Quarterly Report • May 2, 2024
Quarterly Report
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Covestro Quarterly Statement as of March 31, 2024

| Covestro Group Key Data 3 |
|---|
| Results of Operations and Financial Position of the Covestro Group 4 |
| Performance of the Segments 6 |
| Forecast, Opportunities, and Risks 8 |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Income Statement 11 |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 12 |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 13 |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 14 |
| Employees and Pension Obligations 15 |
| Exchange Rates 15 |
| Scope of Consolidation 16 |
| Significant Events after the End of the Reporting Period 16 |
| Segment Information 17 |
| Financial Calendar 18 |
This Quarterly Statement of Covestro AG, Leverkusen (Germany), was prepared in accordance with Section 53 of the Stock Exchange Rules and Regulations (Börsenordnung) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It does not comprise an interim report within the meaning of IAS 34 (Interim Financial Reporting) or a set of financial statements within the meaning of IAS 1 (Presentation of Financial Statements). It was not subjected to a review by an auditor. This Quarterly Statement contains information on the period from January 1 to March 31, 2024 and should be read alongside the Annual Report 2023 and the additional information about the Covestro Group contained therein. The Annual Report 2023 is available on our website at www.covestro.com.
This Quarterly Statement may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the management of Covestro AG, Leverkusen (Germany). Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual results, financial situation, development, or performance of the Covestro Group and the estimates given here. The various factors include those discussed in Covestro AG's public reports, which are available at www.covestro.com. Covestro AG assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Acronyms and abbreviations used in this Quarterly Statement are explained in this Quarterly Statement or in the Glossary provided in the Annual Report 2023.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to Covestro. To ensure better readability, we therefore strive to use gender-neutral language and avoid gender-specific terms in this Quarterly Statement. All terms should be taken to apply equally to all genders.
As the indicators in this Quarterly Statement are stated in accordance with commercial rounding principles, totals and percentages may not always be exact.
If a deviation changes from positive to negative or vice versa, or if it is greater than 1,000%, this is shown by a period.
This Quarterly Statement was published in German and English on April 30, 2024. The German version is binding.
| 1st quarter | 1st quarter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | Change | |
| Sales | €3,743 million | €3,510 million | –6.2% |
| Change in sales | |||
| Volume | –16.8% | 10.9% | |
| Price | –3.9% | –15.4% | |
| Currency | 0.6% | –1.7% | |
| Sales by region | |||
| EMLA1 | €1,650 million | €1,515 million | –8.2% |
| NA2 | €982 million | €869 million | –11.5% |
| APAC3 | €1,111 million | €1,126 million | 1.4% |
| EBITDA4 | €286 million | €273 million | –4.5% |
| Changes in EBITDA | |||
| Volume | –36.2% | 48.6% | |
| Price | –22.5% | –201.4% | |
| Raw material price | –11.8% | 140.2% | |
| Currency | 0.0% | –4.5% | |
| Other5 | 6.0% | 12.6% | |
| EBIT6 | €39 million | €61 million | 56.4% |
| Financial result | (€29 million) | (€30 million) | 3.4% |
| Net income7 | (€26 million) | (€35 million) | 34.6% |
| Earnings per share8 | (€0.14) | (€0.19) | 35.7% |
| Cash flows from operating activities9 | (€19 million) | (€23 million) | 21.1% |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | €120 million | €106 million | –11.7% |
| Free operating cash flow10 | (€139 million) | (€129 million) | –7.2% |
1 EMLA: Europe, Middle East, Latin America (excluding Mexico), Africa region.
2 NA: North America region (Canada, Mexico, United States).
3 APAC: Asia and Pacific region.
4 Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA): EBIT plus depreciation, amortization, and impairment losses; less impairment loss
reversals on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.
5 Other changes in EBITDA such as changes in provisions for variable compensation.
6 Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT): income after income taxes plus financial result and income taxes.
7 Net income: income after income taxes attributable to the shareholders of Covestro AG.
8 Earnings per share: according to IAS 33 (Earnings per Share), net income divided by the weighted average number of outstanding no-par value voting shares of Covestro AG. The calculation for the first quarter of 2024 was based on 188,740,330 no-par value shares (previous year: 189,948,365 no-par value shares). 9 Cash flows from operating activities according to IAS 7 (Statement of Cash Flows).
10 Free operating cash flow (FOCF): cash flows from operating activities less cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets.
Group sales declined by 6.2% in the first quarter of 2024, to €3,510 million (previous year: €3,743 million). The decrease in sales was mainly due to lower selling price levels in all regions as well as to a decline in raw material prices being passed on to customers; these factors had a diminishing effect on sales of 15.4%. In contrast, an increase in volumes sold, especially in the EMLA and APAC regions, had a positive effect on sales of 10.9%. This was boosted by higher plant availability, especially in the EMLA region. Exchange rate movements had a negative impact of 1.7% on sales.
In the first quarter of 2024, sales decreased by 5.7% to €1,689 million (previous year: €1,792 million) in the Performance Materials segment and by 6.2% to €1,767 million (previous year: €1,883 million) in the Solutions & Specialties segment. In the EMLA region, sales were 8.2% lower, at €1.515 million (previous year: €1.650 million), in the first quarter of 2024, while sales in the NA region were down 11.5% to €869 million (previous year: €982 million). In the APAC region, in contrast, sales climbed by 1.4% to €1,126 million (previous year: €1,111 million).

1 EMLA: Europe, Middle East, Latin America (excluding Mexico), Africa region.
2 NA: North America region (Canada, Mexico, United States).
3 APAC: Asia and Pacific region.
The Group's EBITDA was down 4.5% to €273 million in the first quarter of 2024 (previous year: €286 million), largely because of lower margins. The decline in the selling price level was partially offset by lower raw material and energy prices. The rise in volumes sold had a positive effect on earnings, but the effect of exchange rate movements was negative.
EBITDA dropped by 40.5% to €103 million (previous year: €173 million) in the Performance Materials segment and increased by 26.1% to €208 million (previous year: €165 million) in the Solutions & Specialties segment.
The Covestro Group's EBIT improved by 56.4% to €61 million in the first quarter (previous year: €39 million).
In the first quarter of 2024 cash outflows from operating activities amounted to €23 million (previous year: €19 million). This reflects higher income tax payments and a decline in EBITDA, which had a negative impact on cash flows from operating activities. On the other hand, less cash tied up in working capital had a beneficial effect on cash flows from operating activities.
Free operating cash flow improved, amounting to €–129 million in the first quarter of 2024 (previous year: €–139 million), largely due to a decline in cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets.
| Dec. 31, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Bonds | 1,990 | 1,991 |
| Liabilities to banks | 657 | 647 |
| Lease liabilities | 743 | 783 |
| Liabilities from derivatives | 15 | 16 |
| Other financial liabilities | 2 | 2 |
| Receivables from derivatives | (19) | (8) |
| Gross financial debt | 3,388 | 3,431 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | (625) | (684) |
| Current financial assets | (276) | (24) |
| Net financial debt | 2,487 | 2,723 |
In comparison with December 31, 2023, the Covestro Group's gross financial debt rose by €43 million to €3,431 million as of March 31, 2024. This was mainly due to a €40 million rise in lease liabilities.
Cash and cash equivalents were up €59 million in comparison with the figure on December 31, 2023, to €684 million. This was primarily attributable to net proceeds of €252 million from short-term bank deposits. Conversely, cash outflows of €106 million for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets as well as negative cash flows of €75 million from financing activities and of €23 million from operating activities caused cash and cash equivalents to decline. The net proceeds from short-term bank deposits mentioned earlier led to a decrease in current financial assets by €252 million to €24 million.
Net financial debt therefore grew by €236 million compared with the figure on December 31, 2023, to €2,723 million as of March 31, 2024.
| 1st quarter | 1st quarter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | Change | |
| Sales (external) | €1,792 million | €1,689 million | –5.7% |
| Intersegment sales | €607 million | €556 million | –8.4% |
| Sales (total) | €2,399 million | €2,245 million | –6.4% |
| Change in sales (external) | |||
| Volume | –18.6% | 17.3% | |
| Price | –7.1% | –21.3% | |
| Currency | 0.7% | –1.7% | |
| Sales by region (external) | |||
| EMLA | €839 million | €762 million | –9.2% |
| NA | €489 million | €417 million | –14.7% |
| APAC | €464 million | €510 million | 9.9% |
| EBITDA1 | €173 million | €103 million | –40.5% |
| EBIT1 | €29 million | (€35 million) | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | €19 million | €1 million | –94.7% |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | €76 million | €74 million | –2.6% |
| Free operating cash flow | (€57 million) | (€73 million) | 28.1% |
1 EBIT and EBITDA include the effect on earnings of intersegment sales.
In the Performance Materials segment, first-quarter sales in 2024 were down 5.7% to €1,689 million (previous year: €1,792 million). This was primarily driven by the 21.3% decline in average selling prices, which coincided with lower raw material prices being passed on to customers. This was set against a rise in volumes sold, which had a sales-increasing effect of 17.3% and was also facilitated by higher plant availability in the EMLA region. Exchange rate movements also had a decreasing effect of 1.7% on sales.
Sales in the EMLA region were down by 9.2% from the prior-year quarter to €762 million (previous year: €839 million), driven by a significant drop in the selling price level. On the other hand, changes in volumes sold drove sales significantly upward. Exchange rates had no notable effect on sales. The NA region's sales decreased 14.7% to €417 million (previous year: €489 million), principally because of a considerable decline in average selling prices. In contrast, higher volumes sold had the effect of increasing sales slightly. Exchange rate movements had a neutral impact on sales. Sales in the APAC region were up 9.9% to €510 million (previous year: €464 million), mainly because of a significant rise in volumes sold. Changes in exchange rates and a lower selling price level, on the other hand, both had a significant reducing impact on sales.
In the first quarter of 2024, the Performance Materials segment's EBITDA was down 40.5% on the prior-year quarter, dropping to €103 million (previous year: €173 million). This was primarily driven by lower margins, with a decline in average selling prices being partially offset by a drop in raw material and energy prices. At the same time, higher fixed costs and exchange rate movements weighed on earnings. On the other hand, the rise in volumes sold had a beneficial effect on EBITDA.
In the first quarter of 2024, EBIT decreased to €–35 million (previous year: €29 million).
Free operating cash flow amounted to €–73 million in the first quarter of 2024 (previous year: €–57 million). The decrease in EBITDA was partially offset by a smaller amount of cash tied up in working capital than in the prior-year quarter.
| 1st quarter | 1st quarter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | Change | |
| Sales (external) | €1,883 million | €1,767 million | –6.2% |
| Intersegment sales | €8 million | €7 million | –12.5% |
| Sales (total) | €1,891 million | €1,774 million | –6.2% |
| Change in sales (external) | |||
| Volume | –15.4% | 5.9% | |
| Price | –0.5% | –10.4% | |
| Currency | 0.6% | –1.7% | |
| Sales by region (external) | |||
| EMLA | €755 million | €710 million | –6.0% |
| NA | €485 million | €444 million | –8.5% |
| APAC | €643 million | €613 million | –4.7% |
| EBITDA1 | €165 million | €208 million | 26.1% |
| EBIT1 | €63 million | €135 million | 114.3% |
| Cash flows from operating activities | (€5 million) | €53 million | |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | €43 million | €31 million | –27.9% |
| Free operating cash flow | (€48 million) | €22 million |
1 EBIT and EBITDA include the effect on earnings of intersegment sales.
In the Solutions & Specialties segment, first-quarter sales in 2024 were down 6.2% to €1,767 million (previous year: €1,883 million). The main driver of this trend was a 10.4% drop in average selling prices, offset by an increase in volumes sold, which had a beneficial effect on sales of 5.9%. At the same time, exchange rate movements resulted in a decreasing effect on sales of 1.7%.
The EMLA region's sales decreased 6.0% to €710 million (previous year: €755 million), driven by significantly lower average selling prices. Conversely, the rise in volumes pushed up sales considerably. Exchange rate movements had no notable effect on sales. In the NA region, sales were down 8.5% to €444 million (previous year: €485 million), mainly on account of a considerable drop in the selling price level and a slight decline in volumes sold. Exchange rate movements had no notable effect on sales. Sales in the APAC region declined by 4.7% to 613 million (previous year: €643 million). The main drivers of this development were lower average selling prices and a slight negative trend in exchange rates. On the other hand, higher volumes sold boosted sales significantly.
In the first quarter of 2024, EBITDA in the Solutions & Specialties segment climbed by 26.1% over the prior-year quarter to €208 million (previous year: €165 million), largely due to higher sales volumes. In addition, the margins boosted earnings slightly, since the decline in selling prices was more than offset by lower raw material and energy costs. On the other hand, exchange rate movements had a slightly negative effect on EBITDA.
In the first quarter of 2024, EBIT jumped by 114.3% to €135 million (previous year: €63 million).
Free operating cash flow improved to €22 million in the first quarter of 2024 (previous year: €–48 million), driven primarily by the rise in EBITDA. At the same time, less cash tied up in working capital than in the prior-year quarter and lower cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets had a beneficial effect on free operating cash flow.
Compared to the year 2023, we continue to forecast slower, but positive, global economic growth of 2.5% for fiscal 2024. We expect growth rates in all regions to be at similar levels to the outlook published in the Annual Report 2023. As part of this forecast, we consider the continuing reluctance to take economic stimulus measures and the still restrictive monetary policy to be key drivers of these moderate growth dynamics. The latter is expected to have an adverse effect on consumer spending and the development of industries sensitive to interest rates, such as the construction industry.
For the EMLA region, we anticipate growth of 1.2% and therefore below the global rate of expansion. Due to low consumer spending, high interest rates, and higher energy prices than in other regions, we expect the economy in the EMLA region to expand only modestly.
For the NA region, we project growth of 2.4%, virtually on a level with the global growth outlook. Persistently high consumer spending and the strong performance of the labor market are having a beneficial effect on economic expansion in the NA region. Based on the expectation of interest rate cuts in the second half of 2024, we anticipate that the investing activities of companies in interest-sensitive industries will also recover.
Economic growth in the APAC region will likely exceed the global growth rate. We anticipate economic growth of 3.8% for this region in fiscal 2024. For China, there are continuing signs of weak growth performance compared with the previous year for reasons that include the crisis in the real estate market and poor labor market prospects. In our forecast, we have assumed that the Chinese government's measures intended to stimulate consumption, tax reductions, and supply-side support for the manufacturing industry will boost economic growth in the region.
| Growth 2023 | Growth forecast 2024 (Annual Report 2023) |
Growth forecast 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| World | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Europe, Middle East, Latin America2, Africa (EMLA) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| of which Europe | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| of which Germany | –0.1 | –0.1 | 0.0 |
| of which Middle East | 1.5 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| of which Latin America2 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| of which Africa | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.0 |
| North America3 (NA) | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| of which United States | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| Asia-Pacific (APAC) | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| of which China | 5.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 |
1 Real growth of gross domestic product; source: Oxford Economics, "Growth 2023" and "Growth forecast 2024" as of April 2024.
2 Latin America (excluding Mexico).
3 North America (Canada, Mexico, United States).
Compared to the forecast given in the Annual Report 2023, growth expectations for the main customer industries, with the exception of the electrical, electronics and household appliances industry, largely remain unchanged.
We anticipate negative growth of 2.5% in the global construction industry. The sector continues to be impacted by the high cost of construction materials, persistent labor shortages, and high construction loan interest rates. Growth in the global automotive industry is expected to amount to 1.0%, in an environment of weak demand. We anticipate expansion of 0.1% in the global furniture industry in the year 2024. Limited economic expansion, low investments in the housing sector, and sluggish consumer demand will again have a dampening effect on growth prospects in the year 2024. For the electrical, electronics and household appliances industry, we are forecasting growth of 1.9%, and therefore slightly above the outlook given in the Annual Report 2023.
| Growth 2023 | Growth forecast 2024 (Annual Report 2023) |
Growth forecast 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| Automotive | 10.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| Construction | – 2,4 | – 2,5 | –2.5 |
| Electrical, electronics and household appliances | – 1,3 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Furniture | – 3,7 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
1 Covestro's estimate, based on the following sources: LMC Automotive Limited, B+L, CSIL (Centre for Industrial Studies), Oxford Economics. We limited the economic data of our "automotive and transportation" and "furniture and wood processing" main customer industries to the automotive and furniture segments (excluding the transportation or wood processing segments). As of: April 2024.
The analysis of the development of our key management indicators is based on the business performance described in this Quarterly Statement, the economic outlook outlined above, and consideration of our potential risks and opportunities. For the rest of fiscal 2024, we confirm the key management indicators that we forecast in the Annual Report 2023.
| 2023 | Forecast 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| EBITDA1 | €1,080 million | Between €1,000 million and €1,600 million |
| Free operating cash flow2 | €232 million | Between 0 million and €300 million |
| ROCEabove WACC3, 4 | –6.1% points | Between –7% points and –2% points |
| Greenhouse gas emissions5 (CO2 equivalents) |
4.9 million metric tons | Between 4.4 million metric tons and 5.0 million metric tons |
1 EBITDA: EBIT plus depreciation, amortization, and impairment losses; less impairment loss reversals on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
2 Free operating cash flow (FOCF): cash flows from operating activities less cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets.
3 ROCE: ratio of EBIT after imputed income taxes to capital employed. Imputed income taxes are calculated by multiplying an imputed tax rate of 25% by EBIT.
4 WACC: weighted average cost of capital reflecting the expected return on the company's equity and debt capital. A figure of 8.1% has been taken into account for the year 2024 (2023: 7.6%).
5 GHG emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2, GHG Protocol) at main production sites (responsible for more than 95% of our energy usage).
For the Covestro Group's EBITDA, we project a figure between €1,000 million and €1,600 million. Covestro anticipates that the Performance Materials segment's EBITDA will be €400 million to €800 million. In the Solutions & Specialties segment, we expect EBITDA to be significantly higher than the amount of the year 2023 (€817 million).
The Covestro Group's FOCF is forecast between €0 million and €300 million. In the Performance Materials segment, we expect FOCF to be significantly down on the amount of the year 2023 (€162 million). In the Solutions & Specialties segment, we are also forecasting FOCF to be significantly lower than in the year 2023 (€551 million).
ROCE above WACC is anticipated in a range between –7% points and –2% points.
The Covestro Group's GHG emissions, measured as CO2 equivalents, are projected to be between 4.4 million metric tons and 5.0 million metric tons.
With regard to the Covestro Group's opportunity or risk factors, no material changes have been made to the presentation of risk categories in the Annual Report 2023. At the time this Quarterly Statement was prepared, there were no risks that could endanger the Group's continued existence.
| 1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Sales | 3,743 | 3,510 |
| Cost of goods sold | (3,124) | (2,906) |
| Gross profit | 619 | 604 |
| Selling expenses | (379) | (382) |
| Research and development expenses | (105) | (91) |
| General administration expenses | (87) | (73) |
| Other operating income | 15 | 21 |
| Other operating expenses | (24) | (18) |
| EBIT1 | 39 | 61 |
| Equity-method loss | (7) | (1) |
| Interest income | 17 | 16 |
| Interest expense | (41) | (39) |
| Other financial result | 2 | (6) |
| Financial result | (29) | (30) |
| Income before income taxes | 10 | 31 |
| Income taxes | (37) | (68) |
| Income after income taxes | (27) | (37) |
| attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1) | (2) |
| attributable to Covestro AG shareholders (net income) | (26) | (35) |
| € | € | |
| Basic / Diluted earnings per share2 | (0.14) | (0.19) |
1 Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT): income after income taxes plus financial result and income taxes.
2 Earnings per share: according to IAS 33 (Earnings per Share), net income divided by the weighted average number of outstanding no-par value voting shares of Covestro AG. The calculation for the first quarter of 2024 was based on 188,740,330 no-par value shares (previous year: 189,948,365 no-par value shares).
| 1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Income after income taxes | (27) | (37) |
| Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability for post-employment benefit plans | 17 | 45 |
| Income taxes | 2 | (2) |
| Other comprehensive income from remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability for post-employment benefit plans |
19 | 43 |
| Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | 19 | 43 |
| Exchange differences of foreign operations | (81) | 20 |
| Other comprehensive income from exchange differences | (81) | 20 |
| Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | (81) | 20 |
| Total other comprehensive income | (62) | 63 |
| attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1) | – |
| attributable to Covestro AG shareholders | (61) | 63 |
| Total comprehensive income | (89) | 26 |
| attributable to noncontrolling interest | (2) | (2) |
| attributable to Covestro AG shareholders | (87) | 28 |
| € million € million € million Noncurrent assets Goodwill 717 712 711 Other intangible assets 572 505 519 Property, plant and equipment 5,739 5,787 5,795 Investments accounted for using the equity method 177 188 182 Other financial assets1 150 108 109 Other receivables1 120 149 114 Deferred taxes 372 311 316 7,847 7,760 7,746 Current assets Inventories 2,866 2,650 2,459 Trade accounts receivable 2,144 2,000 1,898 Other financial assets1 241 61 311 Other receivables1 438 468 496 Claims for income tax refunds 78 97 102 Cash and cash equivalents 949 684 625 Assets held for sale 26 9 – 6,742 5,969 5,891 Total assets 14,589 13,729 13,637 Equity Capital stock of Covestro AG 190 189 189 Capital reserves of Covestro AG 3,788 3,740 3,740 Retained earnings incl. total income 2,473 2,300 2,291 Accumulated other comprehensive income 548 390 370 Equity attributable to Covestro AG shareholders 6,999 6,619 6,590 Equity attributable to noncontrolling interest 34 26 28 7,033 6,645 6,618 Noncurrent liabilities Provisions for pensions and other post-employment benefits 462 421 464 Other provisions 178 235 192 Financial liabilities 3,513 2,753 2,740 Other financial liabilities1 13 19 16 Income tax liabilities 29 36 29 Other nonfinancial liabilities1 25 22 24 Deferred taxes 278 253 256 4,498 3,739 3,721 Current liabilities Other provisions 238 353 356 Financial liabilities 326 686 667 Trade accounts payable 1,972 1,942 1,895 Other financial liabilities1 123 104 128 Income tax liabilities 182 63 48 Other nonfinancial liabilities1 208 197 204 Liabilities directly related to assets held for sale 9 – – 3,058 3,345 3,298 |
Mar. 31, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2024 | Dec. 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total equity and liabilities | 14,589 | 13,729 | 13,637 |
1 Prior-year figures adjusted. Explanations can be found in the relevant notes in the Annual Report 2023.
| 1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Income after income taxes | (27) | (37) |
| Income taxes | 37 | 68 |
| Financial result | 29 | 30 |
| Income taxes paid | (22) | (38) |
| Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses and impairment loss reversals | 247 | 212 |
| Change in pension provisions | (10) | (11) |
| (Gains)/losses on retirements of noncurrent assets | – | (3) |
| Decrease/(increase) in inventories | (81) | (184) |
| Decrease/(increase) in trade accounts receivable | (148) | (85) |
| (Decrease)/increase in trade accounts payable | (28) | 40 |
| Changes in other working capital, other noncash items | (16) | (15) |
| Cash flows from operating activities | (19) | (23) |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | (120) | (106) |
| Cash inflows from sales of property, plant, equipment and other assets | 1 | 4 |
| Cash outflows for noncurrent financial assets | (2) | (4) |
| Interest and dividends received | 18 | 17 |
| Cash inflows from/(Cash outflows for) other current financial assets | (176) | 246 |
| Cash flows from investing activities | (279) | 157 |
| Dividend payments | (2) | – |
| Issuances of debt | 271 | 28 |
| Retirements of debt | (188) | (77) |
| Interest paid | (34) | (26) |
| Cash flows from financing activities | 47 | (75) |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents due to business activities | (251) | 59 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,198 | 625 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rate movements | 2 | – |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 949 | 684 |
As of March 31, 2024, Covestro had 17,543 employees worldwide (December 31, 2023: 17,520). Personnel expenses were down slightly, by €8 million, from the prior-year quarter to €557 million in the first quarter of 2024 (previous year: €565 million).
| Dec. 31, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 11,947 | 11,991 |
| Marketing and distribution | 2,860 | 2,853 |
| Research and development | 1,338 | 1,341 |
| General administration | 1,375 | 1,358 |
| Total | 17,520 | 17,543 |
1 The number of employees on either permanent or temporary contracts is stated in full-time equivalents (FTE). Part-time employees are included on a pro-rated basis in line with their contractual working hours. Employees in vocational training are not included.
Provisions for pensions and other post-employment benefits decreased to €421 million as of March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: €464 million). This was mainly due to a reduction in the measurement of obligations as a result of higher discount rates.
| Dec. 31, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| Germany | 3.30 | 3.40 |
| United States | 4.70 | 5.00 |
In the reporting period, the following exchange rates were used for the major currencies of relevance to the Covestro Group:
Average rates for major currencies
| Closing rates | Average rates | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €1/ | Mar. 31, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
€1/ | 1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
|||
| BRL | Brazil | 5.52 | 5.36 | 5.40 | BRL | Brazil | 5.58 | 5.37 | |
| CNY | China | 7.48 | 7.87 | 7.84 | CNY | China | 7.35 | 7.82 | |
| HKD | Hong Kong1 | 8.54 | 8.63 | 8.46 | HKD | Hong Kong1 | 8.41 | 8.49 | |
| INR | India | 89.40 | 91.90 | 90.14 | INR | India | 88.22 | 90.20 | |
| JPY | Japan | 144.83 | 156.33 | 163.45 | JPY | Japan | 141.89 | 160.97 | |
| MXN | Mexico | 19.64 | 18.72 | 17.92 | MXN | Mexico | 20.05 | 18.46 | |
| USD | United States | 1.09 | 1.11 | 1.08 | USD | United States | 1.07 | 1.09 |
1 Special Administration Region (China)
As of March 31, 2024, the scope of consolidation comprised Covestro AG and 57 (December 31, 2023: 57) consolidated companies.
No reportable acquisitions or divestitures were made in the first quarter of 2024.
No events have occurred since March 31, 2024, that have a material impact on the net assets, financial position and results of operations of the Covestro Group.
| Performance Materials | Solutions & Specialties | Others / Reconciliation | Covestro Group | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2024 |
|
| € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | |
| Sales (external) | 1,792 | 1,689 | 1,883 | 1,767 | 68 | 54 | 3,743 | 3,510 |
| Intersegment sales | 607 | 556 | 8 | 7 | (615) | (563) | – | – |
| Sales (total) | 2,399 | 2,245 | 1,891 | 1,774 | (547) | (509) | 3,743 | 3,510 |
| Change in sales | ||||||||
| Volume | –18.6% | 17.3% | –15.4% | 5.9% | – | – | –16.8% | 10.9% |
| Price | –7.1% | –21.3% | –0.5% | –10.4% | – | – | –3.9% | –15.4% |
| Currency | 0.7% | –1.7% | 0.6% | –1.7% | – | – | 0.6% | –1.7% |
| Sales by region | ||||||||
| EMLA | 839 | 762 | 755 | 710 | 56 | 43 | 1,650 | 1,515 |
| NA | 489 | 417 | 485 | 444 | 8 | 8 | 982 | 869 |
| APAC | 464 | 510 | 643 | 613 | 4 | 3 | 1,111 | 1,126 |
| EBITDA1 | 173 | 103 | 165 | 208 | (52) | (38) | 286 | 273 |
| EBIT1 | 29 | (35) | 63 | 135 | (53) | (39) | 39 | 61 |
| Depreciation, amortization, impairment losses and impairment |
||||||||
| loss reversals | 144 | 138 | 102 | 73 | 1 | 1 | 247 | 212 |
| Cash flows from operating activities | 19 | 1 | (5) | 53 | (33) | (77) | (19) | (23) |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets |
76 | 74 | 43 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 106 |
| Free operating cash flow | (57) | (73) | (48) | 22 | (34) | (78) | (139) | (129) |
| Trade working capital2 | 1,291 | 1,101 | 1,712 | 1,575 | (27) | (18) | 2,976 | 2,658 |
1 EBITDA and EBIT include the effect on earnings of intersegment sales.
2 Trade working capital includes inventories plus trade accounts receivable and contract assets, less trade accounts payable, contract liabilities, and refund liabilities as of
March 31, 2023/2024.
| Half-Year Financial Report 2024 July 30, 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Quarterly Statement Third Quarter 2024 October 29, 2024 | |
| Annual Report 2024 February 26, 2025 |
Covestro AG Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee 60 51373 Leverkusen Germany Email: [email protected]
Local Court of Cologne HRB 85281 VAT No. DE815579850
Investor contact Email: [email protected]
Press contact Email: [email protected]
Translation Leinhäuser Language Services GmbH Unterhaching, Germany
Design and layout RYZE Digital www.ryze-digital.de

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