BASF Report 2022

Results of Operations

Global economic development in 2022 was exceptionally volatile and characterized by strong regional differences. Especially the war in Ukraine, rising raw materials and energy prices, high inflation and interest rates, as well as China’s prolonged and strict zero-COVID policy took their toll on the markets. In this market environment, growth in the global economy, worldwide industrial production and chemical production were significantly weaker than we had expected at the begin­ning of the year. BASF’s business was nevertheless robust: Sales increased considerably, while EBIT before special items was €6.9 billion, within the forecast range. At 10.0%, ROCE was considerably below the prior-year figure.

Exceptionally high impairment losses on the shareholding in Wintershall Dea AG negatively affected the BASF Group’s net income from shareholdings.

At a glance

  • Sales considerably higher than previous year
  • EBIT before special items and ROCE down sharply
  • Net income from shareholdings down by –€4,939 million
  • Earnings per share of –€0.70; adjusted earnings per share of €6.96

Compared with the previous year, sales rose by €8,729 million to €87,327 million in the 2022 business year. Sales growth was mainly driven by higher prices across almost all segments due to an increase in raw materials and energy prices. The Materials and Chemicals segments implemented the highest price increases. Currency effects considerably supported the positive sales development. Portfolio effects in the Surface Technologies segment from the acquisition of a majority shareholding in BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Co., Ltd. as of August 31, 2021, also contributed to the sales increase. This more than compensated for negative portfolio effects in the Industrial Solutions segment, mainly from the sale of the global pigments business as of June 30, 2021. Significantly lower volumes overall dampened sales growth in the BASF Group. Volumes development was primarily driven by lower sales volumes in the Surface Technologies and Chemicals segments.

Sales

Million €

Sales (bar chart)
a Sales for 2018 were reduced by the share attributable to construction chemicals activities due to their presentation as discontinued operations.
Factors influencing sales of the BASF Group

 

Change in million €

Change in %

Volumes

–5,498

–7.0

Prices

9,350

11.9

Currencies

4,765

6.1

Acquisitions

790

1.0

Divestitures

–564

–0.7

Changes in the scope of consolidation

–114

–0.1

Total change in sales

8,729

11.1

At €6,878 million, income from operations (EBIT) before special items was €890 million below the prior-year figure. The earnings development was attributable to a strong decline in earnings con­tributions from the Chemicals and Materials segments. Both segments recorded lower margins and volumes as well as higher fixed costs. By contrast, EBIT before special items rose in all other segments. The Agricultural Solutions segment increased EBIT before special items considerably, in particular as a result of the positive sales performance. The Nutrition & Care segment also achieved a considerable increase here, mainly due to price-driven margin growth. The Surface Tech­nologies segment recorded con­sider­ably higher earnings, especially due to increased earnings contributions from the automotive catalysts and battery materials businesses. Higher prices and volumes in the Coatings division additionally supported the segment’s earnings performance. The Industrial Solutions segment slightly increased EBIT before special items as a result of price-driven margin growth. EBIT before special items attributable to Other improved slightly.

EBIT before special items

Million €

EBIT before special items (bar chart)

a EBIT before special items for 2019 has been restated to reflect the reclassification of income from non-integral companies accounted for using the equity method to net income from shareholdings. Figures for 2018 have not been restated.

b EBIT before special items for 2018 was reduced by the share attributable to construction chemicals activities due to their presentation as discontinued operations.

Special items in EBIT amounted to –€330 million in 2022 compared with –€91 million in the previous year. Special charges for restruc­turing measures were €249 million, mainly in connection with the carve-out of the newly established BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions unit within the Catalysts division, the dis­continuation of our business activities in Russia and restructuring measures. In other charges and income, the impairment loss on a plant in the Chemicals segment in particular led to total special charges of €222 million (2021: other charges of €27 million). Integration costs amounted to €32 million compared with €85 million in the previous year; in both years, these were primarily related to the integration of the BASF Shanshan companies acquired in 2021. Special income from divestitures totaled €174 million, mainly from the sale of 51% of our share in the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm. This was partly offset by impairments in connection with the planned divestiture of our production site in De Meern, Netherlands.

Special items (Million €)

 

2022

2021

Restructuring measures

–249

–99

Integration costs

–32

–85

Divestitures

174

120

Other charges and income

–222

–27

Total special items in EBIT

–330

–91

At €6,548 million, EBIT for the BASF Group in 2022 was considerably lower than the previous year. This figure includes income from integral companies accounted for using the equity method, which declined by €289 million to €386 million. This was mainly attributable to the €196 million lower earnings contribution by BASF-YPC Company Ltd., Nanjing, China.

EBIT

Million €

EBIT (bar chart)

a EBIT for 2019 has been restated to reflect the reclassification of income from non-integral companies accounted for using the equity method to net income from shareholdings. Figures for 2018 have not been restated.

b EBIT for 2018 was reduced by the share attributable to construction chemicals activities due to their presentation as discontinued operations.

We use the indicator return on capital employed (ROCE) to measure our rate of return. ROCE declined to 10.0% (2021: 13.7%) due to a significant increase in the cost of capital basis and a simultaneous decrease in earnings.1

1 More information on net assets

ROCEa (Million €)

 

 

2022

2021

EBIT of the BASF Group

 

6,548

7,677

– EBIT of Other

 

–523

–759

EBIT of the segments

 

7,070

8,435

Cost of capital basis of segments, average of month-end figures

 

70,982

61,664

ROCE

%

10.0

13.7

a

The polyolefins and styrenics businesses of the joint venture BASF-YPC Company Ltd., Nanjing, China, which were previously reported under Other, were allocated to the Petrochemicals division as of January 1, 2022. The prior-year figures have been adjusted.

Capital employeda (Million €)

 

2022

2021

Intangible assets

13,576

13,143

+ Property, plant and equipment

21,374

19,280

+ Integral investments accounted for using the equity method

2,052

1,767

+ Inventories

15,608

11,459

+ Accounts receivable, trade

13,919

11,588

+ Current and noncurrent other receivables and other assetsb

4,309

3,908

+ Assets of disposal groups

144

520

Cost of capital basis of segments, average of month-end figures

70,982

61,664

+ Deviation from cost of capital basis at closing rates as of December 31

–3,300

2,717

+ Assets not included in cost of capital

16,791

23,002

Assets of the BASF Group as of December 31

84,472

87,383

a

The polyolefins and styrenics businesses of the joint venture BASF-YPC Company Ltd., Nanjing, China, which were previously reported under Other, were allocated to the Petrochemicals division as of January 1, 2022. The prior-year figures have been adjusted.

b

Including customer/supplier financing and other adjustments

Sales and earnings (Million €)

 

 

2022

2021

+/–

Sales

 

87,327

78,598

11.1%

Income from operations before depreciation, amortization and special items

 

10,762

11,348

–5.2%

Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

 

10,748

11,355

–5.3%

EBITDA margin

%

12.3

14.4

Depreciation and amortizationa

 

4,200

3,678

14.2%

Income from operations (EBIT)

 

6,548

7,677

–14.7%

Special items

 

–330

–91

–263.9%

EBIT before special items

 

6,878

7,768

–11.5%

Income before income taxes

 

1,190

7,448

–84.0%

Income after taxes from continuing operations

 

–391

6,018

.

Income after taxes from discontinued operations

 

–36

100.0%

Net income

 

–627

5,523

.

Earnings per share

–0.70

6.01

.

Adjusted earnings per share

6.96

6.76

3.0%

a

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (including impairments and reversals of impairments)

Sales and earnings by quarter in 2022a (Million €)

 

 

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Full year

Sales

 

23,083

22,974

21,946

19,323

87,327

Income from operations before depreciation, amortization and special items

 

3,743

3,293

2,325

1,401

10,762

Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

 

3,709

3,396

2,255

1,389

10,748

Depreciation and amortizationb

 

924

1,046

960

1,270

4,200

Income from operations (EBIT)

 

2,785

2,350

1,294

119

6,548

Special items

 

–34

11

–53

–254

–330

EBIT before special items

 

2,818

2,339

1,348

373

6,878

Income before income taxes

 

1,878

2,658

1,239

–4,585

1,190

Income after taxes from continuing operations

 

1,321

2,179

952

–4,843

–391

Income after taxes from discontinued operations

 

Net income

 

1,221

2,090

909

–4,847

–627

Earnings per share

1.34

2.31

1.01

–5.42

–0.70

Adjusted earnings per share

2.70

2.37

1.77

0.09

6.96

a

Quarterly results not audited.

b

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (including impairments and reversals of impairments)

Sales and earnings by quarter in 2021a (Million €)

 

 

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Full year

Sales

 

19,400

19,753

19,669

19,776

78,598

Income from operations before depreciation, amortization and special items

 

3,181

3,217

2,771

2,179

11,348

Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

 

3,176

3,199

2,729

2,250

11,355

Depreciation and amortizationb

 

865

883

907

1,023

3,678

Income from operations (EBIT)

 

2,311

2,316

1,822

1,227

7,677

Special items

 

–10

–39

–43

1

–91

EBIT before special items

 

2,321

2,355

1,865

1,227

7,768

Income before income taxes

 

2,247

2,189

1,777

1,235

7,448

Income after taxes from continuing operations

 

1,810

1,794

1,424

990

6,018

Income after taxes from discontinued operations

 

–43

7

–36

Net income

 

1,718

1,654

1,253

898

5,523

Earnings per share

1.87

1.80

1.36

0.98

6.01

Adjusted earnings per share

2.00

2.03

1.56

1.17

6.76

a

Quarterly results not audited.

b

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (including impairments and reversals of impairments)

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