Gypsum industry news

Latvia, Lithuania & Estonia: Germany-based Knauf’s Baltic business generated a turnover of €108m in the Baltic region in 2023, up by 4% year-on-year. The company’s regional profit grew by 34% to €19.5m. Baltic Business Daily has reported that Knauf’s Baltic sales volumes declined, amid a contraction in the local building market, with new building permits down by 30% year-on-year in the first half of the year. Knauf raised its regional investments to €5.8m, while its personnel costs rose by 3% year-on-year. Nonetheless, the company’s energy costs fell by 19%, and its raw materials costs fell by 7%.

Germany: Chemicals company BASF's sales fell by 19% year-on-year to €37.3bn in the first half of the 2024 financial year (FY2024). Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined by 34% to €4.72bn. As a result, the company now anticipates full-year sales of €73 – 76bn in FY2024, down from the previously forecast €84 – 87bn. It revised its earnings forecast to €4 – 4.4bn, from €4.8 – €5.4bn previously. At the same time, it increased its anticipated reduction in CO₂ emissions for the year. It now expects to generate 17 – 17.6Mt of CO₂ from its operations, down from its previously forecast 18.1 – 19.1Mt.