04/16/2013

Despite a long winter, Sika managed to maintain sales in local currencies at the previous year’s level (-0.2%) in the first quarter of 2013. As exchange rate shifts had a negative impact of -0.9%, sales in Swiss francs reached CHF 1 043 million.

After a good start to the year, a record cold March put the brakes on a large number of construction projects in Europe and North America. External applications such as roof coverings, façade engineering, and renovation and refurbishment work were delayed. As a result, sales performance in regions EMEA and North America as measured in local currency was -4.5% and -4.6% respectively.

Business in the emerging markets continues to develop positively, with sales up 9.6%. In the region Asia/Pacific, there was a 7.8% increase in local currencies. China is back on a growth trajectory, and double-digit growth was again reported for the markets in Southeast Asia, which include Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The region Latin America achieved growth in local currencies of 6.2%. Sika posted double-digit growth in most markets, except in Colombia and Mexico, which experienced a downturn.

OUTLOOK

For the current year, Sika assumes that the construction projects held up by the wintry weather will get back on track and be brought to completion. Sika affirms the growth targets of 4% to 6% in local currencies it announced for 2013.

Net Sales in the first three months of 2013
in CHF mn 1/1/2012-
3/31/2012
1/1/2013-
3/31/2013
Year-on-year change (+ / - in %)      
      in CHF in local currencies1 Currency effect Acquisition effect
By region            
EMEA 495.6 477.5 -3.7 -4.5 0.8 1.9
North America 140.9 135.1 -4.1 -4.6 0.5 0.0
Latin America
139.0 141.9 2.1 6.2 -4.1 0.9
Asia/Pacific
195.9 202.4 3.3 7.8 -4.5 0.6
Other segments and activities
83.6 86.2 3.1 3.8 -0.7 0.0
Net sales consolidated 1,055.0 1,043.1 -1.1 -0.2 -0.9 1.1
Products for the construction industry 815.3 805.4 -1.2 -0.4 -0.8 1.4
Products for industrial manufacturing 239.7 237.7 -0.8 0.3 -1.1 0.0

1 including acquisitions

 

Financial Calendar
Half-year report 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Results first nine months 2013 Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Net sales 2013 Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Media conference/analyst presentation on full-year results 2013 Tuesday, March 4, 2014