Catalysts

audited
  • Sales decline by 1% to €6,263 million, mainly due to lower prices
  • EBIT before special items improves considerably, mostly through contribution from mobile emissions catalysts

In the Catalysts division, sales to third parties declined in 2016 by €43 million to €6,263 million. This was predominantly the result of price decreases due to lower precious metal prices. Currency effects and the sale of our business with polyolefin catalysts had a negative impact on sales.

We achieved significant volumes growth, especially through increased volumes of mobile emissions catalysts. Greater demand for refinery catalysts and battery materials also contributed to this development. Lower volumes of chemical catalysts slowed this growth. In precious metal trading, sales declined by €52 million to €2,336 million due to lower prices.

Catalysts – Factors influencing sales
Functional Materials & Solutions – Catalysts – Factors influencing sales (bar chart)
Catalysts – Sales by region
(Location of customer)
Functional Materials & Solutions – Catalysts – Sales by region (pie chart)

We considerably raised EBIT before special items year-on-year, mainly thanks to the higher contributions from the mobile emissions catalysts business. In addition, we were able to reduce fixed costs through strict cost discipline. Special charges resulted primarily from asset impairments and special income from the sale of the polyolefin catalysts business in June 2016.