BASF Group: EBIT before special items declines in 2Q 2020 due to weaker demand as a result of the corona pandemic

摘要

As expected, the economic effects of the corona pandemic had a much stronger impact in the 2Q 2020 than in the 1Q 2020. Customer industries were affected to varying degrees: BASF was particularly negatively impacted by the collapse in demand from the automotive industry, while demand from the detergent and cleaner industry and the food industry was stable. BASF was able to continue production at all important sites worldwide. Sales in the 2Q 2020 decreased by 12% to EUR 12.7 bn. This was primarily attributable to lower sales volumes of minus 11%. Prices decreased by 1%, mainly due to lower prices for upstream chemicals. Considerably higher prices in the Surface Technologies segment and slightly higher prices in the Agricultural Solutions segment could only partially offset this. Prices in the Surface Technologies segment were supported by higher prices for precious metals in the Catalysts division.