WACKER’s operations are highly international. In 2014, 86.2 percent of the Group’s € 4.83 billion in sales (2013: € 4.48 billion) were generated by international business. Germany accounted for 13.8 percent.

Substantial Sales Growth in Asia

Asia is the region offering us the greatest business and growth opportunities. The main impetus is the rising standard of living in the region’s emerging economies. With a 42.3-percent share of Group sales in 2014 (2013: 40.8 percent), Asia remains our principal market. Sales there reached € 2.04 billion (2013: € 1.83 billion). That is an increase of 11.7 percent. In the Greater China region (which includes Taiwan), sales grew to € 1.22 billion (2013: € 1.07 billion), up 14 percent year on year. WACKER also performed strongly in India, achieving growth of 15 percent. With the exception of WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS, all our business divisions posted sales growth in Asia.

Europe Gains Momentum

In Europe (excluding Germany), where WACKER has always had a very strong market position, sales revived in 2014 after a contraction in the previous year, improving by 5.3 percent to € 1.13 billion (2013: € 1.07 billion). Europe accounted for a 23.4-percent share in Group sales (2013: 24 percent). In Germany, sales grew by 2.6 percent to € 663.7 million (2013: € 647.0 million).

External Sales by Customer Location

Favorable Business Trend in the Americas

Business in the Americas developed positively in 2014, with sales increasing by 6.5 percent to € 810.7 million (2013: € 761.0 million). In the year under review, all of WACKER’s business divisions posted sales growth in this region. The Americas accounted for 16.8 percent of Group sales (2013: 17.0 percent).

Continued Growth in “Other” Regions

Sales in the “Other” regions continued to grow, rising 6.2 percent to € 181.8 million (2013: € 171.0 million). WACKER generates more than 40 percent of these sales in Middle Eastern countries. The “Other” regions account for 3.8 percent of WACKER’s total sales.

External Sales by Group Company Location