Care Chemicals

  • 7% increase in sales to €5,079 million largely due to volumes growth
  • Considerable decline in EBIT before special items attributable to lower margins

In the Care Chemicals division, sales to third parties rose by €344 million to €5,079 million in 2017. This was predominantly the result of higher sales volumes, particularly in the hygiene business and of ingredients for the detergents and cleaners industries as well as for the cosmetics industry. Price increases on the back of higher raw materials prices, especially for oleochemical surfactants and fatty alcohols, also had a positive effect on sales. Currency effects reduced sales slightly.

Sales rose in all regions, buoyed by strong demand. Higher volumes led to sales growth in Europe in particular.

Care Chemicals – Factors influencing sales
Performance Products – Care Chemicals – Factors influencing sales (bar chart)
Care Chemicals – Sales by region (Location of customer)
Performance Products – Care Chemicals – Sales by region (pie chart)

EBIT before special items declined considerably compared with 2016. This was mainly due to the ongoing pressure on margins for superabsorbents and lower margins for oleochemical surfactants. Fixed costs increased slightly as a result of additional maintenance costs and higher production volumes. Special charges were predominantly attributable to restructuring measures in North America.

In November 2017, we completed the technical retrofitting of the superabsorbent plant at the site in Antwerp, Belgium, where the superabsorbent products Saviva® and HySorb® can be produced.