MOSCOW (MRC) -- The sales of Belgian chemicals company Solvay Group decreased by 6% yoy in Q2 2016 to 2.946 billion EUR, due to net impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and price decrease, said the company on its site.
However, the sales volumes grew by 1% keeping the solid growing trend in last quarters. The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 8% yoy to 652 million EUR, supported by sustained price increase. Also the group started benefitting from the continuous excellence projects and Cytec synergy delivery, as the EBITDA margin widened to a record 22% of net sales, representing a growth of 2.9 percentage points.
"Solvay posted strong results in the second quarter of 2016. We have delivered a record EBITDA margin of 22%. This reflects the quality of our portfolio, our continued achievements on excellence programs and the delivery of synergies stemming from integration of the Cytec legacy", said the CFO of Solvay Group, Karim Hajjar. “Cash flow in the quarter was also strong, due to better capital discipline, higher profits and further progress on working capital”, added he.
The company’s net income on IFRS basis grew significantly to 185 million EUR, against 138 million EUR in 2016. The free cash flow from continuing operations grew by 37 million EUR, due to higher EBITDA and stronger focus on cash generation. The contribution from discontinued operations was nil, since the European chlorovinyls was disposed mid 2015.
As MRC informed before, in the early June Solvay completed the purchase of Eastman Chemical Company's share in their former US joint venture Primester.
Solvay SA is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, employing 26,000 people in 52 countries. The company is world’s largest producer of Soda Ash and derivatives, as well as engaged in fuel cell technology, renewable feedstock and etc.
MRC