Lanxess expects additives rebound after 20% drop in earnings  

Cologne, Germany – Lanxess’ speciality additives division has reported a business performance “slightly below” the previous year’s level overall, with sales down 11.7% year-on-year to €1,739 million.  

Earnings (EBITDA pre exceptionals) at the additives unit, which includes rubber chemicals maker Rhein Chemie, came in 19.6% below the prior-year level at €284 million.  

The reversal reflected a “difficult market environment with weak demand due to the coronavirus pandemic,” Cologne-based Lanxess said in its 2020 annual report issued 11 March.  

At the start of 2020, the chemicals and polymers group had forecast “weaker [specialty additives] demand from the automotive industry, especially for the rubber-based additives business.”  

For 2021, Lanxess forecast a significant recovery for the specialty additives segment “due to the business recovery and the new allocation of the antioxidants and process accelerators business.”  

“After the sharp decline in 2020, we also expect stronger demand from the automotive industry, particularly for the rubber-based additives business and the lubricants business," the group stated.