Brenntag continues growth trajectory in Q1

Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical distribution, continued to grow in the first quarter of 2017, achieving a strong increase in its key performance indicator gross profit in particular. The successful performance was due to solid growth in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific regions, plus the fact that demand in North America stabilised as expected. These positive developments more than offset the declines in earnings in Latin America, where the situation in several countries remained difficult.

Brenntag generated sales of €2,973.3m in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 15.2% on the prior-year period. The Group’s key performance indicator gross profit showed strong growth, rising by 7.7% year on year to €631.8m. Operating EBITDA reached €201.6m, a rise of 4.9% compared with the prior-year quarter.

Profit after tax was up on the prior-year figure of €66m to €94.7m in the first quarter of 2017.

Chief Executive Officer of Brenntag AG, Steven Holland said: “Brenntag had a good start to 2017. We saw encouraging trends in the first quarter, with further growth in our EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. In addition, demand in North America improved slightly as expected and Brenntag therefore posted a rise in operating gross profit here, too. In our smallest region, Latin America, the situation in several countries remained difficult, but this was only of limited significance for the Group.”

For more information visit www.brenntag.com

23rd May 2017