Dusseldorf, Germany — Henkel, which makes reactive polyurethane systems and adhesives, had total sales of EUR 5bn in first quarter of 2019. This was down 2.78% on the equivalent period last year.
'Challenging' first quarter for Henkel in 2019
Van Bylen: Challenging first quarter
EBIT across the business fell 0.4 % and reached EUR 736 m in the first quarter of 2019.
Hans van Bylen, Henkel CEO said the first quarter had been a 'challenging business environment. Our business development in the first quarter was mixed.'
The company's Adhesive Technology business had sales which rose 1.7% between Q1 2018 and Q1 2019. They reached EUR 2.3 bn in the Q1 2019 period.
At the same time, EBIT in the division fell 2.1%. It reached EUR 381m in the first quarter of 2019. This compares with EUR 389m reached in the equivalent period last year.
Van Bylen said that the Adhesives Technologies business had been hit by a slowdown in industrial production in the electronic and automotive industries. These declines led to a 0.8% fall in sales in the division.
Western Europe sales fell by 1.3% in the quarter; Eastern Europe grew by 6.8%, Asia Pacific was 8.8% below the previous year period.
| Henkel numbers Q1 2019 ( EUR m) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Q1 2019 | Q1 2018 | Change % |
| Sales | 4969 | 4835 | 2.77 |
| EBIT | 736 | 739 | -0.41 |
| Margin % | 14.8 | 15.3 | |
| Adhesive Technology | |||
| Sales | 2309 | 2270 | 1.72 |
| EBIT | 381 | 389 | -2.06 |
| Margin % | 16.5 | 17.1 | |
| Source: Henkel | |||
