ALTANA recently announced its financial results for the 2021 first half. Total sales increased by 25% to €1.3 billion (approximately $1.5 billion). Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, total sales grew by 26%.

All four divisions recorded double-digit growth rates in the first half of 2020. The largest division, BYK, achieved sales of €631 million (~ $737.2 million), a 25% increase in a year-to-year comparison. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, sales were up 29%.

The ACTEGA division’s sales increased by 11% to €222 million (~ $259.4 million). Adjusted for acquisition and foreign exchange effects, the increase was 10%. The acquisition of Henkel’s closure materials business in May to strengthen PVC-free solutions in this area is reportedly expected to have a special impact on earnings in the second half of the year.

Sales in Europe, which continues to be the group’s strongest sales region, increased 24% (22% in operational terms), compared to the 2020 first half. In the Americas, ALTANA reported a 12% increase in sales; adjusted for exchange-rate effects, sales in this region rose by 22%.

The group reports that it achieved its most significant growth in Asia, where sales increased by 33% (35% in operational terms). The driver of this development was the Chinese market, with growth of 47% (both nominal and operating growth).

As a result of its business performance in the first six months of 2021, ALTANA is raising its sales forecast for the full year. Instead of operating sales growth in the low- to mid-single-digit percentage range, as originally expected, the company now anticipates low-double-digit growth.

Additional details are available at www.altana.com.