Lanxess slashes profit outlook as demand recovery lags

German speciality chemicals maker Lanxess (LXSG.DE) on Monday evening cut its second-quarter and annual core profit forecasts, saying it saw no demand recovery in June as customers continued to destock.

It said “very weak” demand, especially in the construction and electronics industries and from consumer related products, along with effects from customers destocking had spilled into the second quarter from the first and were ongoing.

The company, which makes high-end speciality chemicals such as additives, lubricants, flame retardants and plastics, expects its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) pre-exceptionals to be around 100 million euros ($109 million) in the second quarter.

It had previously targeted profit “roughly at the level” of the first-quarter figure of 189 million euros.

For 2023, Lanxess sees EBITDA pre-exceptionals between 600 million and 650 million euros, versus prior forecast of 850 million to 950 million euros.

This report’s information was first seen on REUTERS; to read more, click this link.