Business Review

  • Sales 14% below previous year at €11,466 million, mainly as a result of lower prices
  • EBIT before special items of €1,003 million; 58% year-on-year decrease primarily due to lower isocyanate margins

Sales to third parties in the Materials segment declined by €1,804 million compared with the previous year to €11,466 million. This was mainly attributable to the Monomers division, where sales decreased considerably by €1,351 million year on year to €5,402 million. The Performance Materials division also recorded a considerable sales decrease of €453 million to €6,064 million.

Factors influencing sales – Materials

 

Materials

Performance Materials

Monomers

Volumes

(3%)

(6%)

0%

Prices

(12%)

(3%)

(21%)

Portfolio

0%

0%

0%

Currencies

1%

2%

1%

Sales

(14%)

(7%)

(20%)

Segment data – Materials (Million €)

 

 

2019

2018

+/–

a

Amortization of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment (including impairments and reversals of impairments)

b

Additions to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

Sales to third parties

 

11,466

13,270

(14%)

of which Performance Materials

 

6,064

6,517

(7%)

Monomers

 

5,402

6,753

(20%)

Intersegment transfers

 

849

962

(12%)

Sales including transfers

 

12,315

14,232

(13%)

Income from operations before depreciation, amortization and special items

 

1,719

3,020

(43%)

Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

 

1,691

2,993

(44%)

EBITDA margin

%

14.7

22.6

Depreciation and amortizationa

 

718

619

16%

Income from operations (EBIT)

 

973

2,374

(59%)

Special items

 

(30)

(26)

(15%)

EBIT before special items

 

1,003

2,400

(58%)

Return on capital employed (ROCE)

%

10.7

26.1

Assets

 

8,782

9,005

(2%)

Investments including acquisitionsb

 

784

639

23%

Research and development expenses

 

193

194

(1%)

The sales decrease was primarily driven by significantly lower prices for isocyanates in the Monomers division due to higher market supply. Price levels for polyamides also declined. In the Performance Materials division, sales were slightly reduced by lower sales prices as a result of lower raw materials prices for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).

Sales volumes also declined in the Performance Materials division. The sales decrease here was driven by significantly lower demand for our products from key industries, particularly the automotive industry. In the Monomers division, volumes were at the prior-year level. Higher isocyanate volumes were offset by lower polyamide volumes due to weaker demand from key industries.

Currency effects had a slightly positive impact in both divisions.

In the Performance Materials division, sales to the automotive industry were considerably below the previous year due to lower volumes, primarily reflecting the significant drop in automotive manufacturers’ production figures. Sales volumes were also negatively impacted by tighter environmental protection requirements in our growth markets in Asia and political uncertainty. Sales in the consumer goods industry were likewise down from the prior-year level. The main driver was weak demand caused by political uncertainty in Europe and Asia, which dampened developments in our thermoplastic polyurethanes business in particular. By contrast, our biodegradable plastics business developed positively on the back of stronger demand and the favorable regulatory environment. Sales to the construction industry were considerably lower compared with the previous year, mainly due to lower sales prices, especially in Europe and Asia. Sales volumes also declined, largely as a result of lower demand for polyurethane systems in Europe, Asia and North America.

Performance Materials – Sales by region

Location of customer

Materials – Performance Materials – Sales by region (pie chart)
Monomers – Sales by region

Location of customer

Materials – Monomers – Sales by region (pie chart)

At €1,003 million, income from operations (EBIT) before special items was €1,397 million below the prior-year level. Both divisions contributed to the considerable decline in EBIT before special items, but in particular Monomers. The decrease in the Monomers division was mainly due to lower isocyanate margins. Lower volumes and prices in the polyamide value chain also had a negative effect. Volumes also declined in the Performance Materials division.

In addition, fixed costs in the Monomers division were slightly higher than in the previous year. This was primarily attributable to the insurance refunds received in the third quarter of 2018.

EBIT declined by €1,401 million year on year to €973 million. Special charges arose in 2019, mainly from preparations for the integration of the Solvay businesses acquired on January 31, 2020, and in connection with the Excellence Program.