10-Q 1 e611185_10q-gulf.htm Unassociated Document
 
 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, 2013
   
 
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: 000-20936

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 8, 2013, the registrant had outstanding 38,368,505 shares of common stock.
    
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
 AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
June 30, 2013
Unaudited
   
December 31, 2012
Audited
 
Current Assets
               
Cash
 
$
86,422,512
   
$
65,241,035
 
Accounts receivable
   
39,163,206
     
35,969,900
 
Inventories
   
5,371,214
     
5,993,598
 
Prepayments and deposits
   
18,750
     
-
 
Prepaid land leases
   
459,774
     
47,307
 
Deferred tax assets
   
7,094
     
6,973
 
Total Current Assets
   
131,442,550
     
107,258,813
 
Non-Current Assets
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
155,117,858
     
165,942,542
 
Property, plant and equipment under capital leases, net
   
1,898,683
     
1,996,478
 
Prepaid land leases, net of current portion
   
752,697
     
748,502
 
Deferred tax assets
   
2,285,533
     
2,246,699
 
Total non-current assets
   
160,054,771
     
170,934,221
 
Total Assets
 
$
291,497,321
   
$
278,193,034
 
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
$
6,330,644
   
$
6,533,236
 
Retention payable
   
385,360
     
1,432,690
 
Capital lease obligation, current portion
   
99,011
     
193,164
 
Taxes payable
   
4,715,553
     
2,856,658
 
Total Current Liabilities
   
11,530,568
     
11,015,748
 
Non-Current Liabilities
               
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion
   
2,904,931
     
2,952,902
 
Total Liabilities
 
$
14,435,499
   
$
13,968,650
 
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
PREFERRED STOCK; $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding
 
$
     
$
   
COMMON STOCK; $0.0005 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012; 38,552,070 and 38,552,070 shares issued; and 38,367,471 and 38,367,471 shares outstanding as of June 30,
2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively
   
19,276
     
19,276
 
Treasury stock; 184,599 shares as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 at cost
   
(500,000
)
   
(500,000
)
Additional paid-in capital
   
80,021,488
     
79,489,188
 
Retained earnings unappropriated
   
153,572,726
     
146,745,754
 
Retained earnings appropriated
   
16,385,779
     
15,973,887
 
Cumulative translation adjustment
   
27,562,553
     
22,496,279
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
   
277,061,822
     
264,224,384
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
291,497,321
   
$
278,193,034
 

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,
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
2013
   
2012
 
                         
NET REVENUE
                       
Net revenue
 
$
32,853,896
   
$
31,314,846
   
$
55,356,476
   
$
55,123,520
 
                                 
OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES)
                               
Cost of net revenue
   
(23,260,201
)
   
(21,389,651
)
   
(41,245,673
)
   
(38,505,533
)
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
   
(25,115
)
   
(22,709
)
   
(45,418
)
   
(40,473
)
Research and development cost
   
(54,480
)
   
(62,526
)
   
(72,182
)
   
(105,324
)
Write-off/Impairment on property, plant and equipment
   
-
     
(911,995
)
   
-
     
(911,995
)
General and administrative expenses
   
(2,422,452
)
   
(1,370,866
)
   
(4,391,669
)
   
(3,483,071
)
Other operating income
   
287,127
     
76,104
     
382,689
     
133,178
 
     
(25,475,121
)
   
(23,681,643
)
   
(45,372,253
)
   
(42,913,218
)
                                 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
   
7,378,775
     
7,633,203
     
9,984,223
     
12,210,302
 
                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
                               
Interest expense
   
(53,583
)
   
(54,255
)
   
(106,589
)
   
(108,667
)
Interest income
   
79,429
     
84,915
     
152,272
     
183,805
 
INCOME BEFORE TAXES
   
7,404,621
     
7,663,863
     
10,029,906
     
12,285,440
 
                                 
INCOME TAXES
   
(2,048,722
)
   
(1,975,189
)
   
(2,791,042
)
   
(3,309,659
)
NET INCOME
 
$
5,355,899
   
$
5,688,674
   
$
7,238,864
   
$
8,975,781
 
                                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
                               
NET INCOME
 
$
5,355,899
   
$
5,688,674
   
$
7,238,864
   
$
8,975,781
 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
                               
- Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
4,298,508
     
(1,316,002
)
   
5,066,274
     
(1,038,104
)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
$
9,654,407
   
$
4,372,672
   
$
12,305,138
   
$
7,937,677
 
                                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                               
BASIC
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.19
   
$
0.26
 
DILUTED
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.19
   
$
0.26
 
                                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES:
                               
                                 
BASIC
   
38,367,471
     
34,560,743
     
38,367,471
     
34,560,743
 
DILUTED
   
38,591,127
     
34,560,743
     
38,546,042
     
34,561,394
 
 
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, 2013
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
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, 2012
    38,552,070       38,367,471       184,599       19,276       (500,000 )     79,489,188       15,973,887       146,745,754       22,496,279       264,224,384  
Translation adjustment
 
- 
      -       -    
- 
           
- 
   
- 
   
- 
      5,066,274       5,066,274  
Issuance of stock options to employees
    -       -       -       -       -       532,300       -       -       -       532,300  
Net income for six-month period ended June 30, 2013
 
- 
      -       -    
- 
      -    
- 
   
- 
      7,238,864    
- 
      7,238,864  
Transfer to statutory common reserve fund
    -       -       -       -       -       -       411,892       (411,892 )     -       -  
BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2013
    38,552,070       38,367,471       184,599       19,276       (500,000 )     80,021,488       16,385,779       153,572,726       27,562,553       277,061,822  
 
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,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
 
   
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
   
 
 
Net income
 
$
7,238,864
   
$
8,975,781
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
Interest on capital lease obligation
   
106,206
     
108,044
 
Amortization of prepaid land leases
   
189,918
     
105,051
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
13,685,539
     
11,290,588
 
Write-off/Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment
   
-
     
911,995
 
Exchange (gain) loss on inter-company balances
   
431,147
     
(92,057
)
Stock-based compensation expense
   
532,300
     
26,300
 
Deferred tax asset
   
-
   
160,826
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
             
Accounts receivable
   
(2,621,905
)
   
(19,514,217
)
Inventories
   
715,714
     
467,279
 
Prepayments and deposits
   
(18,750
)
   
(38,610
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
(296,268
)
   
206,207
 
Retention payable
   
(1,055,003
)
   
(457,813
)
Taxes payable
   
1,797,837
     
189,434
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
20,705,599
     
2,338,808
 
               
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
             
Additions of prepaid land leases
   
(588,830
)
   
(422,877
)
Increase in construction in progress
   
-
     
(7,871,130
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(588,830
)
   
(8,294,007
)
               
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Repayment of capital lease obligation
   
(302,498
)
   
(297,598
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(302,498
)
   
(297,598
)
               
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
1,367,206
     
(278,492
)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
21,181,477
     
(6,531,289
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
65,241,035
     
78,576,060
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD
 
$
86,422,512
   
$
72,044,771
 
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Income taxes
 
$
1,287,273
   
$
2,945,542
 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
    
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
(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”). The balance sheet at December 31, 2012 is derived from the audited balance sheet but does not include all disclosures required by US GAAP. In connection with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in this report, reference is made to the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Form 10-K”).

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 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  2012 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, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 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, 2013 and 2012.

(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 $86,422,512 and $65,241,035 with these institutions as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 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 89.5% and 100% of the balances of accounts receivable as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, are outstanding for less than three months. For the balances of accounts receivable aged more than 90 days as of June 30, 2013, all was settled in July 2013.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
(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 $124,158 and $112,275 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and totaled $243,913 and $242,393 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, 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.

(h)           Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

The Company does not charge its customers for shipping and handling as all customers arrange their own transportation of finished goods.  The Company classifies shipping and handling costs for purchase of raw materials as part of the cost of net revenue, which amounted to $0 and $80,607 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There is no such shipping and handling costs for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 as they are borne by the suppliers since April 2012.
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

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

(i)           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 periods ended June 30, 2012, Certain eroded protective shells for transmission channels and ducts, with net book values of $911,995, were replaced during the second phase enhancement project, write-offs of the same amounts, were made in this quarter and included in write-off/impairment on property, plant and equipment.

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

(j)           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 5,282,849 and 2,906,971 shares for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and amounted to 5,189,462 and 2,175,548 shares for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, 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, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(j)           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,
   
2013
   
2012
     
2013
     
2012
 
Numerator
                           
Net income
 
$
5,355,899
   
$
5,688,674
   
$
7,238,864
   
$
8,975,781
 
                                 
Denominator
                               
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period
   
38,367,471
     
34,560,743
     
38,367,471
     
34,560,743
 
Add: Dilutive effect of stock options
   
223,656
     
-
     
178,571
     
651
 
Diluted
   
38,591,127
     
34,560,743
     
38,546,042
     
34,561,394
 
                                 
Net income per share
                               
Basic
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.19
   
$
0.26
 
Diluted
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.19
   
$
0.26
 
 
(k)           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.
 
(l)           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.

(m)           New Accounting Pronouncements

No accounting standards and guidance with an effective date during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 or issued during 2013 had or are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2 – ASSET ACQUISITIONS
 
On November 26, 2012, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Chengyong Zhao in Guantai Village located Shouguang City Yangkou Township area (the “Chengyong Zhao Property” or “Factory No. 11”). The Chengyong Zhao Property includes a 20-year land lease covering approximately 1,727 acres of real property, with the related production facility, wells, pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was RMB 62 million (approximately $9.80 million), consisting of RMB 31 million (approximately $4.93million) in cash and 3,806,728 shares of the Company’s Common Stock valued at approximately $4.87 million (fair value). The production line of Factory No. 11 was resumed in March 2013 after certain repair and adjustments.

The Factory No. 11 described above was not in operation when the Company acquired the assets. Production of Factory No. 11 had previously been halted by the government since the owners of the bromine factories did not hold the proper license for the exploration and production of bromine.  The Factories No.11 had not been in operation for more than six months at the time of the acquisition. The Company recorded the above transactions as a purchase of assets.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 3 – INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of:
 
   
June 30,
2013
   
December 31,
2012
 
             
Raw materials
 
$
692,551
   
$
773,453
 
Finished goods
   
4,707,039
     
5,248,039
 
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventory
   
(28,376
)
   
(27,894
)
   
$
5,371,214
   
$
5,993,598
 
 
NOTE 4 – 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 periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $91,703 and $50,180, respectively, which were recorded as cost of net revenue. During the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $189,918 and $105,051, 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 $1,169,534 and approximately 59.39 square kilometers with an aggregate carrying value of $753,086 as at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
 
NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following:
 
   
June 30,
2013
   
December 31,
2012
 
At cost:
           
Mineral rights
 
$
6,443,763
   
$
6,334,277
 
Buildings
   
51,785,222
     
50,905,337
 
Plant and machinery
   
168,992,691
     
166,121,329
 
Motor vehicles
   
9,298
     
9,140
 
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment
   
4,859,614
     
4,777,044
 
Total
   
232,090,588
     
228,147,127
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(76,972,730
)
   
(62,204,585
)
Net book value
 
$
155,117,858
   
$
165,942,542
 

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 $39,179,525 and $39,563,438 as at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET – Continued

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 three-month period ended June 30, 2012, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $5,521,178, of which $5,403,370 and $117,808 were recorded as cost of net revenue 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. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2012, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $11,118,099, of which $10,645,703 and $472,396 were recorded as cost of sales and administrative expenses respectively.

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT UNDER CAPITAL LEASES, NET

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

   
June 30,
2013
   
December 31,
2012
 
At cost:
           
Buildings
 
$
133,190
   
$
130,925
 
Plant and machinery
   
2,503,566
     
2,461,028
 
Total
   
2,636,756
     
2,591,953
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(738,073
)
   
(595,475
)
Net book value
 
$
1,898,683
   
$
1,996,478
 
 
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 periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $65,870 and $86,247, respectively, which was recorded as cost of net revenue. During the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $130,968 and $172,489, respectively, which was recorded as cost of net revenue.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 7 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Accounts payable
 
$
5,173,565
   
$
3,797,552
 
Salary payable
   
202,317
     
190,926
 
Social security insurance contribution payable
   
56,643
     
52,399
 
Price adjustment funds
   
395,936
     
1,758,828
 
Other payables
   
502,183
     
733,531
 
Total
 
$
6,330,644
   
$
6,533,236
 
 
NOTE 8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, the Company borrowed $99,000 and $420,449, 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.

NOTE 9 – TAXES PAYABLE
 
Taxes payable consists of the following:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Income tax payable
 
$
2,129,332
   
$
606,190
 
Mineral resource compensation fee payable
   
366,583
     
239,776
 
Value added tax payable
   
1,065,876
     
771,673
 
Land use tax payable
   
940,364
     
888,349
 
Other tax payables
   
213,398
     
350,670
 
Total
 
$
4,715,553
   
$
2,856,658
 
   
NOTE 10 – CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
 
The components of capital lease obligations are as follows:
 
 
Imputed
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
Interest rate
 
2013
 
2012
Total capital lease obligations
6.7%
 
$
3,003,942
   
$
3,146,066
 
Less: Current portion
     
(99,011
)
   
(193,164
)
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion
   
$
2,904,931
   
$
2,952,902
 

Interest expenses from capital lease obligations amounted to $53,416 and $54,024 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which were charged to the income statements. Interest expenses from capital lease obligations amounted to $106,206 and $108,044 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which were charged to the income statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 11 ––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 is in the process of filing 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.

(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, 2013 for SCHC and SYCI is 35% and 50% of its registered capital respectively.

NOTE 12 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, the aggregate number shares of the Company’s common stock available for grant of stock options and issuance is 4,341,989 shares.

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 2013, 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 $1.12 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $4,900 fair value, with assumed 74.73% volatility, a three-year expiration term with expected tenor of 1.49 years, a risk free rate of 0.19% and no dividend yield. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2013, $4,900 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

On May 30, 2013, the Company granted to 3 executive officers and 17 management staff options to purchase 600,000 shares and 203,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, at an exercise price of $0.952 per share and the options vested immediately. The options to executive officers and management staff were valued at $394,100 and $133,300 fair value, respectively, both with assumed 80.76% volatility, a four-year expiration term with expected tenor of 2 years, a risk free rate of 0.29% and no dividend yield.

The following table summarizes all Company stock option transactions between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013.
 
   
Number of Option
and Warrants
Outstanding
   
Number of Option
and Warrants
Vested
   
Range of
Exercise Price per Common Share
 
Balance, January 1, 2013
   
1,974,471
     
1,974,471
   
$0.95 - $12.60
 
Granted and vested during the six-month period ended June 30, 2013
   
815,500
     
815,500
   
$0.95 - $1.12
 
Balance, June 30, 2013
   
2,789,971
     
2,789,971
   
$0.95 - $12.60
 
 
     
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 12 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – Continued

   
Stock and Warrants Options Exercisable and Outstanding
           
Weighted Average
 
Weighted Average
           
Remaining
 
Exercise Price of
   
Outstanding at June 30, 2013
 
Range of
Exercise Prices
 
Contractual Life
 (Years)
 
Options Currently
 Outstanding
Exercisable and outstanding
 
2,789,971
 
$0.95 - $12.60
 
2.75
 
$   3.11
 
The weighted average grant-date fair values as at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were $3.64 and $4.62, respectively.
 
NOTE 13 – 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 34%. 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, 2013 and 2012, 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, 2013 and 2012.

(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, 2013 and 2012.  The applicable statutory tax rates for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 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 13 – INCOME TAXES – Continued

As of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the accumulated distributable earnings under the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP”) of PRC are $208,469,568 and $197,042,047, 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, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 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, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the unrecognized WHT are $9,321,132 and $8,768,486, respectively.
 
The components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations are:

 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
Current taxes – PRC
$ 2,048,722     $ 1,892,567     $ 2,791,042     $ 3,148,833  
Deferred taxes – PRC
  -       82,622       -       160,826  
  $ 2,048,722     $ 1,975,189     $ 2,791,042     $ 3,309,659  
 
The effective income tax expenses differ from the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% from continuing operations in the PRC as follows:
 
 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
Reconciliations
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Statutory income tax rate
 
25
%
   
25
%
   
25
%
   
25
%
 
Non-deductible expenses
 
1
%
   
0
%
   
1
%
   
0
%
 
US federal net operating loss
 
2
%
   
1
%
   
2
%
   
2
%
 
Effective tax rate
 
28
%
   
26
%
   
28
%
   
27
%
 
 
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Deferred tax liabilities
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
                 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventories
 
$
7,094
   
$
6,973
 
Impairment on property, plant and equipment
   
472,812
     
464,778
 
Exploration costs
   
1,812,721
     
1,781,921
 
Compensation costs of unexercised stock options
   
1,990,360
     
1,809,378
 
US federal net operating loss
   
8,876,646
     
8,809,935
 
Total deferred tax assets
   
13,159,633
     
12,872,985
 
Valuation allowance
   
(10,867,006
)
   
(10,619,313
)
Net deferred tax asset
 
$
2,292,627
   
$
2,253,672
 
                 
Current deferred tax asset
 
$
7,094
   
$
6,973
 
Long-term deferred tax asset
 
$
2,285,533
   
$
2,246,699
 

The increase in valuation allowance for each of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 is $148,308 and $106,382, respectively, and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 is $247,693 and $330,313, respectively.

There were no unrecognized tax benefits and accrual for uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 14 – 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, 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
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Write-off / Impairment 
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 


Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2012
 
Bromine*
   
Crude
 Salt*
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
Net revenue
(external customers)
 
$
17,539,429
   
$
3,779,658
   
$
9,995,759
   
$
31,314,846
   
$
-
   
$
31,314,846
 
Net revenue
(intersegment)
   
808,596
     
-
     
-
     
808,596
     
-
     
808,596
 
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
   
3,933,561
     
888,555
     
3,007,381
     
7,829,497
     
(196,294
)
   
7,633,203
 
Income taxes
   
1,018,311
     
198,783
     
758,095
     
1,975,189
     
-
     
1,975,189
 
Income (loss) from operations after taxes
   
2,915,250
     
689,772
     
2,249,286
     
5,854,308
     
(196,294
)
   
5,658,014
 
Total assets
   
158,305,734
     
56,621,811
     
50,634,822
     
265,562,367
     
425,477
     
265,987,844
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
3,509,790
     
1,442,179
     
655,456
     
5,607,425
     
-
     
5,607,425
 
Capital expenditures
   
6,567,296
     
1,281,991
     
-
     
7,849,287
     
-
     
7,849,287
 
Write-off / Impairment 
   
763,043
     
148,952
     
-
     
911,995
     
-
     
911,995
 
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2012
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 14 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS – Continued

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
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Write-off / Impairment 
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 


Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2012
 
Bromine*
   
Crude
 Salt*
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
Net revenue
(external customers)
 
$
30,993,311
   
$
6,054,582
   
$
18,075,627
   
$
55,123,520
   
$
-
   
$
55,123,520
 
Net revenue
(intersegment)
   
1,563,153
     
-
     
-
     
1,563,153
     
-
     
1,563,153
 
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
   
6,401,865
     
1,437,005
     
5,250,276
     
13,089,146
     
(878,844
)
   
12,210,302
 
Income taxes
   
1,681,209
     
302,649
     
1,325,801
     
3,309,659
     
-
     
3,309,659
 
Income (loss) from operations after taxes
   
4,720,656
     
1,134,356
     
3,924,475
     
9,779,487
     
(878,844
)
   
8,900,643
 
Total assets
   
158,305,734
     
56,621,811
     
50,634,822
     
265,562,367
     
425,477
     
265,987,844
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
7,174,033
     
2,805,685
     
1,310,870
     
11,290,588
     
-
     
11,290,588
 
Capital expenditures
   
6,567,296
     
1,281,991
     
-
     
7,849,287
     
-
     
7,849,287
 
Write-off / Impairment 
   
763,043
     
148,952
     
-
     
911,995
     
-
     
911,995
 

* 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, 2013
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 14 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS – Continued

   
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
Reconciliations
 
2013
   
2012
   
2013
   
2012
 
Total segment operating income
 
$
8,183,286
   
$
7,829,497
   
$
11,145,998
   
$
13,089,146
 
Corporate costs
   
(804,511
)
   
(196,294
)
   
(1,161,775
)
   
(878,844
)
Income from operations
   
7,378,775
     
7,633,203
     
9,984,223
     
12,210,302
 
Other income (expense)
   
25,846
     
30,660
     
45,683
     
75,138
 
Income before taxes
 
$
7,404,621
   
$
7,663,863
   
$
10,029,906
   
$
12,285,440
 
 
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 %
 
The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012.

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
 
$
1,904
   
$
727
   
$
1,109
   
$
3,740
     
11.9%
 
  2  
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
 
$
2,257
   
$
898
   
$
-
   
$
3,155
     
10.1%
 
TOTAL
     
$
4,161
   
$
1,625
   
$
1,109
   
$
6,895
     
22.0%
 
 
The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012.

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
 
$
3,634
   
$
1,113
   
$
2,107
   
$
6,854
     
12.4%
 
  2  
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
 
$
4,278
   
$
1,346
   
$
-
   
$
5,624
     
10.2%
 
TOTAL
     
$
7,912
   
$
2,459
   
$
2,107
   
$
12,478
     
22.6%
 
 
NOTE 15 – MAJOR SUPPLIERS

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. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, the Company purchased 85.7% and 83.5% of its raw materials from its top five suppliers, respectively.  As of June 30, 2012, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $3,305,237. 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, 2012
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 16 – 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, 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. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, the Company sold 42.8% and 43.4% of its products to its top five customers, respectively. As of June 30, 2012, amounts due from these customers were $19,888,840. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.

NOTE 17 – 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, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

NOTE 18 – 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, 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. The total research and development expenses recognized in the income statements during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 were $62,526 and $105,324, respectively, of which the consumption of bromine produced by the Company amounted to $13,268 and $24,008, respectively. 

NOTE 19 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

As of June 30, 2013, 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, 2013.

The following table sets forth the Company’s contractual obligations as of June 30, 2013:

   
Capital Lease Obligations
   
Operating Lease Obligations
   
Construction Project Obligations
 
Payable within: 
                 
the next 12 months
$
303,792
   
$
955,478
   
$
-
 
the next 13 to 24 months
   
303,792
     
973,386
     
-
 
the next 25 to 36 months
   
303,792
     
995,256
     
-
 
the next 37 to 48 months
   
303,792
     
1,014,923
     
-
 
the next 49 to 60 months
   
303,792
     
1,038,792
     
-
 
thereafter
   
3,645,509
     
21,817,253
     
-
 
Total
 
$
5,164,472
   
$
26,795,088
   
$
-
 
Less: Amount representing interest
   
(2,160,530
)
               
Present value of net minimum lease payments
 
$
3,003,942
                 
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2012
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 19 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS – Continued

Rental expenses related to operating leases of the Company amounted to $237,214 and $194,450, which were charged to the income statements for the three-month ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Rental expenses related to operating leases of the Company amounted to $471,533 and $388,766, which were charged to the income statements for the six-month ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

NOTE 20 – CONTINGENCY
 
Class Action
 
The Company and certain of its officers and directors (Ming Yang, Xiaobin Liu, and Min Li, collectively, the “Individual Defendants”) have been named as defendants in a putative securities class action lawsuit alleging violations of the federal securities laws. That action, which is now captioned Lewy, et al. v. Gulf Resources, Inc., et al., No. 11-cv-3722 ODW (MRWx), was filed on April 29, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The lead plaintiffs, who seek to represent a class of all purchasers and acquirers of the Company’s common stock between March 16, 2009 and April 26, 2011 inclusive, filed an amended complaint on September 12, 2011. Lead plaintiffs assert claims for violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The amended complaint alleges the defendants made false or misleading statements in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and in interim quarterly reports by, among other things, overstating revenue and net income and failing to disclose material related party transactions and certain facts about the CEO’s prior employment at another company. The amended complaint also asserts claims against the Individual Defendants for violations of Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The amended complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On May 15, 2012, the Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On April 30, 2013, the parties executed a stipulation and agreement of settlement. The proposed settlement is subject to review and approval of the Court. The Company currently cannot estimate the amount or range of the overall costs in connection with this litigation. The Company believes that such costs will be reimbursed by the insurance company to the extent covered by the insurance policies.
 
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

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 2012 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 2012 Form 10-K and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for the year ended December 31, 2012.

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, 2013 and 2012. 

Comparison of the Three-Month Periods Ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

 
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2013
 
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2012
 
% Change
Net revenue
$
32,853,896
   
$
31,314,846
 
 
 
5
%
 
Cost of net revenue
$
(23,260,201
 
$
(21,389,651
 
 
9
%
 
Gross profit
$
9,593,695
   
$
9,925,195
 
 
 
(3
%)
 
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
$
(25,115
 
$
(22,709
)
   
11
%
 
Research and development costs
$
(54,480
 
$
(62,526
 
 
(13
%)
 
Write-off/Impairment on property, plant and equipment
$
-
   
$
(911,995
 
 
(100
%)
 
General and administrative expenses
$
(2,422,452
 
$
(1,370,866
)
   
77
 
Other operating income
$
287,127
   
$
76,104
 
 
 
277
%
 
Income from operations
$
7,378,775
   
$
7,633,203
 
 
 
(3
%)
 
Other income (expense), net
$
25,846
   
$
30,660
 
 
 
(16
%)
 
Income before taxes
$
7,404,621
   
$
7,663,863
 
 
 
(3
%)
 
Income taxes
$
(2,048,722
 
$
(1,975,189
 
 
4
%
 
Net income
$
5,355,899
   
$
5,688,674
 
 
 
(6
%)
 

Net revenue.  Net revenue was $32,853,896 for three-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of approximately $1.5 million (or 5%) as compared to the same period in 2012. This increase was primarily attributable to the growth in our chemical products segment products, which increased from $9,995,759 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $11,750,644 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 18%.

Revenue from the crude salt segment decreased from $3,779,658 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,629,976 for the same period in 2013, a decrease of approximately 4%. Revenue from the bromine products segment slightly decreased from $17,539,429 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $17,473,276 for the same period in 2013, a decrease of approximately 0.4%.
 
   
Net Revenue by Segment
   
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Percent Increase/Decrease
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
of Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Bromine
 
$
17,473,276
     
53
%
 
$
17,539,429
     
56
%
   
(0.4
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
3,629,976
     
11
%
 
$
3,779,658
     
12
%
   
(4
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
11,750,644
     
36
%
 
$
9,995,759
     
32
%
   
18
%
 
Total sales
 
$
32,853,896
     
100
%
 
$
31,314,846
     
100
%
   
5
%
 
 
Bromine and crude salt segments 
 
Three-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
product sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Increase/(Decrease)
Bromine (excluded volume sold to SYCI)
   
5,666
     
5,031
     
13
%
Crude Salt
   
89,140
     
100,745
     
(12
%)
 
   
Three-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
Chemical products segment sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Increase/(Decrease)
Oil and gas exploration additives
   
3,493
     
3,057
     
14
%
Paper manufacturing additives
   
1,207
     
771
     
57
%
Pesticides manufacturing additives
   
800
     
830
     
(4
%)
Overall
   
5,500
     
4,658
     
18
%
 
 
Bromine segment
The decrease in net revenue from our bromine segment was mainly due to the decrease in the selling price of bromine, offset by the increase in average selling price. The selling price of bromine decreased from $3,486 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,084 tonnes for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 12%. 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 increased $128 per tonne, as compared with the three-month period ended December 31, 2012, which was $2,954 per tonne. We expect the average selling price of bromine to remain at the current level through the end of 2013 should the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy remain in place.
 
Due to the lower level of bromine price, our customers increased their bromine inventories. The sales volume of bromine increased from 5,031 tonnes for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 to 5,666 tonnes for the same period in 2013, an increase of 13%. The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of bromine for three-month period ended June 30, 2013 from the same period in 2012.

   
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of bromine as a result of:
 
2013 vs. 2012
Decrease in average selling price
 
$
(2,153,185
)
Increase in sales volume
 
$
2,087,032
 
Total effect on net revenue of bromine
 
$
(66,153

Crude salt segment
 
The decrease in net revenue from our crude salt segment was mainly due to the decrease in the sales volume of crude salt, offset by the increase in average selling price. The sales volume of crude of crude salt decreased by 12% from 100,745 tonnes for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to 89,140 tonnes for the same period in 2013. The major reason for the decrease in the sales volume of crude salt was mainly attributable to the large volume of crude salt inventory held by our customers and the decreased crude salt terminal products sales due to macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government.

 
The average selling price of crude salt increased from $37.52 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $40.72 per tonne for the same period in 2013, an increase of 9%.
 
We noted an upward trend in the average selling price of crude salt since the third quarter of 2011 as due to the stable demand of the crude salt. The average selling price increased from $37.19 per tonne in the third quarter of 2011 to $40.72 per tonne in the second quarter of 2013. We expect the average selling price of crude salt to remain at current levels through the end of 2013. The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of crude salt for three-month period ended June 30, 2013 from the same period in 2012.

   
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of crude salt as a result of:
 
2013 vs. 2012
Increase in average selling price
 
$
304,307
 
Decrease in sales volume
 
$
(453,989
Total effect on net revenue of crude salt
 
$
(149,682
 
 
Chemical products segment
 
   
Product Mix of Chemical Products Segment
 
Percent
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Change of
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Net Revenue
Chemical Products
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
$
6,676,522
     
57
%
 
$
5,569,089
     
56
%
   
20
%
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
$
1,393,172
     
12
%
 
$
985,068
     
10
%
   
41
%
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
$
3,680,950
     
31
%
 
$
3,441,602
     
34
%
   
7
%
 
Total sales
 
$
11,750,644
     
100
%
 
$
9,995,759
     
100
%
   
18
%
 

Net revenue from our chemical products segment increased from $9,995,759 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $11,750,644 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 18%. The increase was attributable to the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives. Our oil and gas exploration chemicals are the most popular products within the chemical products segment, which contributed $6,676,522 (or 57%) and $5,569,089 (or 56%) of our chemical segment revenue for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, with an increase of $1,107,433, or 20%. Net revenue from our paper manufacturing additives increased from $985,068 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $1,393,172 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 41%. Net revenue from our pesticides manufacturing additives increased from $3,441,602 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,680,950 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 7%.

The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of major chemical products for three-month period ended June 30, 2013 from the same period in 2012.
 
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue,
for the three-month period ended June 30,
2013 vs. 2012, as a result of:
 
Oil and gas exploration additives 
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
Total
Increase / (Decrease) in average selling price
 
$
293,606
   
$
(122,048
 
$
370,563
   
$
542,121
 
Increase / (Decrease) in sales volume
 
$
813,827
   
$
530,153
   
$
(131,216
 
$
1,212,764
 
Total effect on net revenue of chemical products
 
$
1,107,433
   
$
408,105
   
$
239,347
   
$
1,754,885
 
 
Cost of Net Revenue
 
   
Cost of Net Revenue by Segment
 
% Change
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
of Cost of
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Bromine
 
$
12,705,212
     
55
%
 
$
11,969,325
     
56
%
   
6
%
 
Crude Salt
 
$
2,678,177
     
11
%
 
$
2,556,779
     
12
%
   
5
%
 
Chemical Products
 
$
7,876,812
     
34
%
 
$
6,863,547
     
32
%
   
15
%
 
Total
 
$
23,260,201
     
100
%
 
$
21,389,651
     
100
%
   
9
%
 
 
 
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 $23,260,201 for three-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $1,870,550 (or 9%) as compared to the same period in 2012. The increase in overall cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in volume of products sold and the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery, which was partially offset by the decrease in purchase price of raw materials.

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, 2012
   
44,547
     
47%
 
Three-month period ended June 30, 2013
   
47,347
     
51%
 
Variance of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012
   
2,800
 (ii)
   
4%
 

(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.

(ii) The increase in 2,800 tonnes production capacity represents the management’s estimate of the capacity of Factory No. 11 acquired in late November 2012.

Our utilization ratio increased by 4% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 as compared with the same period in 2012. The increase in utilization was mainly attributable to the increasing demand of bromine from the downstream industrial customers.

Bromine segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, the cost of net revenue for the bromine segment was $12,705,212, an increase of $735,888 or 6% over the same period in 2012. The most significant components of the costs of net revenue for the bromine segment were 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%) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2012, the major components of the cost of net revenue were the cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $6,616,505 (or 55%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $3,423,638 (or 29%) and electricity of $799,502 (or 7%), the cost structure changed as compared with the same period in 2012 where the contribution from cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed decreased by 5% and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery increased by 4%. The increase in net cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in volume of products sold and the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery, which was largely offset by 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, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Raw materials
 
$
1,116
     
50
%
 
$
1,315
     
55
%
   
(15
%)
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
742
     
33
%
 
$
681
     
29
%
   
9
%
 
Electricity
 
$
162
     
7
%
 
$
159
     
7
%
   
2
%
 
Others
 
$
222
     
10
%
 
$
224
     
9
%
   
(0.9
%)
 
Production cost of bromine per tonne
 
$
2,242
     
100
%
 
$
2,379
     
100
%
   
(6
%)
 
 
Our production cost of bromine per tonne sold was $2,242 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of 6% (or $137) as compared to the same period in 2012, which was attributable mainly to the component of raw materials consumed. The significant percentage decrease in raw materials consumed per tonne by 15% was due to the decrease in the purchase price of raw materials due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government. The cost of depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery per tonne increased by 9% as compared to the same period in 2012, which was mainly attributable to the enhancement projects in second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery.

Crude salt segment
The cost of net revenue for our crude salt segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 was $2,678,177, representing an increase of $121,398, or 5%, compared to $2,556,779 for the same period in 2012. The increase in cost was mainly due to the increase in the number of enhancement projects performed in second quarter of 2012, which in turn resulted in an increase in the depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery. 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 significant cost components for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 were depreciation and amortization of $1,771,016 (or 69%), resource taxes calculated based on crude salt sold of $319,462 (or 12%) and electricity of $193,917 (or 8%). 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, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
20.8
     
69
%
 
$
17.6
     
69
%
   
18
%
Resource tax
 
$
3.2
     
11
%
 
$
3.2
     
13
%
   
0
%
Electricity
 
$
2.6
     
9
%
 
$
2.0
     
8
%
   
33
%
Others
 
$
3.4
     
11
%
 
$
2.6
     
10
%
   
31
%
Production cost of crude salt per tonne
 
$
30.0
     
100
%
 
$
25.4
     
100
%
   
18
%

Our production cost of crude salt per tonne was $30.0 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 18% (or $4.6) as compared to the same period in 2012, which was attributable mainly to the components of depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery. The significant percentage increase in depreciation and amortization per tonne by 18% was due to the enhancement projects in second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery. Other production costs represented mainly salaries and welfare of labor for the crude salt fields.

Chemical products segment
Cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, was $7,876,812, representing an increase of $1,013,265 or 15% over the same period in 2012. The significant costs were cost of raw material and finished goods consumed of $6,846,444 (or 87%) and $5,989,603 (or 87%) and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $703,786 (or 9%) and $640,617 (or 9%) for each of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As the components of our cost of net revenue are fixed levels of depreciation and amortization of our manufacturing plant and machinery, the rate of increase for the cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment was less than that of net revenue.
 
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit was $9,593,695, or 29%, of net revenue for three-month period ended June 30, 2013 compared to $9,925,195, or 32%, of net revenue for the same period in 2012. The decrease in gross profit percentage was primarily attributable to a drop in the margin percentage of bromine and crude salt segments.

   
Gross Profit by Segment
 
% Point Change
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
of Gross
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Profit Margin
Segment
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Bromine
 
$
4,768,064
     
27
%
 
$
5,570,105
     
32
%
   
(5
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
951,799
     
26
%
 
$
1,222,878
     
32
%
   
(6
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
3,873,832
     
33
%
 
$
3,132,212
     
31
%
   
2
%
 
Total Gross Profit
 
$
9,593,695
     
29
%
 
$
9,925,195
     
32
%
   
(3
%)
 

Bromine segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, the gross profit margin for our bromine segment was 27% compared to 32% for the same period in 2012. 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, 2013 was adversely affected. We cut the average selling price of bromine from $3,486 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,084 per tonne for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 12%, in order to compete with other bromine manufacturers. Also, as mentioned in our 2012 Form 10-K, we completed certain enhancements of our facilities in the second quarter of 2012 to pump brine water from deeper underground in order to improve the quality of brine water being extracted from our wells, which in turn increased the depreciation and amortization of the plant and equipment and hence the cost of net revenue of bromine. We expect that the average selling price and gross profit margin of bromine will remain at current level towards the end of 2013 should the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy remain in place.

Crude salt segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 the gross profit margin for our crude salt segment was 26% compared to 32% for the same period in 2012. This 6% decrease in our gross profit margin is mainly attributable to (i) the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing facilities as a result of the enhancement projects in the second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts as mentioned in our 2012 Form 10-K; and (ii) the sales volume decreased from 100,745 tonnes for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to 89,140 tonnes for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 12%.

Chemical products segment
The gross profit margin for our chemical products segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 was 33% compared to 31% for the same period in 2012, an increase of 2%. As previously mentioned, the increase in gross profit margin was a result of the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives which in turn increased the sales volume of these chemical products. As sales of oil and gas exploration additives contributed more than 57% of our total chemical products segment’s net revenue, the increase in demand largely increased the gross profit margin of our chemical products segment.

Research and Development Costs . The total research and development costs incurred for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were $54,480 and $62,526, respectively, a decrease of 13%. Research and development costs for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013and 2012 represented raw materials used by SYCI for testing the manufacturing routine.
 
 
Write-off/Impairment on property, plant and equipment. Write-off on property, plant and equipment of $911,995 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 represented the write-off of certain protective shells to transmission pipelines and ducts replaced during the second phase enhancement project that started in May 2012. There was no write-off on property, plant and equipment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $2,422,452 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $1,051,586 (or 77%) as compared to $1,370,866 for the same period in 2012. This increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) a non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees increased from $11,000 for the three-month period ended June 30,2012 to $527,400 for the same period of 2013 ; 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 2012 amounted to $116,379.

Other Operating Income 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. The other operating income for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 represented a sum of $76,104 for sales of wastewater. 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 have signed agreements with four of our customers to sell them our wastewater at market prices.

Income from Operations. Income from operations was $7,378,775 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 (or 22% of net revenue), a decrease of $254,428, or approximately 3%, over income from operations for the same period in 2012. The decrease resulted primarily from (i) the increase in depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery due to the enhancement projects from in the second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery; and (ii) the selling price of bromine decreased from $3,486 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,084 tonnes for the same period in 2013; and (iii) a non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees increased from $11,000 for the three-month period ended June 30,2012 to $527,400 for the same period of 2013, partially offset by write-off of certain protective shells to transmission pipelines and ducts replaced during the second phase enhancement project in the amount of $911,995 that started in May 2012.
 
   
Income from Operations by Segment
   
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2013
 
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2012
Segment:
       
% of total
     
% of total
Bromine
 
$
3,882,612
   
  47%
 
$
3,933,561
   
  50%
Crude Salt
   
728,638
   
  9%
   
888,555
   
  11%
Chemical Products
   
3,572,036
   
  44%
   
3,007,381
   
  39%
Income from operations before corporate costs
   
8,183,286
   
100%
   
7,829,497
   
100%
Corporate costs
   
(804,511
)
       
(196,294
)
   
Income from operations
 
$
7,378,775
       
$
7,633,203
     
 
 
Bromine segment
Income from operations from our bromine segment was $3,882,612 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $50,949 (or approximately 1%) as compared to the same period in 2012. This slightly decrease resulted primarily from the decrease in  average selling price (contributed a decrease of approximately $2.15 million) as a result of the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy, which was partially offset by the increase in sales volume (contributed an increase of approximately $2.09 million) due to the lower level of bromine price which resulted in our customers increasing the level of inventory holding in bromine.

Crude salt segment
Income from operations from our crude salt segment was $728,638 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $159,917 (or approximately 18%) compared to the same period in 2012. This decrease resulted primarily from the decrease in sales volume (contributed a decrease of approximately $0.45 million) due to the large volume of crude salt inventory held by our customers and the decreased crude salt terminal products sales due to macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government, which was partially offset by the increase in selling price (contributed an increase of approximately $0.30 million).

Chemical products segment
Income from operations from our chemical products segment was $3,572,036 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $564,655 (or approximately 19%) compared to the same period in 2012. This increase primarily due to the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives, which was partially offset by the increase of the depreciation from the newly acquired office units in September 2012.

Other Income, Net Other income, net of $25,846 represented bank interest income, net of capital lease interest expense for the three -month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $4,814 (or approximately 16%) as compared to the same period in 2012, mainly due to lower average bank balance held during the three months period ended June 30, 2013 compared to the same period ended June 30, 2012.

Net Income Net income was $5,355,899 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $332,775 (or approximately 6%) compared to the same period in 2012. This decrease was primarily attributable to the non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees recognized for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013.

Effective Tax Rate Our effective tax rate for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were 28% and 26% respectively. The effective tax rate for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 was 3% and 1% higher than the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25%, mainly due to the US federal net operating loss incurred by the Company during both periods in which a full valuation allowance was booked.

Comparison of the Six-Month Periods Ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

 
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2013
 
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2012
 
% Change
Net revenue
$
55,356,476
   
$
55,123,520
 
 
 
0.4
%
Cost of net revenue
$
(41,245,673
 
$
(38,505,533
 
 
7
%
Gross profit
$
14,110,803
   
$
16,617,987
 
 
 
(15
%)
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
$
(45,418
 
$
(40,473
)
   
12
%
Research and development costs
$
(72,182
 
$
(105,324
 
 
(31
%)
Write-off/Impairment on property, plant and equipment
$
-
   
$
(911,995
 
 
(100
%)
General and administrative expenses
$
(4,391,669
 
$
(3,483,071
)
   
26
Other operating income
$
382,689
   
$
133,178
 
 
 
187
%
Income from operations
$
9,984,223
   
$
12,210,302
 
 
 
(18
%)
Other income, net
$
45,683
   
$
75,138
 
 
 
(39
%)
Income before taxes
$
10,029,906
   
$
12,285,440
 
 
 
(18
%)
Income taxes
$
(2,791,042
 
$
(3,309,659
 
 
(16
%)
Net income
$
7,238,864
   
$
8,975,781
 
 
 
(19
%)
 
 
Net revenue.  Net revenue for six-month period ended June 30, 2013 was $55,356,476, representing an increase of approximately $0.2 million (or 0.4%) over the same period in 2012. Revenue from the bromine segment decrease from $30,993,311 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 to $29,207,643 for the same period in 2012, a decrease of approximately 6%. Revenue from the crude salt segment increase from $6,054,582 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $6,080,762 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 0.4%. Revenue from the chemical segment increased from $18,075,627 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $20,068,071 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 11%.

   
Net Revenue by Segment
   
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Percent Increase /Decrease
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
of Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Bromine
 
$
29,207,643
     
53
%
 
$
30,993,311
     
56
%
   
(6
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
6,080,762
     
11
%
 
$
6,054,582
     
11
%
   
0.4
%
 
Chemical Products
 
$
20,068,071
     
36
%
 
$
18,075,627
     
33
%
   
11
%
 
Total sales
 
$
55,356,476
     
100
%
 
$
55,123,520
     
100
%
   
0.4
%
 
 
Bromine and crude salt segments 
 
Six-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
product sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2013
   
June 30, 2012
   
Increase/(Decrease)
Bromine (excluded volume sold to SYCI)
   
9,509
     
8,800
     
8
%
Crude Salt
   
151,147
     
160,581
     
(6
%)
 
   
Six-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
Chemical products segment sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2013
   
June 30, 2012
   
Increase/(Decrease)
Oil and gas exploration additives
   
5,984
     
5,401
     
11
%
Paper manufacturing additives
   
2,046
     
1,253
     
63
%
Pesticides manufacturing additives
   
1,484
     
1,628
     
(9
%)
Wastewater treatment chemical additives
   
-
     
-
         
Overall
   
9,514
     
8,282
     
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 $3,522 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,072 per tonnes for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 13%. 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 2013 remained relatively stable at around $3,050 per tonne. We expect the average selling price of bromine to remain at the current level through the end of 2013 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 8,800 tonnes for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 to 9,509 tonnes for the same period in 2013, an increase of 8%. 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, 2013 from the same period in 2012.

   
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of bromine as a result of:
 
2013 vs. 2012
Decrease in average selling price
 
$
(4,121,856
)
Increase in sales volume
 
$
2,336,188
 
Total effect on net revenue of bromine
 
$
(1,785,668
 
 
Crude salt segment
The slightly increase in net revenue from our crude salt segment was mainly due to the increase in the average selling price of crude salt , offset by the decrease in sales volume. The average selling price of crude salt increased from $37.70 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $40.23 per tonne for the same period in 2013, an increase of 7%.
 
The sales volume of crude salt decreased by 6% from 160,581 tonnes for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to 151,147 tonnes for the same period in 2013. The major reason for the decrease in the sales volume of crude salt was mainly attributable to the large volume of inventory held by our customers and the decreased crude salt terminal products sales due to Macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government.

We noted an upward trend in the average selling price of crude salt since the third quarter of 2011 as due to the stable demand of the crude salt. The average selling price increased from $37.19 per tonne in the third quarter of 2011 to $40.72 per tonne in the second quarter of 2013. We expect the average selling price of crude salt to remain at current levels through the end of 2013. The table below shows the changes in the average selling price and changes in the sales volume of crude salt for six-month period ended June 30, 2013 from the same period in 2012.

   
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30,
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue of crude salt as a result of:
 
2013 vs. 2012
Increase in average selling price
 
$
393,800
 
Decrease in sales volume
 
$
(367,620
Total effect on net revenue of crude salt
 
$
26,180
 
 
Chemical products segment
   
Product Mix of Chemical Products Segment
 
Percent
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Change of
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Net Revenue
Chemical Products
       
% of total
       
% of total
       
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
$
11,298,200
     
56
%
 
$
9,730,648
     
54
%
   
16
%
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
$
2,283,844
     
 12
%
 
$
1,665,601
     
9
%
   
37
%
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
$
6,486,027
     
32
%
 
$
6,679,378
     
37
%
   
(3
%)
 
Total sales
 
$
20,068,071
     
100
%
 
$
18,075,627
     
100
%
   
11
%
 

Net revenue from our chemical products segment increased from $18,075,627 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $20,068,071 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 11%. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in demand our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives. Our oil and gas exploration chemicals are the most popular products within the chemical products segment, which contributed $11,298,200 (or 56%) and  $9,730,648 (or 54%) of our chemical segment revenue for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, with an increase of $1,567,552, or 16%. Net revenue from our paper manufacturing additives increased from $1,665,601 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $2,283,844 for the same period in 2013, an increase of approximately 37%.

However, the effect of the increase in net revenue from our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives segments was partially offset by the decrease in the sales volume of our pesticides manufacturing additives products due to the decreasing demand form the downstream industrial customers. Net revenue from our pesticides manufacturing additives products decreased from $6,679,378 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $6,486,027 for the same period in 2013, a decrease of approximately 3%.
 
 
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, 2013 from the same period in 2012.
 
Increase / (Decrease) in net revenue,
for the six-month period ended June 30,
2013 vs. 2012, as a result of:
 
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
Paper manufacturing additives
 
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
Total
Increase / (Decrease) in average selling price
 
$
492,003
   
$
(351,413
 
$
416,737
   
$
557,327
   
Increase / (Decrease) in sales volume
 
$
1,075,549
   
$
969,656
   
$
(610,088
 
$
1,435,117
   
Total effect on net revenue of chemical products
 
$
1,567,552
   
$
618,243
   
$
   (193,351
)
 
 
$
 
1,992,444
   
 
Cost of Net Revenue
 
   
Cost of Net Revenue by Segment
 
% Change
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
of Cost of
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
     
Bromine
 
$
23,035,054
     
56
%
 
$
21,813,821
     
57
%
   
6
%
Crude Salt
 
$
4,374,856
     
11
%
 
$
4,095,520
     
10
%
   
7
%
Chemical Products
 
$
13,835,763
     
33
%
 
$
12,596,192
     
33
%
   
10
 
%
Total
 
$
41,245,673
     
100
%
 
$
38,505,533
     
100
%
   
7
%

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 $41,245,673 for six-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $2,740,140 (or 7%) over the same period in 2012. The increase in overall cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in volume of products sold and the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery, which was partially offset by the decrease in purchase price of raw materials

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, 2012
   
44,547
     
42%
 
Six-month period ended June 30, 2013
   
47,347
     
42%
 
Variance of the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012
   
2,800
 (ii)
   
0%
 

(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.

(ii) The increase in 2,800 tonnes production capacity represents the management’s estimate of the capacity of Factory No. 11 acquired in late November 2012.
 
 
Bromine segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, the cost of net revenue for the bromine segment was $23,035,054, an increase of $1,221,234 or 6% over the same period in 2012. The most significant components of the costs of net revenue for the bromine segment were 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%) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2012, the major components of the cost of net revenue were the cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $11,466,046 (or 53%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $6,794,153 (or 31%) and electricity of $1,439,750 (or 7%), the cost structure changed as compared with the same period in 2012 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 5%. The increase in net cost of net revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in volume of products sold and the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery, which was largely offset by 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, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Raw materials
 
$
1,149
     
47
%
 
$
1,303
     
53
%
   
(12
%)
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
874
     
36
%
 
$
772
     
31
%
   
13
%
Electricity
 
$
158
     
7
%
 
$
164
     
7
%
   
(4
%)
Others
 
$
241
     
10
%
 
$
240
     
9
%
   
0.4
%
Production cost of bromine per tonne
 
$
2,422
     
100
%
 
$
2,479
     
100
%
   
(2
%)

Our production cost of bromine per tonne sold was $2,422 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of 2% (or $57) as compared to the same period in 2012, which was attributable mainly to the component of raw materials consumed. The significant percentage decrease in raw materials consumed per tonne by 12% was due to the decrease in the purchase price of raw materials due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government. The cost of depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery per tonne increased by 13% as compared to the same period in 2012, which was mainly attributable to the enhancement projects in second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery.

Crude salt segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, the cost of net revenue for our crude salt segment was $4,374,856, representing an increase of $279,335, or 7%, compared to $4,095,520 for the same period in 2012. The increase in cost was mainly due to the increase in the number of enhancement projects performed in second quarter of 2012, which in turn resulted in an increase in the depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery. 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 significant cost components for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 were depreciation and amortization of $2,874,870 (or 70%), resource taxes calculated based on crude salt sold of $509,191 (or 12%) and electricity of $277,967 (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, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
% Change
       
% of total
     
% of total
     
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
20.3
     
70
%
 
$
17.9
     
70
%
   
14
%
Resource tax
 
$
3.2
     
11
%
 
$
3.2
     
12
%
   
0
%
Electricity
 
$
2.1
     
7
%
 
$
1.8
     
7
%
   
17
%
Others
 
$
3.3
     
12
%
 
$
2.6
     
11
%
   
27
%
Production cost of crude salt per tonne
 
$
28.9
     
100
%
 
$
25.5
     
100
%
   
14
%
 
 
Our production cost of crude salt per tonne was $28.9 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 14% (or $3.4) as compared to the same period in 2012, which was attributable mainly to the components of depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery. The significant percentage increase in depreciation and amortization per tonne by 14% was due to the enhancement projects in second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery. Other production costs represented mainly salaries and welfare of labor for the crude salt fields.

Chemical products segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment was $13,835,763, representing an increase of $1,239,571 or 10% over the same period in 2012. The significant costs were cost of raw material and finished goods consumed of $11,822,839 (or 85%) and $10,796,469 (or 86%)and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $1,399,318 (or 10%) and $1,281,194 (or 10%) for each of the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As the components of our cost of net revenue are fixed levels of depreciation and amortization of our manufacturing plant and machinery, the rate of increase for the cost of net revenue for our chemical products segment was less than that of net revenue.

Gross Profit. Gross profit was $14,110,803, or 25%, of net revenue for six-month period ended June 30, 2013 compared to $16,617,987, or 30%, of net revenue for the same period in 2012. The decrease in gross profit percentage was primarily attributable to a drop in the margin percentage of bromine and crude salt segments.

   
Gross Profit by Segment
 
% Point Change
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
of Gross
   
June 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2012
 
Profit Margin
Segment
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Gross Profit Margin
       
Bromine
 
$
6,172,589
     
21
%
 
$
9,179,491
     
30
%
   
(9
%)
 
Crude Salt
 
$
1,705,906
     
28
%
 
$
1,959,061
     
32
%
   
(4
%)
 
Chemical Products
 
$
6,232,308
     
31
%
 
$
5,479,435
     
30
%
   
1
%
 
Total Gross Profit
 
$
14,110,803
     
25
%
 
$
16,617,987
     
30
%
   
(5
%)
 

Bromine segment
The gross profit margin for our bromine segment for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 was 21% compared to 30% for the same period in 2012. 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 six-month ended June 30, 2013 was adversely affected. We cut the average selling price of bromine from $3,522 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $3,072 per tonne for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 13%, in order to compete with other bromine manufacturers. Also, as mentioned in our 2012 annual report on Form 10-K, we completed certain enhancements of our facilities in the second quarter of 2012 to pump brine water from deeper underground in order to improve the quality of brine water being extracted from our wells, which in turn increased the depreciation and amortization of the plant and equipment and hence the cost of net revenue of bromine. We expect that the average selling price and gross profit margin of bromine will remain at current level towards the end of 2013 should the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy remain in place.

Crude salt segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, the gross profit margin for our crude salt segment was 28% compared to 32% for the same period in 2012. This 4% decrease in our gross profit margin is mainly attributable to the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing facilities as a result of the enhancement projects in the second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts as mentioned in our 2012 Form 10-K.
 
 
Chemical products segment
The gross profit margin for our chemical products segment for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 was 31% compared to 30% for the same period in 2012, an increase of 1%. As previously mentioned, the increase in gross profit margin was a result of the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives which in turn increased the sales volume of these chemical products. As sales of oil and gas exploration additives contributed more than 56% of our total chemical products segment’s net revenue, the increase in demand largely increased the gross profit margin of our chemical products segment.

Research and Development Costs. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the total research and development costs incurred were $72,182 and $105,324, respectively, a decrease of 31%. Research and development costs for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013and 2012 represented raw materials used by SYCI for testing the manufacturing routine.
 
Write-off/Impairment on property, plant and equipment. Write-off on property, plant and equipment of $911,995 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 represented the write-off of certain protective shells to transmission pipelines and ducts replaced during the second phase enhancement project that started in May 2012. There was no write-off on property, plant and equipment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013.

 
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $4,391,669 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $908,598 (or 26%) as compared to $3,483,071 for the same period in 2012. This increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) a non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees increased from $26,300 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $532,300 for the same period of 2013; 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 2012 amounted to $92,057.

Other Operating Income Other operating income was $382,689 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, 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. The other operating income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 represented a sum of $133,178 for sales of wastewater. 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 have signed agreements with four of our customers to sell them our wastewater at market prices.
 
 
Income from Operations. Income from operations was $9,984,223 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 (or 18% of net revenue), a decrease of $2,226,079, or approximately 18%, over income from operations for the same period in 2012. The decrease resulted primarily from (i) the increase in depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery due to the enhancement projects from in the second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery; and (ii) a non-cash expense related to stock options granted to employees increased from $26,300 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012 to $532,300 for the same period of 2013; and (iii) 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 2012 amounted to $92,057, partially offset by write-off of certain protective shells to transmission pipelines and ducts replaced during the second phase enhancement project in the amount of $911,995 that started in May 2012.
 
   
Income from Operations by Segment
   
Six-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2013
 
Six-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2012
Segment:
       
% of total
     
% of total
 
Bromine
 
$
4,210,425
   
  38%
 
$
6,401,865
   
 49%
 
Crude Salt
   
1,266,858
   
  11%
   
1,437,005
   
  11%
 
Chemical Products
   
5,668,715
   
  51%
   
5,250,276
   
  40%
 
Income from operations before corporate costs
   
11,145,998
   
100%
   
13,089,146
   
100%
 
Corporate costs
   
(1,161,775
)
       
(878,844
)
     
Income from operations
 
$
9,984,223
       
$
12,210,302
       
 
Bromine segment
Income from operations from our bromine segment was $4,210,425 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $2,191,440 (or approximately 34%) compared to the same period in 2012. This decrease resulted primarily from the decrease in average selling price (contributed a decrease of approximately $4.12 million) as a result of the PRC government’s macro-economic tightening policy, which was partially offset by the increase in sales volume (contributed an increase of approximately $2.3 million) due to the lower level of bromine price which resulted in our customers increasing the level of inventory holding in bromine.

Crude salt segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, income from operations from our crude salt segment was $1,266,858, a decrease of $170,148 (or approximately 12%) compared to the same period in 2012. This decrease was mainly due to the increase in depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery resulting from the enhancement in the second quarter of 2012 to our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts, which accelerated the depreciation and amortization of the plant and machinery and the decrease in the sales volume of crude salt.

Chemical products segment
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, income from operations from our chemical products segment was $5,668,715, an increase of $418,439 (or approximately 8%) over same period in 2012. This increase was primarily due to the increase in demand for our oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives, which was partially offset by the decrease in the sales volume of our pesticides manufacturing additives products due to the decreasing demand from the downstream industrial customers.

Other Income, Net. Other income, net of $45,683 represented bank interest income, net of capital lease interest expense for the six -month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $29,455 (or approximately 39%) as compared to the same period in 2012, mainly due to lower average bank balance held for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 compared to the period ended June 30, 2012.

Net Income. Net income was $7,238,864 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $1,736,917 (or approximately 19%) compared to the same period in 2012. This decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in the selling price of bromine due to the macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government to slow down the economy.

Effective Tax Rate. Our effective tax rate for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 was 28% and 27%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six-month periods ended June 30,2013 and 2012 was 3% and 2% higher than the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25%, mainly due to the US federal net operating loss incurred by Gulf during both periods in which a full valuation allowance was booked.
 
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
As of June 30, 2013, cash and cash equivalents were $86,422,512 as compared to $65,241,035 as of December 31, 2012. The components of this increase of $21,181,477 are reflected below.
 
Statement of Cash Flows
  
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
20,705,599
   
$
2,338,808
 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
$
(588,830
)
 
$
(8,294,007
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
$
(302,498
)
 
$
(297,598
)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,367,206
   
$
(278,492
Net increase (decrease)in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
21,181,477
   
$
(6,531,289
)
     
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, 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 opportunities relating to bromine asset purchases and new bromine resource development. 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
During the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, we had positive cash flow from operating activities of $20.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively, primarily attributable to net income.
   
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 increase in accounts receivable and decrease in retention payable, partially offset by the increase in taxes payable and decrease in inventories.

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2012, net income of $9.0 million exceeded our cash flow from operating activities of $2.3 million, mainly due to (i) cash used in working capital of $19.1 million, which mainly consisted of increase in accounts receivable; which was partially offset by (ii) our net income, which included substantial non-cash charges of $12.5 million, mainly in the form of depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, and write-off/impairment loss on property, plant and equipment.

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, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
 
   
June 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
         
% of total
         
% of total
   
Aged 1-30 days
 
$
12,856,524
     
33
%
 
$
9,226,030
     
26
%
 
Aged 31-60 days
 
$
12,510,842
     
32
%
 
$
8,668,189
     
24
%
 
Aged 61-90 days
 
$
9,692,379
     
25
%
 
$
6,758,020
     
19
%
 
Aged 91-120 days
 
$
4,103,461
     
10
%
 
$
6,535,738
     
18
%
 
Aged 121-150 days
 
$
-
     
-
   
$
4,781,923
     
13
%
 
Total
 
$
39,163,206
     
100
%
 
$
35,969,900
     
100
%
 

The overall accounts receivable balance as of June 30, 2013 increased by $3,193,306 (or 9%), as compared to those as of December 31, 2012. 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 104 days for the fiscal year 2012 to 122 days for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013. Normally, 90 to 120-days credit period is granted to customers with a good repayment history. We are not aware of any allowances for doubtful debts required for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 as we have policies in place to ensure that sales are made to customers with an appropriate credit history. All the balances of accounts receivable as June 30,2013 aged more than 90 days are subsequently settled in July 2013. We perform ongoing credit evaluation on the financial condition of our customers.
 
 
Inventory
 
Our inventory consists of the following:
 
   
June 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
         
% of total
       
% of total
Raw materials
 
$
692,551
     
12.9
%
 
$
773,453
     
12.9
%
Finished goods
 
$
4,707,039
     
87.6
%
 
$
5,248,039
     
87.6
%
   
$
5,399,590
     
100.5
%
 
$
6,021,492
     
100.5
%
Allowance for obsolete and slowing-moving inventory
 
$
(28,376
)
   
(0.5
%)
 
$
(27,894
)
   
(0.5
%)
Total
 
$
5,371,214
     
100.0
%
 
$
5,993,598
     
100.0
%
 
The net inventory level as of June 30, 2013 decreased by $622,384 (or 10%), as compared to the net inventory level as of December 31, 2012.
 
Raw materials decreased by 10% as of June 30, 2013 as compared to December 31, 2012. 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, 2013 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, as there is no loss over time and a stable market price with a positive gross profit margin of 31% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 (30% for fiscal year 2012). Therefore, we believe that the realization of the chemical products is 100%. Similarly, as there is no depletion of bromine, we believe that the realization of it is also 100%. Although the gross profit margin for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 decreased to 25%, as compared with 30% in fiscal year 2012, we anticipated that the price in the rest of 2013 will not fluctuate significantly to impair the cost of bromine.

The annual loss of crude salt due to evaporation is around 3%. As the market price of crude salt per ton increased from $37.7 in the first half year of 2012 to $40.2 in the first half year of 2013, and the relative cost of production is low, we believe that there will be no realization problem for crude salt and its selling price should not be lower than its cost.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

In the first half of 2013, we used approximately $0.6 million cash for the prepayment of land leases.

In the second quarter of 2012, we used approximately $7.9 million cash to carry out the second phase enhancement project to our existing bromine extraction and crude salt production facilities, which are currently under construction since mid-May 2012. The total construction costs of the enhancement work to the extraction wells and protective shells to transmission channels and ducts in Factory No. 1 to 9 are approximately $12.8 million and $8.1 million, respectively, which were completed in late August 2012.

The above investing activities were financed by the opening cash balances as of December 31, 2012, and 2011, and cash generated from operation during the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.

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, 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 $119.9 million at June 30, 2013 as compared to approximately $96.2 million at December 31, 2012. The increase was mainly attributable to the cash provided by operating activities during the six-month period ended June 30, 2013.
 
 
We had available cash of approximately $86.4 million at June 30, 2013, 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, 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, 2013 is provided in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 19 – 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 2012 Form 10-K.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Pursuant to Item 301(c) of Regulation S-K (§ 229.301(c)), 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).
 
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(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

We are not a party to any legal proceedings other than the following.

Class Action
 
The Company and certain of its officers and directors (Ming Yang, Xiaobin Liu, and Min Li, collectively, the “Individual Defendants”) have been named as defendants in a putative securities class action lawsuit alleging violations of the federal securities laws. That action, which is now captioned Lewy, et al. v. Gulf Resources, Inc., et al., No. 11-cv-3722 ODW (MRWx), was filed on April 29, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The lead plaintiffs, who seek to represent a class of all purchasers and acquirers of the Company’s common stock between March 16, 2009 and April 26, 2011 inclusive, filed an amended complaint on September 12, 2011. Lead plaintiffs assert claims for violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The amended complaint alleges the defendants made false or misleading statements in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and in interim quarterly reports by, among other things, overstating revenue and net income and failing to disclose material related party transactions and certain facts about the CEO’s prior employment at another company. The amended complaint also asserts claims against the Individual Defendants for violations of Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The amended complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On May 15, 2012, the Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On April 30, 2013, the parties executed a stipulation and agreement of settlement. The proposed settlement is subject to review and approval of the Court. The Company currently cannot estimate the amount or range of the overall costs in connection with this litigation. The Company believes that such costs will be reimbursed by the insurance company to the extent covered by the insurance policies.
 
      
Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no changes with respect to risk factors as previously disclosed in our 2012 Form 10-K.  Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before you invest you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and in our 2012 Form 10-K, under the caption “Risk Factors”, our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Item 2 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, as well as our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the other information in our 2012 Form 10-K. Readers should carefully review those risks, as well as additional risks described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

No 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.
 
101.1                         
The following financial statements from Gulf Resources, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013 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.
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
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 9, 2013
By:
/s/ Xiaobin Liu
   
Xiaobin Liu
   
Chief Executive Officer
   
(principal executive officer)
     
Dated: August 9, 2013
By:
/s/ Min Li
   
Min Li
   
Chief Financial Officer
   
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 

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