4. Impact of Global Supply Chain Instability, Inflation and Tariffs

Recent and ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts in key oil- and gas-producing regions, including Iran, Venezuela, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, have created significant uncertainty and volatility in global energy markets. The immediate impact on the Company has primarily been related to an increase in freight costs and raw materials that are dependent on the petrochemical industry. The availability and cost of direct materials, including raw materials and packaging materials, are critical to our operations. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by developments in these regions.

In addition, during 2025, the United States (“U.S.”) changed its long-standing trade policies and announced significant new tariffs, with certain exceptions, on virtually all imported goods. These actions triggered the negotiation of new trade agreements with certain U.S. trading partners. While these negotiations resulted in the reduction of certain recently imposed tariffs, the average U.S. tariff rate remains at its highest level since the 1930s. In response to the changes in U.S. trade policies, certain U.S. trading partners imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. Shifts in tariffs, trade agreements, import/export restrictions, trade sanctions, sector specific trade barriers, and other governmental trade actions, whether enacted by the U.S. or other countries, especially those instituted in the Company's significant markets or markets where its significant customers are located and the associated uncertainty of long-term trade policies, could impact the Company's sales volume, sales prices, and other costs. Changes in trade policies may also cause disruptions to material sourcing and availability, global supply chains and logistics and access to end markets. Additionally, changes in U.S. trade policy and associated responses from trading partners may create shifts in global market dynamics and result in continued global financial market volatility. The impact of these changes in trade policies and the resulting trade and market uncertainty could have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations. There can be no assurance that in the future, the U.S. or other countries or international trade bodies will not institute new tariffs or more restrictive trade policies or remedies and, as a result, the Company may face additional uncertainty and adverse impact on its business, financial condition and results of operations.