Speciality Chemicals Magazine JUL / AUG 2025 | Page 7

JUL / AUG 2025

Evonik seeks € 1 billion extra EBITDA

At its latest capital markets day, Evonik has announced that it aims to increase its operational and financial performance significantly by 2027. This will be focused on four strategic pillars: the set-up of its portfolio in two new segments, sustainable innovations, a balanced regional footprint and a culture of mutual respect and performance orientation.
Return on capital employed, the company ' s key financial indicator, is expected to reach around 11 %, which means adjusted EBITDA would increase by € 1 billion on 2023. This increase is expected to result roughly equally from growth and cost optimisation, with acquisitions ruled out during the time period.
‘ Growth’-driven EBITDA refers to higher capacity utilisation of new plants and new products in the three defined‘ innovation growth areas’. Fully biodegradable biosurfactants are seen as one key driver.‘ Optimisation’ includes such cost-cutting programmes as Evonik Tailor Made, various single-business initiatives and the ePro programme in procurement.
“ We used the economic crisis of 2023 as an opportunity to refine our strategy for the coming years and to set clear goals,” said CEO Christian Kullmann.“ These goals are ambitious – but we know the quality of our business and see additional opportunities, for example from economic stimulus programmes in Germany and Europe.”
Kullmann – Evonik has refined its strategy with new goals
This followed the announcement that Evonik’ s adjusted EBITDA was 7 % up in Q1 over the same period in 2024 at € 560 million, despite the difficult economic environment. This was attributed to higher sales volumes and better than expected prices in Animal Nutrition, plus continued cost discipline.
Sales volumes were 2 % up on Q1 2024 while prices were 2 % down. Revenue remained roughly stable at € 3.78 billion. Net income grew to € 233 million, compared with € 156 million. CFO Maike Schuh said:“ Our efficiency efforts are taking hold. And that is urgently needed in view of resurgent economic concerns.”
IN BRIEF
Solenis acquires NCH Water treatment giant Solenis has agreed to acquire the NCH Group, a Texas-based firm active in the same field with 24 plants and 76 distribution centres in 48 countries. The deal should be completed by the end of 2025. The Levy family will remain as minority shareholders. Solenis said that the buy will create“ a more diversified, customercentric provider of water and hygiene solutions”, uniting its global reach with NCH’ s presence in the middle market.
Exemptions for GBL, BDO Germany has amended its Psychoactive Substances Act to allow γ-butyrolactone( GBL) and 1,4-butanediol( BDO) to remain in use in industrial production. Both have been restricted as known‘ date rape drugs’. The industry association VCI said that the government had“ struck a good balance”, recognising that both are“ technically irreplaceable bulk chemicals in the chemicalpharmaceutical industry”.
Helm hands over Helm has reached an agreement with CAC Nantong Chemical to expand their global partnership. Under this CAC’ s German affiliate has taken over the registrations and rights for Helm’ s classic chemical plant protection portfolio in Europe via its‘ One’ business as of the start of July. Helm will focus more on new products for soil and crop defence and crop development.
JUL / AUG 2025 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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