Merck Annual Report 2009 - Chemicals (optimized for printing)

Total revenues by division

Operating result by division

Liquid Crystals

Recovery underway

The global liquid crystal display (LCD) business is showing signs of an upturn. A recovery is clearly underway in the Liquid Crystals division, which is entering new fields of growth with innovative technologies.

Performance & Life Science Chemicals

Global economic turmoil impacts performance

The division clearly felt the drop in demand, particularly in the automotive industry, which is a cyclical business. Sales of effect pigments fell sharply and resulted in underutilization of pigment production capacities in the course of the year.