Beiersdorf starts 2018 with boost in sales

• Group sales up 6.5 %
• Consumer increases sales by 6.1 %
• tesa achieves sales growth of 8.5 %
• Forecast for 2018 confirmed

Hamburg, May 8, 2018 – Beiersdorf has started the 2018 financial year with a boost in sales, increasing organic sales by 6.5 % in the first three months. In nominal terms, sales rose to €1.807 billion, up 0.4 % on the prior-year figure of €1.801 billion.

“Beiersdorf made impressive progress on its profitable growth path in the first quarter of 2018. Both business segments, Consumer and tesa, delivered very dynamic performance and sales growth well above the market. These significant growth rates once again demonstrate Beiersdorf’s strong international position and high level of competitiveness. Our continued success results from strengthening our brands, accelerating our innovations, and systematically expanding our business activities in emerging markets. Despite the current political and economic uncertainty throughout some regions, we look optimistically to the coming months and therefore confirm our forecast for 2018,” said Stefan F. Heidenreich, CEO of Beiersdorf AG.

Organic Group sales grew by 6.5 % in the first three months of the year. At €1.807 billion, nominal Group sales were up 0.4 % year on year (previous year: €1.801 billion). Negative exchange rate effects reduced growth by 6.1 percentage points.

The Consumer Business Segment recorded a 6.1 % organic increase in sales in the first three months of 2018, reduced by 6.4 percentage points due to negative exchange rate effects. At €1.478 billion, nominal sales were down 0.3 % on the previous year’s figure of €1.484 billion.

NIVEA sales were up 1.9 %. The Derma business unit, which includes the Eucerin and Aquaphor brands, finished the first quarter with an increase in sales of 8.5 %. Sales of Healthcare, which includes the Hansaplast and Elastoplast brands, were 2.7 % lower than the prior-year level. On the back of an already healthy previous year, La Prairie achieved a substantial hike in growth of 55.5 %. 

Organic sales in the Europe region grew by 4.3 %. At €765 million, nominal sales were up 2.2 % on the previous year’s figure of €748 million. In Western Europe, there was a 4.2 % increase in sales. Germany recorded good growth, while sales in France remained below the prior year. In Eastern Europe, sales growth reached 4.5 %. 

Organic sales in the Americas region were up 1.6 % on the prior-year figure. At €247 million, nominal sales were down 10.7 % on the previous year’s figure of €278 million due to negative exchange rate effects.

North America experienced strong sales growth of 8.3 %. In Latin America, sales were down by 3.4 %. In Argentina and Brazil, sales slipped below the previous year’s level.

The Africa/Asia/Australia region recorded a substantial rise in sales of 11.9 %. In nominal terms, sales rose by 1.8 % to €466 million against last year’s figure of €458 million. 

In the first three months of the year, tesa again achieved significant sales growth against the already robust prior year’s quarter with a strong increase in organic sales of 8.5 %. In nominal terms, sales rose by 3.6 % to €329 million against last year’s figure of €317 million. Negative exchange rate effects reduced growth by 4.9 percentage points.

There were no significant changes in the Group’s net assets and financial position in the first three months of the year compared with December 31, 2017.

Beiersdorf anticipates sales growth of 4–5 % in 2018 for the Consumer Business Segment with a slight increase in the EBIT margin from operations against the previous year.

The tesa Business Segment is expected to generate sales growth of 3–4 % with an EBIT margin from operations slightly below the prior-year level.

Based on the forecasts of both business segments, Group sales growth is expected to be approximately 4 % with a consolidated EBIT margin from operations at the prior-year level.