Fourth quarter trading update 2008
Bekaert sales top € 4 billion in 2008 (+17.3%)
In 2008, Bekaert achieved consolidated sales of € 2.66 billion and combined sales of € 4.01 billion,
an increase of 22.5% and 17.3% respectively. [1] [2]
Growth in consolidated sales stemmed 17.7% from organic growth, largely driven by passed on raw material price increases, and 5.8% from the acquisitions in Vicson (Venezuela) and in Proalco (Colombia). Fluctuations in several exchange rates largely compensated each other with a net negative impact of 1.0%.
Even in the fourth quarter of 2008, the economic downturn notwithstanding and compared with a strong last quarter of 2007, Bekaert posted consolidated growth of 5%.
Consolidated and combined sales by business segment – full year 2008
2008 |
Consolidated sales |
|
Combined sales |
|
|
Millions of € |
Variance |
|
Millions of € |
Variance |
|
Advanced wire products |
2 331 |
+26.4% |
|
3 690 |
+19.2% |
|
Advanced materials |
199 |
-2.0% |
|
199 |
-2.0% |
|
Advanced coatings |
121 |
-3.1% |
|
121 |
-3.1% |
|
Intersegment sales and others |
12 |
- |
|
- |
- |
|
Total |
2 663 |
+22.5% |
|
4 010 |
+17.3% |
|
Combined sales by activity platform – full year 2008 versus 2007
Advanced wire products |
+19.2% |
|
Advanced materials |
-2.0% |
Wire Europe |
+7.3% |
|
Stainless |
-33.5% |
Wire North America |
+19.2% |
|
Fiber technologies |
+3.7% |
Wire Latin America |
+19.8% |
|
Combustion technologies |
-5.6% |
Wire Asia |
+73.8% |
|
Composites |
+42.9% |
Building products |
+21.7% |
|
|
|
Steel cord China |
+63.7% |
|
Advanced coatings |
-3.1% |
Steel cord others |
+1.4% |
|
Industrial coatings |
-7.0% |
Other advanced wire products |
-24.3% |
|
Specialized films |
-0.1% |
Bekaert advanced wire products posted vigorous sales growth across nearly all activity platforms throughout 2008.
Wire Europe experienced difficult market conditions, especially in the Western European platforms. In wire North and Latin America, sales grew by almost 20% as a result of sustained demand and increased price levels reflecting the raw material-linked price increases. Building products revenues rose 22%, maintaining high activity levels across all entities.
Increased demand and Bekaert's matching local production capacity offering a broad and dedicated product portfolio, combined to produce growth in the Asian wire and steel cord activity platforms. Lower market demand in Western Europe and North America has led to almost flat sales in steel cord others.
Compared with 2007, revenues from advanced materials and advanced coatings were slightly down.
Lower sales of stainless products resulted from a decline in demand and decreasing nickel-based raw material prices. Industrial coatings and combustion technologies were particularly impacted by the economic downturn. Composites grew strongly in highly competitive market circumstances.
The nominal growth of specialized film coatings (+6%) was canceled out entirely by exchange rate movements.
The global economic crisis started to impact demand in most activity platforms during the fourth quarter of 2008. Customers in diverse industries and regions postponed orders and gave priority to using available stocks first. However, market demand for innovative products with high added value was sustained throughout the year. This particularly applied to Bekaert's advanced wire products for the utilities sector.
Combined sales by geographical area – full year 2008
2008 |
Combined sales |
|
Millions of € |
Variance |
Europe |
1 100 |
+4.0% |
North America |
589 |
+8.3% |
Latin America |
1 515 |
+21.4% |
Asia |
764 |
+47.8% |
Other regions |
42 |
-19.5% |
Total |
4 010 |
+17.3% |
Outlook
[1] All comparisons are made relative to the financial year 2007. The figures in this press release are provisional and unaudited. The full annual results will be published on 13 March, 2009.
[2] Combined sales are sales of consolidated companies plus 100% of sales of joint ventures and associates after intercompany elimination.
[3] Excluding ‘intersegment sales and others’.