% increase in our gross profit margin was mainly a result of the increase in the average selling price of all the three chemical product segments, decrease in purchase price of raw materials and decrease in factory overhead per unit produced due to higher volume of production.

Research and Development Costs. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the total research and development costs incurred were $63,338 and $72,182, respectively, a decrease of 12%. Research and development costs for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 represented raw materials used by SYCI for testing the manufacturing routine.
 
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $3,022,119 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $1,369,550 (or 31%) as compared to $4,391,669 for the same period in 2013. This decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) a non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees decrease from $532,300 for the six-month period ended June 30,2013 to $30,000 for the same period of 2014 ; and (ii) the unrealized exchange loss in relation to the translation difference of inter-company balances in USD and RMB for the six-month period ended June 30,2013 amounted to $431,147, as compared to the unrealized exchange gain for the same period in 2014 amounted to $238,647.

Other Operating Income Other operating income was $234,605 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, which represented the sales of wastewater to some of our customers. The other operating income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 was $382,689, which represented (i) the sales of wastewater to some of our customers in the amount of $211,597 and (ii) a sum of $171,092 for insurance compensation received in 2013 for legal fees incurred in 2012. Wastewater is generated from the production of bromine and eventually becomes crude salt when it evaporates. Not all of our bromine production plants have sufficient area on the property to allow for evaporation of wastewater to produce crude salt. Certain of our customers who have facilities located adjacent to our bromine production plants have agreed to channel our wastewater into brine pans on their properties for evaporation. These customers then are able to sell the resulting crude salt themselves. We signed agreements with four of our customers to sell them our wastewater at market prices.
 
 
Income from Operations. Income from operations was $13,133,216 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 (or 23% of net revenue), an increase of $3,148,993, or approximately 32%, over income from operations for the same period in 2013. The increase resulted primarily from (i) the increase in demand for all our chemical products; and (ii) the decrease in general and administrative expense as described above, partially offset by decrease in bromine and crude salt selling price.
   
Income from Operations by Segment
   
Six-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2014
 
Six-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2013
Segment:
       
% of total
     
% of total
 
Bromine
 
$
4,617,298
   
  35%
 
$
4,210,425
   
  38%
 
Crude Salt
   
526,509
   
   4%
   
1,266,858
   
  11%
 
Chemical Products
   
7,961,305
   
   61%
   
5,668,715
   
  51%
 
Income from operations before corporate costs
   
13,105,112
   
100%
   
11,145,998
   
100%
 
Corporate costs
   
28,104
         
(1,161,775
)
     
Income from operations
 
$
13,133,216
       
$
9,984,223
       
 
Bromine segment
Income from operations from our bromine segment was $4,617,298 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $406,872 (or approximately 10%) compared to the same period in 2013. This increase resulted primarily from the decrease purchase price of raw material, which was partially offset by the decrease in bromine selling price.

Crude salt segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, income from operations from our crude salt segment was $526,509, a decrease of $740,348 (or approximately 58%) compared to the same period in 2013. This decrease was mainly due to the decrease in the selling price of crude salt.

Chemical products segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, income from operations from our chemical products segment was $7,961,305, an increase of $2,292,590 (or approximately 40%) over same period in 2013. This increase was primarily due to the increase in demand for all of our chemical products segment.

Other Income, Net. Other income, net of $120,506 represented bank interest income, net of capital lease interest expense for the six -month period ended June 30, 20104, an increase of $74,823 (or approximately 164%) as compared to the same period in 2013, mainly due to higher average bank balance held for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 compared to the period ended June 30, 2013.

Net Income. Net income was $9,951,150 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $2,712,286 (or approximately 37%) compared to the same period in 2013. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in demand for all of our chemical products segment, which was partially offset by the decrease in the selling price of bromine and crude salt.

Effective Tax Rate. Our effective tax rate for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was 25% and 28%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 was 3% higher than the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% due to the US federal net operating loss incurred by the Company in which a full valuation allowance was booked and the unrealized exchange loss from the translation of inter-company balance owing in RMB recorded in the six-month period ended June 30, 2013.
 
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
As of June 30, 2014, cash and cash equivalents were $128,952,302 as compared to $107,828,800 as of December 31, 2013. The components of this increase of $21,123,502 are reflected below.
 
Statement of Cash Flows
  
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
23,103,031
   
$
20,705,599
 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
$
(632,845
)
 
$
(588,830
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
$
(304,806
)
 
$
(302,498
)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(1,041,878
)
 
$
1,367,206
 
Net increase (decrease)in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
21,123,502
   
$
21,181,477
 
     
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, we met our working capital and capital investment requirements mainly by using cash flow from operations and cash on hand. The Company intends to continue to explore more brine water resources and obtaining bromine assets through acquisitions, develop new projects and continually look for attractive horizontal and vertical acquisition targets

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, we had positive cash flow from operating activities of $23.1 million and $20.7 million, respectively.
   
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, cash flow from operating activities of $23.1 million exceeded our net income of $9.95 million, mainly due to (i) substantial non-cash charges of $13.9 million, mainly in the form of depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment; partially offset by (ii) cash generated from working capital of $0.7 million, which mainly consisted of the increase in accounts receivable and in inventories and decrease in tax payable, partially offset by the increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, cash flow from operating activities of $20.7 million exceeded our net income of $7.2 million, mainly due to (i) substantial non-cash charges of $14.9 million, mainly in the form of depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, exchange loss on intercompany balances and stock-based compensation; partially offset by (ii) cash generated from working capital of $1.5 million, which mainly consisted of the increase in accounts receivable and decrease in retention payable, partially offset by the increase in taxes payable and decrease in inventories.

Accounts receivable
 
Cash collections on our accounts receivable had a major impact on our overall liquidity. The following table presents the aging analysis of our accounts receivable as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
 
   
June 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
         
% of total
         
% of total
   
Aged 1-30 days
 
$
12,605,118
     
28
%
 
$
11,694,338
     
26
%
 
Aged 31-60 days
 
$
12,457,001
     
28
%
 
$
11,199,632
     
25
%
 
Aged 61-90 days
 
$
10,155,590
     
22
%
 
$
10,256,456
     
23
%
 
Aged 91-120 days
 
$
8,197,507
     
18
%
 
$
8,687,636
     
19
%
 
Aged 121-150 days
 
$
1,888,208
     
4
%
 
$
3,047,293
     
7
%
 
Total
 
$
45,303,424
     
100
%
 
$
44,885,355
     
100
%
 

The overall accounts receivable balance as of June 30, 2014 increased by $418,069 (or 1%), as compared to those as of December 31, 2013. Such increase is mainly attributable to the extended settlement days by customers due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by PRC government to slow down the economy, which in turn lengthened the average turnover days of accounts receivable from customers from 125 days for the fiscal year 2013 to 142 days for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014. Normally, a 90 to 120-day credit period is granted to customers with good repayment history. No allowance for doubtful debts is required for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 as we are not aware of any situation indicating collection problem. About 71% of the balances of accounts receivable as of June 30, 2014 aged more than 90 days was settled in July 2014. We have policies in place to ensure that sales are made to customers with an appropriate credit history and we perform ongoing credit evaluation on the financial condition of our customers.
 
 
Inventory
 
Our inventory consists of the following:
 
   
June 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
         
% of total
       
% of total
Raw materials
 
$
1,102,680
     
19.8
%
 
$
651,810
     
12.3
%
Finished goods
 
$
4,478,086
     
80.3
%
 
$
4,656,814
     
87.8
%
   
$
5,580,766
     
100.1
%
 
$
5,308,624
     
100.1
%
Allowance for obsolete and slowing-moving inventory
 
$
(6,569
)
   
(0.1
%)
 
$
(6,629
)
   
(0.1
%)
Total
 
$
5,574,197
     
100.0
%
 
$
5,301,995
     
100.0
%
 
The net inventory level as of June 30, 2014 increased by $272,202 (or 5%), as compared to the net inventory level as of December 31, 2013.
 
Raw materials increased by 69% as of June 30, 2014 as compared to December 31, 2014. All of the raw materials are basic chemical industry materials, few of which have a possibility of loss over time, or major fluctuations in their prices. So, we concluded that all of our raw materials as of June 30, 2014 are fully realizable for production of finished goods without any impairment.
 
Our finished goods consist of bromine, crude salt and chemical products. Our chemical products are similar to raw materials, with no loss over time, a stable market price and a positive gross profit margin of 36% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 as compared to 31% for the same period in fiscal year 2013. Therefore, we believe that the realization of the chemical products is 100%.

Similarly, as there is no depletion of bromine and the gross profit margin in the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 as compared to the same period in fiscal year 2013 increased to 23% from 21%, we believe that the realization of it is also 100%. We anticipated that the price for the rest of 2014 will not fluctuate significantly to impair the cost of bromine.

The annual loss of crude salt due to evaporation is around 3%. The average selling price of crude salt per ton decreased from $38.53 in the first quarter of 2014 to $32.56 in the second quarter of 2014. In the same periods, gross profit also decreased from 33% to 3%. If the selling price continued to decrease, there would be an impact on our crude salt realization value.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

We used approximately $0.6 million in cash for the prepayment of land leases for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

The above investing activities were financed by the opening cash balances as of December 31, 2013 and cash generated from operation during the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
 
We repaid approximately $0.3 million cash for our capital lease obligation for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

We believe that our available funds and cash flows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated ongoing operating needs for the next twelve (12) months. However we will likely need to raise additional capital in order to fund the ongoing program of acquiring unlicensed bromine properties, increasing our chemical production capacity and developing new bromine and crude salt production line in Sichuan Province, PRC. We expect to raise those funds through credit facilities obtained with lending institutions. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to obtain such funding, whether through the issuance of debt or equity, on terms satisfactory to management and our board of directors.

Working capital was approximately $168.8 million at June 30, 2014 as compared to approximately $146.8 million at December 31, 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to the cash provided by operating activities during the six-month period ended June 30, 2014.
 
 
We had available cash of approximately $129.0 million at June 30, 2014, most of which is in highly liquid current deposits which earn no or little interest. We intend to retain the cash for future expansion of our bromine and crude salt businesses through acquisition, enhancement works to our existing bromine and crude salt business, and exploration cost of new brine water resources in Sichuan Province, any possible attractive horizontal or vertical acquisition targets in the industry, and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
 
In the future we intend to focus our efforts on the activities of SCHC and SYCI as these segments continue to expand within the Chinese market. We also intend to explore the possibility of cooperation with overseas large-scale bromine manufacturers for expansion into overseas markets. As a result, we may issue additional shares of our capital stock and incur new debt in order to raise cash for acquisitions and other capital expenditures during the next twelve months.

We may not be able to identify, successfully integrate or profitably manage any businesses or business segment we may acquire, or any expansion of our business. An expansion may involve a number of risks, including possible adverse effects on our operating results, diversion of management attention, inability to retain key personnel, risks associated with unanticipated events and the financial statement effect of potential impairment of acquired intangible assets, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our condition and results of operations. In addition, if competition for acquisition candidates or operations were to increase, the cost of acquiring businesses could increase materially. We may effect an acquisition with a target business which may be financially unstable, under-managed, or in its early stages of development or growth. In addition, if competition for acquisition candidates or operations were to increase, the cost of acquiring businesses could increase materially. Our inability to implement and manage our expansion strategy successfully may have a material adverse effect on our business and future prospects.
 
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We have no significant contractual obligations not fully recorded on our consolidated balance sheets or fully disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Additional information regarding our contractual obligations and commitments at June 30, 2014 is provided in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 18 – Capital Commitment and Operating Lease Commitments”.

Material Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently have any off balance sheet arrangements falling within the definition of Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and this requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We have identified the following critical accounting policies and estimates used by us in the preparation of our financial statements: accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts, assets retirement obligation, property, plant and equipment, recoverability of long lived assets, mineral rights, revenue recognition, income taxes, and stock-based compensation. These policies and estimates are described in the Company’s 2013 Form 10-K.

 
Pursuant to Item 305(e) of Regulation S-K (§ 229.305(e)), the Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item as it is a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 229.10(f)(1).
 
 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules, regulations and related forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q.
 
(b) Changes in internal controls
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during our most recently completed fiscal quarter, which is the subject of this report, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

None.
 
      

This information has been omitted based on the Company’s status as a smaller reporting company.

Item 2. Unregistered Shares of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.
 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Description
 
31.1                         
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
31.2                         
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
32.1                         
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
101                         
The following financial statements from Gulf Resources, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss); (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity; (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows; and, (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
     
Dated: August 8, 2014
By:
/s/ Xiaobin Liu
   
Xiaobin Liu
   
Chief Executive Officer
   
(principal executive officer)
     
Dated: August 8, 2014
By:
/s/ Min Li
   
Min Li
   
Chief Financial Officer
   
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
42