Sales substantially higher year on year across all segments
Sales of the Advanced Intermediates segment in the second quarter of 2017 were EUR 505 million, 14.0 percent above the prior-year figure of EUR 443 million. EBITDA pre exceptionals increased by 10.2 percent to EUR 97 million, compared with EUR 88 million a year earlier. Positive effects came especially from higher selling prices and the contribution from the new Organometallics business unit. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals was 19.2 percent, against 19.9 percent in the prior-year quarter.Sales in the new Specialty Additives segment climbed by 106.6 percent to EUR 440 million, compared with EUR 213 million a year earlier. EBITDA pre exceptionals advanced by 67 percent to EUR 75 million, compared with the prior-year level of EUR 45 million. This positive development was primarily due to the contribution from the newly acquired Chemtura businesses. Higher volumes also supported this effect. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals of 17.0 percent was below the high level of 21.1 percent reported in the prior-year quarter.
Sales in the Performance Chemicals segment rose by 11.2 percent in the second quarter of 2017, to EUR 367 million, against EUR 330 million a year earlier. EBITDA pre exceptionals advanced by 15.9 percent to EUR 80 million, compared with the prior-year level of EUR 69 million. Higher selling prices and the Clean and Disinfect specialties business acquired in 2016 had a positive effect on earnings. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals increased from 20.9 percent to 21.8 percent.
In the new Engineering Materials segment, sales increased by 31.3 percent to EUR 361 million, up from EUR 275 million a year earlier. EBITDA pre exceptionals increased by a substantial 60.0 percent, from EUR 45 million to EUR 72 million. The newly acquired urethanes business from Chemtura made a particular contribution to improved earnings. Higher volumes, higher selling prices and very good capacity utilization also contributed to the positive development of earnings. The resulting EBITDA margin pre exceptionals of 19.9 percent was significantly above the figure of 16.4 percent posted in the prior-year quarter.
Sales in the ARLANXEO segment climbed by 24.6 percent to EUR 835 million, compared with EUR 670 million a year earlier. EBITDA pre exceptionals decreased by 3.0 percent to EUR 92 million, compared with EUR 95 million a year earlier. Higher energy costs in particular stood against the success in passing on increased raw material costs. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals was 11.0 percent, against 14.2 percent a year earlier.
Source: LANXESS
