Polymers
In 2025, sales at Polymers decreased, too, falling by 5.8 percent to €1.38 billion (2024: €1.46 billion). The main reason for this was a year-over-year decline in selling prices and volumes. In particular, the ongoing construction industry slump – especially in China and western Europe – had a negative impact on business. Sales were on a downward trajectory in all regions.
EBITDA amounted to €158.3 million (2024: €194.4 million), which is 18.6 percent lower than a year earlier, due to lower sales as a result of lower volumes, negative currency effects and lower sales prices, coupled with higher costs. A planned technical plant shutdown in the first half of the year had a negative impact as well. The EBITDA margin was 11.5 percent (2024: 13.3 percent).
Polymers invested a total of €55.2 million in 2025 (2024: €75.4 million), which is lower than in the previous year. Among other things, the funds were used for additional VAE dispersion production capacity at the US site in Calvert City and infrastructure measures at the Burghausen site. As of December 31, 2025, the number of employees at the division was 1,612 (December 31, 2024: 1,613 employees).
€ million |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total sales |
|
1,378.5 |
|
1,463.3 |
|
1,579.8 |
|
1,996.2 |
|
1,673.6 |
EBITDA |
|
158.3 |
|
194.4 |
|
253.1 |
|
288.7 |
|
252.6 |
EBITDA margin (%) |
|
11.5 |
|
13.3 |
|
16.0 |
|
14.5 |
|
15.1 |
EBIT |
|
94.1 |
|
136.0 |
|
203.0 |
|
238.3 |
|
198.7 |
Capital expenditures |
|
55.2 |
|
75.4 |
|
74.1 |
|
107.3 |
|
100.1 |
R&D expenses |
|
37.0 |
|
34.3 |
|
34.3 |
|
35.2 |
|
35.1 |
Employees (number as of Dec. 31) |
|
1,612 |
|
1,613 |
|
1,622 |
|
1,603 |
|
1,595 |