Wacker, a leading player in the chemical and biotech industry, has announced its financial results for Q3 CY2024.

he chemical company generated sales of around EUR 1.43 billion in the reporting quarter (Q3 2023: EUR 1.52 billion), down 6 percent. This decline was mainly due to significantly lower volumes sold by the Polysilicon division. Compared with Q2 2024 (EUR 1.47 billion), sales decreased 3 percent.

The EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) came at EUR 152 million (Q3 2023: EUR 152 million), EBITDA margin was 10.6 percent, after 10 percent a year earlier and 10.9 percent a quarter earlier. The net income for the reporting quarter amounted to EUR 34 million (Q3 2023: EUR 34 million).

Wacker has confirmed its full-year forecast for 2024. Its sales guidance remains in the range of EUR 6 billion to EUR 6.5 billion. EBITDA is likely to come in between EUR 600 million and EUR 800 million; it continues to expect it to be in the upper half of this range.

Christian Hartel, Group CEO, Wacker, said, “The economic environment and the level of demand in the chemical industry remain challenging for Wacker. In view of this, the strong performance in our chemical business is impressive. Despite considerable headwind here, our earnings after the first three quarters of this year are higher than in the previous year.”

“Many companies with direct sales to end consumers have curbed their production: the automotive and construction industries in particular are weak at the moment. This has repercussions for us,” continued Hartel.

In view of the current business trend, he stated that ‘the majority of its customers are continuing to exercise caution when placing orders because they are facing weak demand.”

He further explained that the lower demand for solar-grade polysilicon had impacted Wacker’s Polysilicon division.

“The USA’s ongoing antidumping investigations into solar imports from some countries in Southeast Asia has led to market uncertainty. By contrast, the hyperpure semiconductor-grade polysilicon business performed well. This shows that our long-term strategy is paying off.”

Wacker is said to have focused firmly on efficiency and cost discipline for some time now in order to tackle the challenges posed by the ongoing difficult market environment.

The CEO remains optimistic about the company’s long-term prospects.

“We confirmed our growth and sustainability targets for 2030 at our Capital Markets Day in mid-September. We are investing extensively to be able to meet the needs of our customers in the various industries and regions. Even though we are currently in a difficult economic environment, we are convinced that we are well positioned for the future: we have a committed team of experts, high innovative strength, and products and solutions that address the megatrends of our time,” he said.

To grow even further, Wacker is pursuing a comprehensive investment program to expand its capacities in all its business divisions and regions

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB publ has signed a letter of intent with an undisclosed partner to explore the possibility of licensing its advanced tyre pyrolysis technology for deployment in North America.

The collaboration will focus on conducting a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of establishing one or multiple facilities dedicated to processing end-of-life tyres using Enviro’s proprietary method. This study is designed to provide the potential licensee with the necessary insights to assess the prospects of entering into a long-term commercial arrangement and formal technology licensing agreement.

It is important to note that any definitive agreements will depend entirely on the study's outcomes and subsequent negotiations. At this stage, there is no guarantee that the evaluation will lead to binding commitments or that the proposed transaction will ultimately materialise.

Fredrik Aaben, CEO, Scandinavian Enviro Systems, said, “We continue to see strong international interest in Enviro’s technology, and this letter of intent is yet another proof of this.”

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, a global price increase for all polymer products with effect from 1 April 2026. The price hike will range from USD 440 per MT to USD 700 per MT, or as individual contract terms permit, with the exact price change varying according to the polymer type and production location.

The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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German specialty chemicals company LANXESS has announced a global price increase for its portfolio of functional additives for the manufacture of tyres and speciality rubbers. These changes, which are set to take effect immediately or as soon as individual contract terms permit, will see prices rise by 15 to 50 percent.

The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing geopolitical conflict, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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Orion S.A., a global speciality chemicals company, has announced a global price increase for its portfolio of speciality carbon black. These changes, which are set to take effect immediately or as soon as individual contract terms permit, will see prices rise by up to 25 percent.

In a strategic move to address persistent market volatility, the company is also implementing a variable surcharge on top of the base price increase. The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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