Quarterly Report • May 16, 2023
Quarterly Report
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| Covestro Group Key Data 3 | |
|---|---|
| Significant Events 4 | |
| Results of Operations and Financial Position of the Covestro Group 5 | |
| Performance of the Segments 7 | |
| Forecast, Opportunities, and Risks 9 | |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Income Statement 12 | |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 13 | |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 14 | |
| Covestro Group Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 15 | |
| Employees and Pension Obligations 16 | |
| Exchange Rates 16 | |
| Scope of Consolidation 17 | |
| Significant Events after the End of the Reporting Period 18 | |
| Segment Information 19 | |
| Financial Calendar 20 |
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. This Statement is not 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). This report covers the period from January 1 to March 31, 2023. This Quarterly Statement should be read alongside the Annual Report 2022 and the additional information about the Covestro Group contained therein. The Annual Report 2022 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'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 2022.
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 Report. 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 28, 2023. The German version is binding.
| 1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | €4,683 million | €3,743 million | –20.1% |
| Change in sales | |||
| Volume | 3.6% | –16.8% | |
| Price | 22.9% | –3.9% | |
| Currency | 5.6% | 0.6% | |
| Portfolio | 9.5% | 0.0% | |
| EBITDA1 | €806 million | €286 million | –64.5% |
| Changes in EBITDA | |||
| Volume | 5.2% | –36.2% | |
| Price | 101.9% | –22.5% | |
| Raw material price | –110.4% | –11.8% | |
| Currency | 6.9% | 0.0% | |
| Other2 | 4.8% | 6.0% | |
| EBIT3 | €589 million | €39 million | –93.4% |
| Financial result | (€28 million) | (€29 million) | 3.6% |
| Net income4 | €416 million | (€26 million) | |
| Earnings per share5 | €2.15 | (€0.14) | |
| Cash flows from operating activities6 | €157 million | (€19 million) | |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | €140 million | €120 million | –14.3% |
| Free operating cash flow7 | €17 million | (€139 million) |
1 Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA): EBIT plus depreciation, amortization, and impairment losses; less impairment loss reversals on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
2 Other changes in EBITDA such as changes in provisions for variable compensation.
3 Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT): income after income taxes plus financial result and income taxes.
4 Net income: income after income taxes attributable to the shareholders of Covestro AG.
5 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 2023 was based on 189,948,365 no-par value shares (previous year: 193,143,311 no-par value shares).
6 Cash flows from operating activities according to IAS 7 (Statement of Cash Flows).
7 Free operating cash flow (FOCF): cash flows from operating activities less cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets.
The situation in the European energy markets largely stabilized in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the volatile full-year 2022, mainly due to a significant decrease in gas prices. This is, however, set against persistently weak demand, driven especially by lower consumer spending. The adverse macroeconomic conditions impacted above all on the volumes sold by Covestro in the EMLA region.
The Russian war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has had a notable impact on the global economy. Covestro's business situation is, however, not directly affected by the consequences of the war, as Covestro does not operate any sites in the countries affected by the war (Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine). As in the previous year, the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus by the international community therefore affected Covestro's business only indirectly.
In Tarragona (Spain), Covestro has successfully commissioned a new large-scale plant for the manufacture of chlorine. It is the world's first industrial-scale production plant using the innovative and energy-efficient oxygendepolarized cathode technology developed by Covestro and partners. The new plant guarantees efficient, continuous, and independent supplies of chlorine for the diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) production in Tarragona, thus strengthening the European MDI production network. 50 new jobs were created at the site as a result of the investment.
As part of its continuous Group-wide activities to optimize the portfolio, Covestro will in future align the Engineering Plastics business entity with its core business. As a result, the Board of Management has resolved that the manufacture of the highly specialized Maezio® products, and therefore the operations at the production site in Markt Bibart (Germany), are to be discontinued. In this context, impairment losses of €30 million were recognized on goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment in the first quarter of 2023, and provisions and valuation allowances on inventories of €7 million were recognized through profit or loss.
In February 2023, CFO and Labor Director Dr. Thomas Toepfer requested the early termination of his contract, which was due to expire on March 31, 2026, to pursue a new role as CFO at the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The Supervisory Board of Covestro AG acceded to this request. Until Dr. Thomas Toepfer leaves the company as of August 31, 2023, he will continue his work as CFO and Labor Director to the full extent. The Supervisory Board immediately initiated the search for a successor and will announce the result in due course.
On October 7, 2022, Covestro for the first time issued Schuldschein loans with a total volume equivalent to €650 million. Linked to an ESG rating, these loans were issued in tranches comprising fixed and variable interest rates with terms of three, five, and seven years. The remaining €100 million of the firm Schuldschein loan commitment was transferred to Covestro in the first quarter of 2023.
Group sales were down 20.1% in the first quarter of 2023, to €3,743 million (previous year: €4,683 million). The decline in sales was due to lower volumes sold and this had a lowering effect on sales of 16.8%, especially because of weaker demand and availability constraints in the EMLA region. Another factor was the lower selling price level, which had a reducing effect of 3.9% on sales, affecting especially the APAC and NA regions. Exchange rate changes had a positive effect on sales, increasing them by 0.6%.
In the first quarter of 2023, sales decreased by 25.0% to €1,792 million (previous year: €2,388 million) in the Performance Materials segment and by 15.3% to €1,883 million (previous year: €2,222 million) in the Solutions & Specialties segment. Sales were down in all three regions in the first quarter of 2023. In the EMLA region, sales fell by 20.4% to €1,650 million (previous year: €2,074 million). Sales went down by 12.0% to €982 million (previous year: €1,116 million) in the NA region, and by 25.6% to €1,111 million (previous year: €1,493 million) in the APAC region.

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 declined by 64.5% to €286 million in the first quarter of 2023 (previous year: €806 million), primarily due to a reduction in volumes sold driven by demand and availability factors. A decline in average selling prices for demand-related reasons, combined with a rise in raw material prices, led to lower margins, which in turn contributed to lower earnings. In contrast, a decline in provisions for variable compensation had a beneficial effect on EBITDA, while exchange rate movements did not have any notable effect.
EBITDA decreased by 72.1% to €173 million (previous year: €620 million) in the Performance Materials segment and by 26.3% to €165 million (previous year: €224 million) in the Solutions & Specialties segment.
The Covestro Group's EBIT was down 93.4% to €39 million in the first quarter of 2023 (previous year: €589 million).
In the first quarter of 2023 cash outflows for operating activities amounted to €19 million (previous year: inflows of €157 million), driven primarily by the decline in EBITDA. This was partially offset by a smaller amount of cash tied up in working capital than in the prior-year quarter as well as lower income tax payments.
Free operating cash flow was down, amounting to €–139 million in the first quarter of 2023 (previous year: €17 million), largely due to lower cash flows from operating activities.
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Mar. 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Bonds | 1,988 | 1,988 |
| Liabilities to banks | 922 | 1,036 |
| Lease liabilities | 746 | 785 |
| Liabilities from derivatives | 32 | 29 |
| Other financial liabilities | 1 | 1 |
| Receivables from derivatives | (42) | (13) |
| Financial debt | 3,647 | 3,826 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | (1,198) | (949) |
| Current financial assets | (15) | (202) |
| Net financial debt | 2,434 | 2,675 |
The Covestro Group's financial debt amounted to €3,826 million on March 31, 2023, an increase of €179 million compared with December 31, 2022, due in particular to the €114 million increase in liabilities to banks.
Cash and cash equivalents declined in comparison with the figure on December 31, 2022, by €249 million to €949 million. This was mainly the result of net investments of €187 million in short-term bank deposits, cash outflows of €120 million for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets, and net cash outflows from operating activities of €19 million. This was set against cash inflows from the issuance of Schuldschein loans in an amount of €100 million. The net investments in short-term bank deposits mentioned earlier led to an increase in current financial assets by €187 million to €202 million.
Net financial debt therefore grew by €241 million compared with the figure on December 31, 2022, to €2,675 million as of March 31, 2023.
| 1st quarter | 1st quarter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales (external) | 2022 €2,388 million |
2023 €1,792 million |
Change –25.0% |
| Intersegment sales1 | €810 million | €607 million | –25.1% |
| Sales (total) | €3,198 million | €2,399 million | –25.0% |
| Change in sales (external) | |||
| Volume | 5.5% | –18.6% | |
| Price | 26.4% | –7.1% | |
| Currency | 5.3% | 0.7% | |
| Portfolio | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| Sales by region (external) | |||
| EMLA | €1,142 million | €839 million | –26.5% |
| NA | €604 million | €489 million | –19.0% |
| APAC | €642 million | €464 million | –27.7% |
| EBITDA2 | €620 million | €173 million | –72.1% |
| EBIT2 | €475 million | €29 million | –93.9% |
| Cash flows from operating activities3 | €206 million | €19 million | –90.8% |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | €94 million | €76 million | –19.1% |
| Free operating cash flow3 | €112 million | (€57 million) |
1 In accordance with internal reporting to the Board of Management since July 1, 2022, these figures also include sales recognized in the amount of cost of goods sold. To ensure comparability, the segment data is presented on a consistent basis.
2 EBITDA and EBIT include the effect on earnings of intersegment sales.
3 An imputed tax rate of 25% has been used since the Annual Report 2022 to calculate income taxes paid by the reportable segments; see note 4 "Segment and Regional Reporting" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report 2022. The tax rate for the reference value has not changed.
In the Performance Materials segment, first quarter sales in 2023 were down 25.0% to €1.792 million (previous year: €2.388 million). A decline in volumes sold due to demand and availability factors had an adverse effect on sales of 18.6%. At the same time, lower average selling prices had a negative effect of 7.1% on sales – mainly due to weaker demand. Exchange rate movements caused sales to rise by 0.7%.
Sales in the EMLA region were down by 26.5% from the prior-year quarter to €839 million (previous year: €1.142 million), driven by a considerable drop in volumes sold. Changes in selling prices and in exchange rates both had an overall neutral effect on sales. In the NA region, sales declined by 19.0% to €489 million (previous year: €604 million). This is attributable to lower average selling prices and a reduction in volumes sold, both of which caused sales to decline significantly. Exchange rate movements, in contrast, had a slightly positive effect on sales. Sales in the APAC region were down by 27.7% to €464 million (previous year: €642 million). A decline in volumes sold and changes in the selling price level both had a considerable negative effect on sales. Furthermore, changes in exchange rates also had the effect of slightly reducing sales.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Performance Materials segment's EBITDA was down 72.1% on the prior-year quarter, declining to €173 million (previous year: €620 million). This was mainly driven by lower margins, to which both higher raw material prices and a decline in selling prices – as a result of weak demand – contributed. In addition, the drop in volumes sold for demand and availability-related reasons had a negative effect on earnings. In contrast, lower provisions for short-term variable compensation boosted earnings. Exchange rate movements had no notable effect on sales.
In the first quarter of 2023, EBIT decreased by 93.9% to €29 million (previous year: €475 million).
Free operating cash flow in the first quarter of 2023 declined to €–57 million (previous year: €112 million), driven primarily by the drop in EBITDA. In contrast, a smaller amount of cash tied up in working capital than in the prioryear quarter, caused above all by changes in inventories and trade accounts receivable, as well as lower cash outflows for additions to property, plant and equipment had a beneficial effect on free operating cash flow.
| 1st quarter | 1st quarter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | Change | |
| Sales (external) | €2,222 million | €1,883 million | –15.3% |
| Intersegment sales1 | €9 million | €8 million | –11.1% |
| Sales (total) | €2,231 million | €1,891 million | –15.2% |
| Change in sales (external) | |||
| Volume | –0.5% | –15.4% | |
| Price | 19.4% | –0.5% | |
| Currency | 5.9% | 0.6% | |
| Portfolio | 20.5% | 0.0% | |
| Sales by region (external) | |||
| EMLA | €873 million | €755 million | –13.5% |
| NA | €501 million | €485 million | –3.2% |
| APAC | €848 million | €643 million | –24.2% |
| EBITDA2 | €224 million | €165 million | –26.3% |
| EBIT2 | €152 million | €63 million | –58.6% |
| Cash flows from operating activities3 | (€101 million) | (€5 million) | –95.0% |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | €45 million | €43 million | –4.4% |
| Free operating cash flow3 | (€146 million) | (€48 million) | –67.1% |
1 In accordance with internal reporting to the Board of Management since July 1, 2022, these figures also include sales recognized in the amount of cost of goods sold. To ensure comparability, the segment data is presented on a consistent basis.
2 EBITDA and EBIT include the effect on earnings of intersegment sales.
3 An imputed tax rate of 25% has been used since the Annual Report 2022 (previous year: effective tax rate) to calculate income taxes paid by the reportable segments; see note 4 "Segment and Regional Reporting" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report 2022. The tax rate for the reference value has not changed.
In the Solutions & Specialties segment, first-quarter sales in 2023 were down 15.3% to €1.883 million (previous year: €2.222 million). The main driver of this trend was a drop in volumes sold, which had a negative effect of 15.4% on sales. At the same time, lower average selling prices had a decreasing effect of 0.5% on sales. Both factors arose in particular from weaker demand. In contrast, exchange rate movements had a sales increasing effect of 0.6%.
Sales in the EMLA region were down by 13.5% to €755 million (previous year: €873 million), driven by a significant drop in volumes sold. However, higher average selling prices increased sales considerably. Exchange rate movements had no notable effect on sales. The NA region's sales declined by 3.2% to €485 million (previous year: €501 million), primarily due to a significant decline in volumes sold. Exchange rate movements, on the other hand, had a slightly positive effect on sales. The selling price level remained stable compared with the prior-year quarter. Sales in the APAC region declined by 24.2% to €643 million (previous year: €848 million), with lower volumes sold and a reduction in average selling prices both leading sales significantly lower. In addition, exchange rate movements had a slight negative effect.
In the first quarter of 2023, EBITDA in the Solutions & Specialties segment was down 26.3% on the prior-year quarter, declining to €165 million (previous year: €224 million). This was chiefly due to a decrease in volumes sold for demand-related reasons. In contrast, a rise in margins had a positive effect as lower raw material prices outweighed the lower selling prices. Both lower provisions for short-term variable compensation and exchange rate movements also contributed to the rise in EBITDA.
In the first quarter of 2023, EBIT fell by 58.6% to €63 million (previous year: €152 million).
Free operating cash flow improved by 67.1% in the first quarter of 2023 to €–48 million (previous year: €–146 million). This was mainly driven by a smaller amount of cash tied up in working capital than in the prior-year quarter, caused above all by changes in inventories and trade accounts receivable.
For the current fiscal year, we expect global economic performance to rise more sharply – now by 1.9% – than indicated in the outlook published in the Annual Report 2022. The latest economic data for the leading industrialized countries is more positive than previously expected. Especially the reduction in major cost drivers such as energy prices has recently had a boosting effect on private consumption. For reasons that include the relaxation of China's zero-COVID policy, we expect a recovery of macroeconomic performance in the APAC region and an improvement in global growth prospects.
The economic growth forecast for the EMLA and NA regions continues to be below the global growth rate. Nevertheless, the easing of supply chain bottlenecks and a significant fall in energy prices since the outlook published in the Annual Report 2022 had a positive effect on the economic growth expected in both regions. We now forecast that the economy will expand by 0.8% in the EMLA region and by 0.9% in the NA region.
In the APAC region, our forecast is for growth in excess of global economic expansion. Following the lifting of all measures to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, we expect that, driven by an increase in private consumption and economic stimulus measures, China will record economic growth of 5.0%.
| Growth 2022 | Growth forecast 2023 (Annual Report 2022) |
Growth forecast 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| World | 3.1 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Europe, Middle East, Latin America2 , Africa (EMLA) |
3.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| of which Europe | 3.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| of which Germany | 1.9 | –0.2 | 0.3 |
| of which Middle East | 6.0 | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| of which Latin America2 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| of which Africa | 3.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| North America3 (NA) | 2.2 | –0.1 | 0.9 |
| of which United States | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| Asia-Pacific (APAC) | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| of which China | 3.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
1 Real growth of gross domestic product; source: Oxford Economics, "Growth 2022" and "Growth forecast 2023" as of April 2023.
2 Latin America (excluding Mexico).
3 North America (Canada, Mexico, United States).
For the automotive industry, we anticipate significant growth in the year 2023, while we expect slight growth for the electrical, electronics and household appliances industry and stable growth for the construction and furniture industry. Compared with the outlook presented in the Annual Report 2022, growth expectations are slightly lower for all sectors except the furniture industry. Despite that, the more encouraging macroeconomic performance also offers opportunities for improved growth prospects in the main customer industries.
| Growth forecast 2023 (Annual Report Growth 2022 2022) |
Growth forecast 2023 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| Automotive | 7.1 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Construction | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Electrical, electronics and household appliances | 4.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
| Furniture | –3.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
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 2023.
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.
In view of the results of the first quarter of 2023 and higher margins and an improved cost level compared with the forecast published in the Annual Report 2022, Covestro has adjusted the guidance for the key management indicators EBITDA, free operating cash flow, and ROCE above WACC for fiscal 2023. Reductions of emissions expected in energy procurement have led to the guidance for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions being narrowed.
| Forecast 2023 | Adjusted forecast 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | (Annual Report 2022) | (April 28, 2023) | |
| Significantly down on | Between €1,100 million | ||
| EBITDA1 | €1,617 million | previous year | and €1,600 million |
| Significantly down on | Between €0 million | ||
| Free operating cash flow2 | €138 million | previous year | and €500 million |
| Significantly down on | Between –6% points | ||
| ROCE above WACC3, 4 | –5.0% points | previous year | and –2% points |
| Between | |||
| Greenhouse gas emissions5 | 4.2 million metric tons | ||
| (CO2 equivalents) | 4.7 million metric tons | Similar to previous year6 | and 4.8 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.
4 WACC: weighted average cost of capital reflecting the expected return on the company's equity and debt capital. A figure of 7.6% has been taken into account for the year 2023 (2022: 7.0%).
5 GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2, GHG Protocol) at main production sites (responsible for more than 95% of our energy usage).
6 This may entail a variance in the single-digit percentage range.
For the Covestro Group's EBITDA, we now project a figure between €1,100 million and €1,600 million (previously: significantly down on the previous year). The forecast for the Performance Materials segment's EBITDA is unchanged and EBITDA is still expected to be significantly below the figure for the year 2022. In the Solutions & Specialties segment, we continue to project an EBITDA on a level with the year 2022.*
The Covestro Group's FOCF is now forecast between €0 million and €500 million (previously: significantly down on the previous year). For the Performance Materials segment, we still expect FOCF to fall significantly short of the figure for the year 2022. In the Solutions & Specialties segment, however, we have not adjusted our forecast that FOCF is anticipated to be significantly higher than the amount of the year 2022.
We now expect ROCE above WACC to be between –6% points and –2% points (previously: significantly down on the previous year).
The Covestro Group's GHG emissions measured as CO2 equivalents are now projected to be between 4.2 million metric tons and 4.8 million metric tons (previously: on a level with the previous year\*).
* This may entail a variance in the single-digit percentage range.
With regard to the Covestro Group's other opportunity or risk factors, no material changes have been made to the presentation of risk categories in the Annual Report 2022. At the time this Quarterly Statement was prepared, there were no risks that could endanger the Group's continued existence.
| 1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Sales | 4,683 | 3,743 |
| Cost of goods sold | (3,497) | (3,124) |
| Gross profit | 1,186 | 619 |
| Selling expenses | (388) | (379) |
| Research and development expenses | (94) | (105) |
| General administration expenses | (93) | (87) |
| Other operating income | 18 | 15 |
| Other operating expenses | (40) | (24) |
| EBIT1 | 589 | 39 |
| Equity-method loss | (4) | (7) |
| Interest income | 15 | 17 |
| Interest expense | (23) | (41) |
| Other financial result | (16) | 2 |
| Financial result | (28) | (29) |
| Income before income taxes | 561 | 10 |
| Income taxes | (144) | (37) |
| Income after income taxes | 417 | (27) |
| attributable to noncontrolling interest | 1 | (1) |
| attributable to Covestro AG shareholders (net income) | 416 | (26) |
| € | € | |
| Basic earnings per share2 | 2.15 | (0.14) |
| Diluted earnings per share2 | 2.15 | (0.14) |
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 2023 was based on 189,948,365 no-par value shares (previous year: 193,143,311 no-par value shares).
| 1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Income after income taxes | 417 | (27) |
| Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability for post-employment benefit plans | 375 | 17 |
| Income taxes | (107) | 2 |
| Other comprehensive income from remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability for post-employment benefit plans |
268 | 19 |
| Changes in fair values of equity instruments | (1) | – |
| Income taxes | – | – |
| Other comprehensive income from equity instruments | (1) | – |
| Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | 267 | 19 |
| Exchange differences of foreign operations | 106 | (81) |
| Reclassified to profit or loss | – | – |
| Other comprehensive income from exchange differences | 106 | (81) |
| Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | 106 | (81) |
| Total other comprehensive income | 373 | (62) |
| attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1) | (1) |
| attributable to Covestro AG shareholders | 374 | (61) |
| Total comprehensive income | 790 | (89) |
| attributable to noncontrolling interest | – | (2) |
| attributable to Covestro AG shareholders | 790 | (87) |
| Mar. 31, 2022 | Mar. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | € million | |
| Noncurrent assets | |||
| Goodwill | 759 | 717 | 729 |
| Other intangible assets | 697 | 572 | 603 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 6,036 | 5,739 | 5,801 |
| Investments accounted for using the equity method | 174 | 177 | 185 |
| Other financial assets | 47 | 144 | 143 |
| Other receivables | 84 | 126 | 110 |
| Deferred taxes | 744 | 372 | 345 |
| 8,541 | 7,847 | 7,916 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Inventories | 3,258 | 2,866 | 2,814 |
| Trade accounts receivable | 2,685 | 2,144 | 2,011 |
| Other financial assets | 469 | 219 | 62 |
| Other receivables | 412 | 460 | 451 |
| Claims for income tax refunds | 128 | 78 | 115 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 623 | 949 | 1,198 |
| Assets held for sale | – | 26 | 18 |
| 7,575 | 6,742 | 6,669 | |
| Total assets | 16,116 | 14,589 | 14,585 |
| Equity | |||
| Capital stock of Covestro AG | 192 | 190 | 190 |
| Capital reserves of Covestro AG | 3,880 | 3,788 | 3,788 |
| Other reserves | 4,372 | 3,021 | 3,108 |
| Equity attributable to Covestro AG shareholders | 8,444 | 6,999 | 7,086 |
| Equity attributable to noncontrolling interest | 55 | 34 | 36 |
| 8,499 | 7,033 | 7,122 | |
| Noncurrent liabilities Provisions for pensions and other post-employment benefits |
835 | 462 | 486 |
| Other provisions | 241 | 178 | 184 |
| Financial liabilities | 2,327 | 3,513 | 3,368 |
| Income tax liabilities | 98 | 29 | 26 |
| Other liabilities | 31 | 38 | 32 |
| Deferred taxes | 291 | 278 | 312 |
| 3,823 | 4,498 | 4,408 | |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Other provisions | 713 | 238 | 171 |
| Financial liabilities | 226 | 326 | 321 |
| Trade accounts payable | 2,226 | 1,972 | 2,016 |
| Income tax liabilities | 329 | 182 | 149 |
| Other liabilities | 300 | 331 | 396 |
| Liabilities directly related to assets held for sale | – 3,794 |
9 3,058 |
2 3,055 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 16,116 | 14,589 | 14,585 |
| 1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|
| € million | € million | |
| Income after income taxes | 417 | (27) |
| Income taxes | 144 | 37 |
| Financial result | 28 | 29 |
| Income taxes paid | (98) | (22) |
| Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses and impairment loss reversals | 217 | 247 |
| Change in pension provisions | 2 | (10) |
| Decrease/(increase) in inventories | (310) | (81) |
| Decrease/(increase) in trade accounts receivable | (312) | (148) |
| (Decrease)/increase in trade accounts payable | (5) | (28) |
| Changes in other working capital, other noncash items | 74 | (16) |
| Cash flows from operating activities | 157 | (19) |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets | (140) | (120) |
| Cash inflows from sales of property, plant, equipment and other assets | 1 | 1 |
| Cash inflows from divestments less divested cash | 1 | – |
| Cash outflows for noncurrent financial assets | (2) | (2) |
| Cash inflows from noncurrent financial assets | 1 | – |
| Interest and dividends received | 14 | 18 |
| Cash inflows from/(Cash outflows for) other current financial assets | 46 | (176) |
| Cash flows from investing activities | (79) | (279) |
| Acquisition of treasury shares | (48) | – |
| Dividend payments and withholding tax on dividends | – | (2) |
| Issuances of debt | 14 | 271 |
| Retirements of debt | (38) | (188) |
| Interest paid | (29) | (34) |
| Cash outflows for the purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries | (4) | – |
| Cash flows from financing activities | (105) | 47 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents due to business activities | (27) | (251) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 649 | 1,198 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rate movements | 1 | 2 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 623 | 949 |
As of March 31, 2023, Covestro had 17,825 employees worldwide (December 31, 2022: 17,985). Personnel expenses were down by €7 million from the prior-year quarter to €565 million in the first quarter of 2023 (previous year: €572 million).
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Mar. 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 11,760 | 11,969 |
| Marketing and distribution | 3,261 | 2,966 |
| Research and development | 1,477 | 1,428 |
| General administration | 1,487 | 1,462 |
| Total | 17,985 | 17,825 |
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 €462 million as of March 31, 2023 (December 31, 2022: €486 million). This is mainly attributable to the return on plan assets.
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Mar. 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| Germany | 3.70 | 3.70 |
| United States | 4.90 | 4.60 |
In the reporting period, the following exchange rates were used for the major currencies of relevance to the Covestro Group:
| Closing rates | Average rates | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €1/ | Mar. 31, 2022 |
Dec. 31, 2022 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
€1/ | 1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
||
| BRL | Brazil | 5.30 | 5.64 | 5.52 | BRL | Brazil | 5.86 | 5.58 |
| CNY | China | 7.05 | 7.37 | 7.48 | CNY | China | 7.13 | 7.35 |
| HKD | Hong Kong1 | 8.69 | 8.32 | 8.54 | HKD | Hong Kong1 | 8.76 | 8.41 |
| INR | India | 84.13 | 88.17 | 89.40 | INR | India | 84.39 | 88.22 |
| JPY | Japan | 135.17 | 140.66 | 144.83 | JPY | Japan | 130.36 | 141.89 |
| MXN | Mexico | 22.09 | 20.86 | 19.64 | MXN | Mexico | 23.00 | 20.05 |
| USD | United States | 1.11 | 1.07 | 1.09 | USD | United States | 1.12 | 1.07 |
1 Special Administrative Region (China)
As of March 31, 2023, the scope of consolidation comprised Covestro AG and 60 (December 31, 2022: 60) consolidated companies and was therefore unchanged in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the end of fiscal 2022.
No reportable acquisitions were made in the first quarter of 2023.
On August 5, 2022, Covestro signed an agreement for the sale of assets and liabilities (disposal group) of the additive manufacturing business to Stratasys, a U.S.-Israeli manufacturer of 3D printers and 3D production systems. The business sold by Covestro includes employees, research and development facilities, production units, and offices in the Netherlands, the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom as well as access to a large network of partners around the world. The portfolio also includes products that are part of the Resins & Functional Materials business (RFM) acquired from Koninklijke DSM N.V., Heerlen (Netherlands), in fiscal 2021. The additive manufacturing business, which is part of the Solutions & Specialties segment, offers material solutions for common polymer 3D printing processes. Covestro's decision to sell the additive manufacturing business is consistent with the optimization of its portfolio to make its organization more efficient and allow the company to sharpen its focus on the extensive range of offerings for customers in its main customer industries. The selling price amounts to €43 million and an additional payment for certain assets, less any liabilities transferred. In addition, the agreement specifies a variable earn-out payment which depends on the achievement of various success factors. The transaction is structured as an asset deal. In connection with the sale, noncurrent assets and inventories of €19 million and liabilities of €2 million were classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5 (Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations). The transaction was completed effective April 3, 2023.
On April 3, 2023, Covestro completed the sale of assets and liabilities (disposal group) of the additive manufacturing business to Stratasys, a U.S.-Israeli manufacturer of 3D printers and 3D production systems. See "Divestitures."
| Performance Materials | Solutions & Specialties | Others/Consolidation | Covestro Group | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
1st quarter 2022 |
1st quarter 2023 |
|
| € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | € million | |
| Sales (external) | 2,388 | 1,792 | 2,222 | 1,883 | 73 | 68 | 4,683 | 3,743 |
| Intersegment sales1 | 810 | 607 | 9 | 8 | (819) | (615) | – | – |
| Sales (total) | 3,198 | 2,399 | 2,231 | 1,891 | (746) | (547) | 4,683 | 3,743 |
| Change in sales | ||||||||
| Volume | 5.5% | –18.6% | –0.5% | –15.4% | 90.1% | –7.4% | 3.6% | –16.8% |
| Price | 26.4% | –7.1% | 19.4% | –0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 22.9% | –3.9% |
| Currency | 5.3% | 0.7% | 5.9% | 0.6% | 2.0% | 0.6% | 5.6% | 0.6% |
| Portfolio | 0.0% | 0.0% | 20.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.5% | 0.0% |
| Sales by region | ||||||||
| EMLA | 1,142 | 839 | 873 | 755 | 59 | 56 | 2,074 | 1,650 |
| NA | 604 | 489 | 501 | 485 | 11 | 8 | 1,116 | 982 |
| APAC | 642 | 464 | 848 | 643 | 3 | 4 | 1,493 | 1,111 |
| EBITDA2 | 620 | 173 | 224 | 165 | (38) | (52) | 806 | 286 |
| EBIT2 | 475 | 29 | 152 | 63 | (38) | (53) | 589 | 39 |
| Depreciation, amortization, impairment losses and impairment loss reversals |
144 | 144 | 72 | 102 | – | 1 | 217 | 247 |
| Cash flows from operating activities3 | 206 | 19 | (101) | (5) | 52 | (33) | 157 | (19) |
| Cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets |
94 | 76 | 45 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 140 | 120 |
| Free operating cash flow3 | 112 | (57) | (146) | (48) | 51 | (34) | 17 | (139) |
| Trade working capital4 | 1,745 | 1,291 | 1,918 | 1,712 | – | (27) | 3,663 | 2,976 |
1 In accordance with internal reporting to the Board of Management since July 1, 2022, these figures also include sales recognized in the amount of cost of goods sold. To
ensure comparability, the segment data is presented on a consistent basis.
2 EBITDA and EBIT include the effect on earnings of intersegment sales.
3 An imputed tax rate of 25% has been used since the Annual Report 2022 to calculate income taxes paid by the reportable segments; see note 4 "Segment and Regional Reporting" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report 2022. The tax rate for the reference value has not changed.
4 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, 2022/2023.
19
| Half-Year Financial Report 2023 August 1, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Quarterly Statement Third Quarter 2023 October 27, 2023 | |
| Annual Report 2023 February 29, 2024 |
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 nexxar GmbH Vienna, Austria

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