WACKER POLYMERS’ sales rose substantially in 2014, climbing 8.8 percent to € 1.06 billion (2013: € 978.7 million). The increase was fueled by higher volumes for dispersions and dispersible polymer powders and by slightly higher prices. Raw-material costs climbed significantly year on year due to a sharp rise in the price of vinyl acetate monomer. This dampened earnings.

WACKER POLYMERS succeeded in enhancing its sales in all regions, with Eastern Europe showing the strongest growth (17 percent). Business also surged in India in 2014, where we achieved sales growth of 16 percent.

At € 149.5 million, EBITDA was marginally higher than in 2013 (€ 147.8 million). The sharp rise in the price of vinyl acetate monomer weighed on earnings.

Higher Investments Due to Expansion and New Construction

Capital expenditures climbed to € 56.3 million after € 36.8 million in 2013. Spending mainly focused on the expansion of production facilities for dispersible polymer powders in Nanjing (China) and on constructing a dispersible-polymer-powder plant in Burghausen (Germany) and a new dispersions reactor at our Calvert City site in the USA. These investments will enable us to satisfy growing demand in the market for dispersions and dispersible polymer powders. As of December 31, 2014, the business division had 1,408 employees (Dec. 31, 2013: 1,377), a slight rise on the previous year.

Key Data: WACKER POLYMERS