Weak economy characterizes difficult first quarter  

Essen, Germany. Despite a difficult first quarter, Evonik confirms its earnings forecast for 2023. "The start to the year was even more challenging than we feared," says Christian Kullmann, Chairman of the Executive Board. "However, we saw signs of a business recovery during the course of the first quarter. Both February and March were better than the preceding month in terms of operating profit."

The first quarter was characterized by muted economic activity and weak demand, with customers still destocking, especially in the first weeks of the new year. Overall, sales fell 11 percent to 4.0 billion euros. Volumes declined by 14 percent. Higher prices offset some of the volumes lost and compensated for inflation effects. Earnings before interest and taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) declined by 44 percent to €409 million.

Despite the weak operating results, free cash flow reached €21million. "To achieve our goals with respect to free cash flow this year, further efforts are needed," said Maike Schuh, Chief Financial Officer since April 1. "We need a lot of discipline in dealing with our working capital and investments. Now, we all have to pull together and show that we can withstand the difficult environment."

For the whole year, Evonik expects adjusted EBITDA at the lower end of the forecast range of €2.1 to €2.4 billion. The main reasons: falling prices for the animal feed additive methionine and for products of the C₄ chain.

Undeterred by the current challenges, Evonik is pressing ahead with its announced portfolio adjustments. The first step in the divestment of the Performance Materials division was the sale of the site in Luelsdorf, Germany, south of Cologne. The divestment of the Superabsorbents business is underway: Investment teasers were sent out in March, and the process is progressing according to plan.

Cost-adjustment measures including cuts in the number of external consultants, reduced business travel, and disciplined hiring are also bearing fruit. However, most of the savings target of 250 million euros will only be realized later this year.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the sustainability strategy is picking up speed. In March, Evonik started construction of a new world-scale facility for pharmaceutical lipids in the U.S. Evonik also inaugurated a corresponding production facility for clinical quantities in Hanau, Germany. In February, Evonik started up a new plant for gas separation membranes in Austria.

Specialty Additives: In the Specialty Additives division, revenue declined 12 percent to €921 million due to lower volumes. Selling prices were raised to pass on higher raw material and energy costs. Products for the construction and coatings industries generated noticeably lower revenue. Sales of additives for polyurethane foams and consumer durables also declined, mainly due to lower volumes. Among additives for the automotive industry, a volume decline was offset by higher selling prices, resulting in stable sales. Adjusted EBITDA at €168 million was 33 percent below the prior-year results. The adjusted EBITDA margin in the first quarter declined to 18.2 percent from 24.0 percent year-over-year.

Nutrition & Care: In the Nutrition & Care division, revenue declined by 15 percent to €886 million due to significantly lower volumes. The operating model of the Animal Nutrition business line is being adjusted, which will make the amino acids business more competitive and more profitable. The continuing decline of methionine prices illustrates the urgency of this measure. Sales in this business were down significantly. By contrast, products for the health and care industries saw higher selling prices with lower volumes, resulting in only slightly lower revenue compared to the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA declined by 66 percent to €76 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin fell from 21.4 percent in the first quarter of 2022 to 8.6 percent.

Smart Materials: Revenue in the Smart Materials division decreased by 7 percent to €1,188 million because of lower sales volumes. Selling prices rose due to the passing-on of higher raw material costs. Inorganic products saw significantly lower revenue as a result of declining demand. The higher selling prices reflect the increase in variable costs. The new capacities for the high-performance polymers PA12 created in Marl, Germany, were met with strong demand in the market. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 23 percent to €164 million, mainly as a result of lower volumes and higher raw material costs. The adjusted EBITDA margin fell from 16.5 percent to 13.8 percent.

​​​​​​​Performance Materials: In the Performance Materials division, revenue declined by 16 percent to €707 million. This was due to both lower volumes and prices. Products from the C₄ chain saw declining demand and falling prices, resulting in a significant drop in sales. Sales of superabsorbents increased with improved selling prices. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 55 percent to €37 million, mainly because of the lower volumes. The adjusted EBITDA margin fell from 9.7 percent to 5.2 percent.