Once more, WACKER POLYSILICON generated sales gains in 2009. Up 35.4% to €1.12 billion (2008: €828.1 million), total sales crossed the billion-euro mark. This growth was fueled by additional Burghausen production volumes, which were successfully placed on the market. Polysilicon output rose over 50% against 2008, reaching 18,100 metric tons.
Sales Cross the €1 billion Mark for First Time
Although EBITDA did not perform quite as strongly as sales, it climbed substantially in 2009. At €520.8 million, it rose 23.4% (2008: €422.0 million). Divisional EBITDA was burdened by WACKER’s exit from the WACKER SCHOTT Solar (WSS) joint venture. The pro rata loss and exit-related expenses had a negative impact of €51.9 million on WACKER POLYSILICON’S investment result. Additionally, lower polysilicon spot prices weighed on 2009’s business. Moderate operating costs and high capacity utilization, however, bolstered the full-year earnings trend. The division’s EBITDA margin was 46.5% (2008: 51.0%).
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Key Data: WACKER POLYSILICON |
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€ million |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 | |||||
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Total sales |
1,121.2 |
828.1 |
456.9 |
325.6 |
288.1 | |||||
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520.8 |
422.0 |
182.2 |
118.3 |
90.2 | ||||||
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414.1 |
349.8 |
135.0 |
88.8 |
66.2 | ||||||
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Capital expenditures |
400.1 |
410.3 |
259.5 |
148.5 |
67.6 | |||||
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R&D expenses |
11.3 |
5.4 |
6.3 |
5.1 |
5.3 | |||||
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Employees (December 31, number) |
1,600 |
1,289 |
1,003 |
875 |
832 |
Investments fell slightly compared to 2008. Down 2.5% to €400.1 million (2008: €410.3 million), they mainly targeted ongoing polysilicon-capacity expansion at our Burghausen and Nünchritz production sites. Burghausen’s “Poly 8” expansion ramp-up was well ahead of schedule, which means the facility will reach its nominal capacity of 10,000 metric tons per year by mid-2010, six months earlier than planned. Nünchritz’s “Poly 9” facility is currently under construction and is expected to start production before the end of 2011.
Due to WACKER POLYSILICON’S expansion program, employee numbers rose to 1,600 as of December 31, 2009 (December 31, 2008: 1,289).