In 2015, WACKER SILICONES increased its sales by 12.0 percent to € 1.94 billion (2014: € 1.73 billion). The main reasons for this growth were higher volumes, positive exchange-rate effects and slightly improved prices. WACKER SILICONES was able to increase its sales across all business sectors, with sales of specialty products continuing to rise. Silicones for personal-care products and consumer goods, for textile, paper and medical-technology applications, and for the energy sector all sold particularly well. We succeeded in increasing our sales in all regions, with the highest growth rate (20 percent) being recorded in Asia. Growth in India remained strong in the year under review, with sales there climbing 25 percent.

Compared with the previous year, EBITDA outpaced sales growth, rising 31.6 percent to € 276.2 million (2014: € 209.8 million). WACKER SILICONES recorded slightly higher raw-material costs in 2015, especially for silicon metal. At 14.2 percent, the EBITDA margin was higher than in the prior year (2014: 12.1 percent).

Investments Somewhat Lower Year over Year

Investments were down somewhat over the prior year. At € 82.0 million (2014: € 88.5 million), they were 7.3 percent lower. Investments went primarily toward expanding capacity for intermediate and downstream products. WACKER SILICONES expanded its production capacity for functional silicone fluids at the Burghausen site. Such highly specialized fluids are key upstream products for specialty oils and silicone emulsions in the paint, coating, paper and textile industries, as well as for cosmetics and personal-care products. Around € 26 million was invested in this expansion project. WACKER SILICONES had 4,353 employees as of December 31, 2015 (Dec. 31, 2014: 4,240).

Key Data: WACKER SILICONES