The carbon fiber producer SGL Carbon SE, Wiesbaden/Germany, increased sales by approx. 6 % to € 562 million driven by organic growth in the market segments Digitization, Energy, and Chemicals.
Adjusted for a positive one-time effect of around € 4 million in the prior year, Group recurring EBIT reached nearly € 38 million, approximately € 2 million below prior year’s first half. Recurring EBIT in the business unit Composites – Fibers & Materials (CFM) decreased significantly in earnings, while sales in the business unit CFM remained as expected at € 219.4 million, close to the prior year level (currency adjusted: -3 %). EBIT was with € 2.8 million (HJ1/2018: € 17.3 million) substantially below the prior year level.
While the market segment Wind Energy recorded strong growth compared to the very weak prior year, the market segment Industrial Applications posted lower sales due to the weakening global economy. The market segment Aerospace also remained below the prior year level due to different timings of project billings. Sales in the market segments Automotive and Textile Fibers remained close to the prior year level.