Development by regions Audited

Performance Materials | Sales by region – 2013

In geographic terms, the Emerging Markets region accounted for 75% (2012: 73%) of sales by the Performance Materials division. This two percentage-point increase was attributable to good organic sales growth of 4.9%. The high share of sales generated by this region is due to the concentration of liquid crystal customers in Asia. Including a negative foreign exchange impact of –3.4%, sales increased by 1.5% to € 1,237 million (2012: € 1,218 million).

With sales of € 164 million (2012: € 160 million, Europe generated 10% (2012: 10%) of divisional sales. Organic growth of 2.9% was achieved with both decorative pigments and functional materials.

The Rest of World region, which is dominated by Japan, recorded an organic sales decrease of –6.2%. Along with strong currency headwinds of –18.3%, this resulted in sales of € 156 million (2012: € 206 million). The Rest of World region’s share of sales declined from 12% in 2012 to 10% in 2013.

The North America region, where almost all sales are attributable to the Pigments & Cosmetics business unit, contributed 5% to divisional sales (2012: 5%). Including the negative foreign exchange impact, the slight decline in organic sales of –1.6% led to a total decline in sales of –4.4% to € 86 million (2012: € 90 million). The Xirallic® pigments business achieved high organic sales increases that could not compensate, however, for the weak demand for cosmetic active ingredients.