Quarterly figures: Evonik increases operating profit and emphasizes independence

Dusseldorf. The Essen-based chemical company Evonik is using the new quarterly figures to send a clear message to its competitor BASF. “Evonik is big enough, Evonik is strong and we are making Evonik even stronger,” said CFO Michael Rauch in a video message on the Linkedin platform on Tuesday. BASF is interested in a takeover. However, Evonik can shape its future “on its own” and achieve growth on its own, said Rauch.

The figures from the third quarter confirm this. Adjusted operating profit rose by 40 percent to 629 million euros, sales by 13 percent to 3.8 billion euros. Evonik is now more optimistic for the year as a whole. Interim boss Claus Rettig emphasized: “We are strong and robust.”

According to a survey by the financial services provider Vara, analysts had expected sales of 3.8 billion euros and an adjusted Ebitda of 633 million euros. Special effects and costs for savings programs resulted in a net loss of 53 million euros, after a loss of 106 million euros in the same period last year. Rettig is restructuring Evonik and cutting jobs in order to make the company profitable.