Polyurethanes

Polyurethanes Key Data1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th quarter 2017

 

4th quarter 2018

 

Change

 

2017

 

2018

 

Change

 

 

€ million

 

€ million

 

%

 

€ million

 

€ million

 

%

1 All prior-year figures have been adjusted to reflect the transfer of the specialty elastomers business from the Polyurethanes segment to the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment as of January 1, 2018.

2 Reference values calculated based on the definition of the core business effective March 31, 2018

Core volume growth2

 

+5.3%

 

+2.3%

 

 

 

+3.1%

 

+0.8%

 

 

Sales

 

1,876

 

1,597

 

–14.9

 

7,386

 

7,362

 

–0.3

Change in sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume

 

+6.9%

 

+2.5%

 

 

 

+3.5%

 

+0.9%

 

 

Price

 

+26.2%

 

–17.6%

 

 

 

+28.2%

 

+1.9%

 

 

Currency

 

–5.8%

 

+0.2%

 

 

 

–1.8%

 

–3.1%

 

 

Portfolio

 

0.0%

 

0.0%

 

 

 

0.0%

 

0.0%

 

 

Sales by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMLA

 

787

 

678

 

–13.9

 

3,147

 

3,182

 

+1.1

NAFTA

 

442

 

474

 

+7.2

 

1,868

 

1,947

 

+4.2

APAC

 

647

 

445

 

–31.2

 

2,371

 

2,233

 

–5.8

EBITDA

 

612

 

111

 

–81.9

 

2,179

 

1,763

 

–19.1

EBIT

 

529

 

27

 

–94.9

 

1,826

 

1,412

 

–22.7

Operating cash flows

 

595

 

393

 

–33.9

 

1,352

 

1,386

 

+2.5

Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets

 

126

 

171

 

+35.7

 

276

 

414

 

+50.0

Free operating cash flow

 

469

 

222

 

–52.7

 

1,076

 

972

 

–9.7

In 2018 as a whole, core volumes in Polyurethanes rose by 0.8% over the prior-year period.

At €7,362 million, the Polyurethanes segment’s sales remained stable year-on-year (previous year: €7,386 million). The increases in total volumes sold of 0.9% and average selling prices of 1.9% largely balanced out exchange rate movements, which reduced sales by 3.1%.

In the EMLA region, sales rose by 1.1% to €3,182 million (previous year: €3,147 million). Slightly higher selling price levels and stable total volumes more than offset mildly negative exchange rate changes. The NAFTA region’s sales grew 4.2% to €1,947 million (previous year: €1,868 million). A significant increase in average selling prices more than compensated for strongly negative currency effects. Total volumes sold in the region remained stable. Sales in the APAC region declined 5.8% to €2,233 million (previous year: €2,371 million). This was due to a modest decrease in selling price levels and a slightly negative trend in exchange rates. In contrast, total volumes sold increased somewhat.

Polyurethanes
Quarterly Sales1

€ million

Polyurethanes Quarterly Sales (bar chart)

Polyurethanes
Quarterly EBITDA1

€ million

Polyurethanes Quarterly EBITDA (bar chart)

1 All prior-year figures have been adjusted to reflect the transfer of the specialty elastomers business from the Polyurethanes segment to the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment as of January 1, 2018.

was down 19.1% from the prior-year period, dropping to €1,763 million (previous year: €2,179 million). Although greater total volumes and higher average selling prices in 2018 improved earnings, these increases could not offset the negative effects of increasingly intense competition and consequently lower margins, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2018. In addition, the 2017 earnings reflected significant one-time revenue streams.

dropped to €1,412 million (previous year: €1,826 million).

amounted to €972 million, down 9.7% from the prior-year figure of €1,076 million. The lower EBITDA and higher cash outflows for additions to property, plant and equipment stood in contrast to the greater availability of working capital, particularly in trade accounts receivable.

EBITDA/earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
EBIT plus depreciation and amortization of property, plant, equipment, and intangible assets
EBIT/earnings before interest and taxes
Income after income taxes plus financial result and income tax expense
FOCF/free operating cash flow
Operating cash flows (pursuant to IAS 7) less cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets