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"In 2018, Clariant achieved good sales and profit growth and significantly improved operating cash flow, despite an increasingly challenging environment,” said Ernesto Occhiello, CEO of Clariant.
"Going forward, we will continue to identify and address the next challenges and future demands within our respective businesses and those of our customers.
"This, coupled with best customer experience and fast, reliable customer fulfillment will trigger above-market growth, higher profitability and stronger cash generation.”
Clariant, a focused and innovative speciality chemical company, announced full year 2018 sales of CHF6.623bn compared to CHF6.377bn in 2017.
This corresponds to 5% growth in local currency, all of which is organic, driven by a progression in all Business Areas, particularly in Catalysis.
Both higher volumes and pricing underpinned this expansion.
For the full year, all regions contributed to the sales growth in local currency.
Sales in Latin America grew the strongest, by 12%.
Sales in Asia increased by 7%, bolstered by a particularly positive development in China and India.
In North America, sales rose by 5%.
Both Europe and the Middle East & Africa increased sales by 2%.
The improved sales performance for the full year resulted from growth in all Business Areas with Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources reporting strong expansion.
In Plastics & Coatings, sales rose by 1% in local currency with particularly strong regional expansion in Latin America.
Sales in Care Chemicals rose by 7% in local currency primarily supported by Consumer Care.
Catalysis sales improved by an excellent 11% in local currency with a strong organic sales growth amounting to 8%.
Natural Resources sales accelerated by 8% in local currency, mainly lifted by improved Oil & Mining Services demand and solid growth in Functional Minerals.
EBITDA before exceptional items rose by 5% in Swiss francs and reached CHF1.018bn, compared to CHF97M in the previous year.
The absolute profitability improvement was attributable to the positive contributions from Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Plastics & Coatings.
