11 – Noncurrent assets

Material investments in the first half of 2018 largely concerned the acetylene plant currently under construction as well as plants for the production of catalysts in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Other additions included the construction of oil and gas facilities and wells in Europe and South America. Furthermore, investments were made at the following sites in particular: Ludwigshafen, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Shanghai, China; Geismar, Louisiana; Freeport, Texas; and Port Arthur, Texas.

Disposals of property, plant and equipment mainly related to the sale of production plants for oleochemical surfactants in Mexico and the production site for styrene butadiene-based paper dispersions in Pischelsdorf, Austria.

Transfers primarily pertained to the reclassification of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in the water and paper chemicals business to the disposal group. This was offset in particular by reclassifications of Group companies not previously included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

As well as depreciation, the item additions to depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment mainly comprised impairment losses from discontinued investments in North America.

Currency effects largely arose from the appreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro.