Sales at WACKER POLYSILICON rose marginally in 2015, climbing 1.4 percent to € 1.06 billion (2014: € 1.05 billion). Volume growth more than made up for the effects of lower polysilicon prices. The Asian market, especially China, continued to gain in significance as a sales market.

At € 402.4 million, EBITDA was much lower than in 2014 (€ 537.0 million). This decrease was predominantly attributable to reduced special income from advance payments retained and damages received from solar-sector customers, and to higher costs for commissioning of the new site in Charleston, Tennessee (USA). At WACKER POLYSILICON, special income from advance payments retained and damages received from customers totaled € 137.6 million (2014: € 206.3 million). The EBITDA margin was 37.8 percent (2014: 51.2 percent).

Increase in Investments

Investments at WACKER POLYSILICON rose in 2015, up 73.9 percent to € 581.8 million (2014: € 334.5 million). This was due to the funds needed to complete the production facilities at the new site in Charleston, Tennessee, which accounted for the majority of investment spending.

The number of employees rose to 2,373 (Dec. 31, 2014: 2,093). This increase is related to the commissioning of facilities at the Charleston site.

Key Data: WACKER POLYSILICON