3rd Quarter 2010
- Europe: higher sales and earnings; positive business development in nearly all segments
- North America: substantial improvement in sales and earnings; slight decline in earnings in Agricultural Solutions due to lower prices
- Asia Pacific: strong increase in sales and earnings; significant rise in earnings in Chemicals segment
- South America, Africa, Middle East: sales growth thanks to strong performance of Agricultural Solutions; earnings below previous year’s level as a result of one-time expenses
 Download ( xls, 18 kB) |
|
Overview of regions1 (million €) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Sales |
|
Sales |
|
EBIT | ||||||
|
|
2010 |
2009 |
Change in % |
|
2010 |
2009 |
Change in % |
|
2010 |
2009 |
Change in % |
|
3rd Quarter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Europe |
8,320 |
7,344 |
13 |
|
7,872 |
6,959 |
13 |
|
1,608 |
822 |
96 |
|
Thereof Germany |
6,002 |
5,077 |
18 |
|
2,698 |
2,446 |
10 |
|
1,087 |
576 |
89 |
|
North America |
3,316 |
2,309 |
44 |
|
3,150 |
2,275 |
38 |
|
238 |
109 |
118 |
|
Asia Pacific |
3,047 |
2,276 |
34 |
|
3,251 |
2,429 |
34 |
|
307 |
206 |
49 |
|
South America, Africa, Middle East |
1,098 |
869 |
26 |
|
1,508 |
1,135 |
33 |
|
60 |
111 |
(46) |
|
|
15,781 |
12,798 |
23 |
|
15,781 |
12,798 |
23 |
|
2,213 |
1,248 |
77 |
|
January – September |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Europe |
26,020 |
22,647 |
15 |
|
24,574 |
21,351 |
15 |
|
4,243 |
2,315 |
83 |
|
Thereof Germany |
18,724 |
16,173 |
16 |
|
8,959 |
8,035 |
11 |
|
2,996 |
1,449 |
107 |
|
North America |
10,120 |
7,047 |
44 |
|
9,860 |
7,083 |
39 |
|
1,030 |
372 |
177 |
|
Asia Pacific |
8,607 |
5,751 |
50 |
|
9,210 |
6,258 |
47 |
|
910 |
452 |
101 |
|
South America, Africa, Middle East |
2,702 |
2,074 |
30 |
|
3,805 |
2,827 |
35 |
|
190 |
234 |
(19) |
|
|
47,449 |
37,519 |
26 |
|
47,449 |
37,519 |
26 |
|
6,373 |
3,373 |
89 |
Sales by companies in Europe were 13% higher than in the third quarter of 2009. Nearly all segments posted sales growth but due to a decrease in volumes in oil production and natural gas trading, sales in the Oil & Gas segment did not match the level of the previous third quarter. Income from operations before special items rose by €786 million to €1,608 million. In a generally favorable business environment, each of our segments increased its earnings compared with the third quarter of 2009.
In North America, sales grew by 30% in U.S. dollars and 44% in euro terms. Earnings rose by €129 million to €238 million. Sales and earnings in the chemicals business2 grew sharply compared with the previous third quarter as a result of higher volumes and prices. In the Agricultural Solutions segment, we increased sales volumes and sales but declining prices led to a slight reduction in earnings.
Sales in the Asia Pacific region grew by 19% in local-currency terms and by 34% in euro terms. Higher sales volumes in the chemicals business contributed to sales growth. Earnings in the region also improved by €101 million to reach €307 million. In the Chemicals segment, earnings grew significantly thanks to an increase in volumes as well as higher margins for some basic products.
In South America, Africa, Middle East, sales were up year-on-year by 10% in local-currency terms and by 26% in euro terms. Agricultural Solutions in South America made a significant contribution to this growth; we had a successful start to the new growing season in this market. Third-quarter earnings in the region were below the previous year’s level owing to one-time expenses for valuation adjustments on receivables related to long-term supply agreements.
1 The regional classification of some of Central American countries has been changed, the previous year’s figures have been adjusted.
2 Our chemicals business includes the Chemicals, Plastics, Performance Products and Functional Solutions segments.
