SIMONA 2024: Resilience amid difficult market conditions
Financial Press Releases Company
Kirn, April 23, 2025. Against the backdrop of a solid final quarter, the SIMONA Group succeeded in reaching the upper end of its adjusted revenue guidance of €570-580 million. However, at €581.2 million, revenue in the 2024 financial year was 3.1 percent lower than in the previous year (€600.0 million), while sales volumes were up slightly. The decline in revenue was attributable primarily to lower sales prices and the absence of fluoropolymer-related business. SIMONA is satisfied with its performance against the backdrop of an environment marked by intense competition and considerable pressure on margins. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to €38.7 million. While this represents a substantial decline compared to the previous year (€52.9 million), the EBIT margin of 6.7 percent remained within the target corridor of 6-8 percent. The SIMONA Group began the 2025 financial year with an upturn in revenue. In the first quarter, revenue increased by 4.3 percent to €152.2 million (previous year: €145.9 million) compared to the same quarter of the previous year. However, at €8.0 million, EBIT was down €1.4 million on the first quarter of 2024 due to exceptional items.
Revenue by region
All three reporting regions recorded a downturn in revenue in 2024. While the EMEA region remained stable in terms of sales volumes, it saw a decline in revenue due to a change in the product mix. In this context, the lack of fluoropolymer-related business was particularly evident. Revenue amounted to €355.8 million in EMEA (previous year: €369.3 million/-3.7 percent). In the Americas, demand for applications in the chemical and semiconductor industries remained solid, prompting double-digit revenue growth. By contrast, business relating to the caravan and leisure/outdoor sector was sluggish. The market for aircraft interiors was impacted by weak production output by aircraft manufacturers. In total, the Americas region generated revenue of €175.7 million, 2.0 percent less than in the previous year. In the Asia-Pacific region, revenue amounted to €49.7 million (previous year: €51.4 million/-3.3 percent). SIMONA succeeded in significantly expanding its business in South East Asia and stood its ground in China and India with slight declines against the backdrop of sluggish industrial demand.
Revenue by business line
The Industry business line had to contend with a decline in revenue (€216.2 million/previous year: €227.5 million/-5.0 percent) despite higher sales volumes. This was driven primarily by a lack of demand for fluoropolymer products, particularly in the chemical industry. The Infrastructure business line recorded significant sales and revenue growth. Revenue increased by 7.2 percent to €110.5 million (previous year: €103.0 million). This was also attributable to project business in the future market of the energy transition in Europe, for which SIMONA supplies a system range comprising pipes, fittings and protective sheets. The Mobility business line recorded growth in the Rail market segment, while business in the Automotive and Aviation sectors trended lower. Overall, revenue in the Mobility business line fell by 10.5 percent to €69.7 million (previous year: €77.9 million). The Advertising & Building business line was impacted by the persistently low level of activity in the construction sector – although volumes remained stable – and saw a decline in revenue of 5.1 percent to €83.3 million (previous year: €87.8 million). The remaining revenues from various other fields of application and trade are summarized under "Others" and amounted to €101.6 million (previous year: €103.9 million). In addition to lower trading business in Europe, this also includes the market for fish farm equipment, which rebounded significantly following the reduction of a special tax levied in Norway.
Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell by 26.8 percent from €52.9 million to €38.7 million. Among the key factors here were lower revenue as well as higher staff costs and write-downs, which were attributable to SIMONA's growth segments. In light of the economic circumstances, SIMONA is satisfied with its EBIT margin of 6.7 percent (previous year: 8.8 percent). On this basis, SIMONA is in a position to put forward an attractive dividend proposal to its shareholders. A dividend proposal of €1.75 per share is to be submitted to the Annual General Meeting on June 6, 2025.
The Group reached key milestones in the implementation of its sustainability strategy over the course of the financial year just ended. These include, in particular, the validation of its CO2 reduction targets by the Science-Based Targets initiative, the commissioning of a battery-based energy storage system at its headquarters in Kirn for the flexible management of electricity load fluctuations, and an investment in solar power systems by SIMONA AMERICA Industries, which will cover almost a fifth of this subsidiary's electricity requirements from renewable sources in future. A new Customer Experience Center in the United States and a global marketing concept for the extensive range of products and services targeted at the semiconductor industry are a testament to the plastics processing company's commitment to achieving the highest level of end customer orientation within its industry.
Underpinned by a recovery in order intake – particularly in EMEA – the SIMONA Group increased its revenue by €6.3 million to €152.2 million in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2024: €145.9 million).
However, EBIT fell to €8.0 million (Q1: 2024: €9.4 million) due to exceptional items at a non-operating level. In particular, the valuation of the Chinese renmimbi and the Turkish lira at the applicable measurement date led to unrealized currency losses. In addition, insufficient wind-generated power in Germany in the first two months of the year meant that additional electricity had to be purchased at higher prices. The EBIT margin in the first quarter thus stood at 5.3 percent, compared to 6.4 percent in the previous year.
“Market conditions in 2024 proved challenging for the SIMONA Group at a global level. The economic climate was dominated by a low propensity to invest, coupled with geopolitical conflicts, uncertainty surrounding the future political direction to be taken by the United States, and a sluggish global economy. Owing to a robust final quarter, we were able to close the financial year on a positive note and slightly exceed our adjusted revenue guidance. While we managed to lift sales volumes slightly, the lack of demand for fluoropolymers in the core market of the chemical process industry and severe pressure on prices translated into revenue losses. Despite the slightly weaker first quarter, our projections for 2025 are for Group revenue of €610 million to 620 million, an EBIT margin of between 6 and 8 percent, and an EBITDA margin of 10 to 12 percent,” says Matthias Schönberg, CEO of SIMONA.
Key Financials – SIMONA Group | 2024 | 2023 | Change in % | |
Revenue | €m | 581.2 | 600.0 | -3.1 |
Staff costs | €m | 119.6 | 115.0 | +4.0 |
Earnings before taxes (EBT) | €m | 37.6 | 45.2 | -16.8 |
Profit for the period | €m | 24.5 | 30.8 | -20.3 |
Net cash from operating activities | €m | 48.9 | 69.3 | -29.5 |
EBIT | €m | 38.7 | 52.9 | -26.8 |
EBIT | % | 6.7 | 8.8 |
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EBITDA | €m | 63.4 | 75.9 | -16.5 |
EBITDA | % | 10.9 | 12.7 |
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ROCE | % | 7.6 | 11.2 |
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Total assets | €m | 655.1 | 611.2 | +7.2 |
Equity | €m | 387.9 | 361.9 | +7.2 |
Property, plant and equipment | €m | 208.9 | 188.1 | +11.0 |
Investments in property, plant, and equipment | €m | 35.5 | 32.7 | +8.6 |
Employees (annual average) | 1,777 | 1,716 | +3.6 | |
Earnings per share | € | 3.82 | 5.08 | -24.8 |
Share price (closing price 31 Dec.) | € | 56.00 | 65.00 | -13.8 |
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Key Financials – SIMONA Group |
| Q1 2025 | Q1 2024 | Change in % |
Revenue | €m | 152.2 | 145.9 | +4.3 |
EBIT | €m | 8.0 | 9.4 | -14.9 |
EBIT | % | 5.3 | 6.4 |
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SIMONA – Global Thermoplastic Solutions
SIMONA AG is one of the leading manufacturers of thermoplastic products, with production facilities and sales offices around the globe, as well as an acknowledged development partner within this field. The company's portfolio includes semi-finished products (sheets, rods, profiles, welding rods), pipes, and fittings. SIMONA employs 1,850 people worldwide. The Group manufactures 35,000 products in Germany and abroad, offering best-in-class solutions tailored to a wide range of applications in the fields of industry, infrastructure, mobility, building, advertising, and aquaculture. SIMONA AG is a stock corporation listed in the General Standard. The company's registered office is in Kirn, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany). For further information, please refer to www.simona.de. For details of our sustainability targets and measures, please visit sustainability.simona.de.
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