Chemicals Clariant improves profitability with lower sales
Clariant improved its profitability in the 2025 financial year despite a decline in sales. However, a special effect had a negative impact on the bottom line. The challenges in the company's assessment continue in the current year.
26.02.2026, 07:41
SDA
As Clariant announced on Thursday, sales shrank by 6 percent to 3.91 billion Swiss francs. Without currency effects, sales would have remained unchanged.
At the same time, Clariant felt the effects of persistently weak customer demand in many markets. As a result, volumes sold fell by 1 percent. Average selling prices were stable compared to the previous year. Acquisitions contributed 1 percent.
Although operating profit at EBITDA level fell by 2 percent to CHF 643 million, the margin improved to 16.4 percent from 15.8 percent in the previous year. Cost savings from the ongoing cost-cutting program contributed CHF 50 million.
Before special effects, i.e. excluding restructuring costs, EBITDA even rose by 5 percent to 697 million francs. The corresponding margin increased by 1.8 percentage points to 17.8 percent.
Clariant's operating figures exceeded analysts' expectations.
Loss due to Venezuela business
However, the income statement ended with a loss of 41 million Swiss francs, following a surplus of 280 million in the previous year. This was due to a one-off negative effect of CHF 230 million following the sale of the Venezuela unit.
Without this effect, Clariant would have posted a profit of CHF 189 million.
Clariant is proposing to the Annual General Meeting that the dividend remain stable at 42 centimes per share. The funds for this are available: The operating cash flow in the reporting period was barely changed at 419 million francs.
Markets remain challenging
The macroeconomic challenges, uncertainties and risks will remain in 2026, Clariant explained. Sales reported in local currencies are expected to remain more or less unchanged. The portfolio streamlining will reduce sales by around 1 percent.
Before exceptional items, the company expects an EBITDA margin of 18 percent, it added. This is because most of the remaining cost savings of CHF 30 million will be realized in the current year.
Clariant also confirms its medium-term targets. The specialty chemicals manufacturer aims to improve its EBITDA margin to between 19 and 21 percent by 2027 at the latest. At the same time, Clariant wants to grow by 4 to 6 percent in local currencies. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the market plays along again.
