Semperit more than doubles earnings on higher volumes, efficiencies

Vienna – Semperit Group has reported sharply higher earnings for the first half of 2026, with earnings (EBITDA) more than doubling year-on-year.

Over the first six months of the year, sales grew by 11.1% to €356 million, while earnings rose 116% year-on-year to €66.6 million, Semperit reported 13 Aug.

Earnings after tax returned to positive territory at €28.6 million, compared with a loss of €11.2 million in the first half of 2025.

Operating earnings, excluding costs related to the group's oneERP digital transformation project, more than doubled to €69.0 million, from €32.9 million.

CEO Manfred Stanek linked the gains to "higher sales volumes, improved capacity utilisation and the consistent implementation of our cost and efficiency measures have significantly strengthened profitability."

Breaking down segments, Semperit Industrial Applications (SIA), comprising hoses and profiles, increased first half revenue by 12% year-on-year to €149.7 million.

Segment earnings posted a sharp 72.7% year-on-year rise to €41.9 million, from €24.2 million a year earlier while EBIT more than doubled to €32.3 million, from €15.3 million.

Semperit Engineered Applications (SEA), which comprises Form, Belting and liquid silicone rubber, also reported higher year-on-year revenue with sales up 10.4% €206.2 million.

The division's earnings grew 120% to €32.4 million, from €14.7 million, while EBIT recovered to €17.8 million, compared with a loss of €3.7 million in the first half of 2025.

Semperit said SEA had been particularly affected by customer project delays in the first half of 2025.

Following the strong first half, Semperit raised its forecast for 2026 operating earnings to €100 million, from its previous guidance of around €95 million.

The forecast excludes €5 million in project costs, including costs associated with the oneERP digital transformation project.

The group continues to expect revenue growth in the 'high single-digit percentage range.'

Semperit cautioned, however, that the full-year forecast implies “a significantly more challenging second half.”

“The sharp rise in raw material costs resulting from the escalation in the Middle East will impact earnings and weigh particularly heavily on the third quarter,” said the Austrian group.

Furthermore, considerable geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties will also continue to remain.

Semperit said market trends are expected to continue to be mixed in both divisions.

“While individual business units are performing robustly and initial signs of stabilisation are emerging in selected end markets, demand in more cyclical segments and many customers’ willingness to invest remain subdued,” it said.

In addition, extended product life cycles and project delays in certain areas are leading to limited visibility for the second half of the year.