ALTANA again achieved double-digit growth in the first half of 2022. In the first six months of the year, sales rose by 18% to €1,573 million compared to the same period of the previous year (€1,334 million). Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, sales were up by 12%.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached €268 million, around 5% lower than the prior-year figure (€283 million), mainly due to the exceptionally high cost of materials, logistics, and energy. The EBITDA margin in the first half of 2022 was therefore 17% (same period of the previous year: 21.2%).

Despite the high purchasing costs, ALTANA increased its already high research and development expenses to €95 million in the first six months of the current year, almost 16% up on the same period of the previous year.

“Even in these troubled times, ALTANA remains the reliable innovative partner that our customers need right now,” said Martin Babilas, CEO of ALTANA AG. “We continue to invest in sustainable technologies that help protect the climate. The path ALTANA embarked on years ago is currently proving more important than ever.”

The company’s innovation pipeline brought about, among other things, the market launch of ECOLEAF, a new metallization technology for the production of metallic label decorations with a significantly improved environmental profile. The system, developed in the ACTEGA division, not only eliminates the use of plastic carrier foils, but also avoids metal waste by using only the amount of metallic pigments required for each application. As a result, the CO2 footprint can be reduced by more than 50% vis-à-vis conventional processes.

In the first half of 2022, all four divisions recorded high growth rates. ALTANA’s largest division, BYK, achieved sales of €724 million, an increase of 15% in a year-to-year comparison. Adjusted for exchange rate effects, the sales growth was 10%.

The effect pigments specialist ECKART posted sales of €213 million, corresponding to growth of 9% (5% in operational terms). The ELANTAS division, whose insulating materials are increasingly being used to expand e mobility, recorded sales of €352 million, up 24% on the previous year, and 16% in operational terms.

ACTEGA’s sales rose by 28% to €284 million. Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, the increase was 19%.

In the first half of 2022, ALTANA achieved double-digit growth rates in all regions of the world. Europe, which continues to be the strongest region in terms of sales, reached €589 million, corresponding to an increase of 12% (11% operationally). Sales in Germany grew by 14% (13% in operating terms). In the Americas, the Group achieved the most significant increase, with sales rising by 33% (21% in operating terms) to €439 million. This development was driven by sales in the U.S. market, which grew at the same rate. In Asia, ALTANA achieved sales of €517 million euros, 14% higher than in the prior-year period.

“In view of the good half-year results, our own financial strength, the measures implemented to secure energy supplies, and in particular the resilience of its business model, which has been proven over many years, ALTANA is well equipped to master the challenges of the current environment,” said Babilas.