Sales in the agricultural business (Crop Science) advanced by 15.6 per cent to a record 25.169 billion euros, with business up in all regions.
The Bayer Group achieved strong growth last year, posting significantly higher sales and earnings. ″2022 was a very successful year for Bayer despite the challenging environment. We were able to deliver, even during these difficult times, and met the upgraded financial targets we set in August, ″ said Werner Baumann, Chairman of the Board of Management, at the company’s Financial News Conference.
Sales in the agricultural business (Crop Science) advanced by 15.6 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to a record 25.169 billion euros, with business up in all regions. Growth was strongest at Herbicides (Fx & portfolio adj. 43.9 percent), which saw sales rise in Latin and North America and in Europe/Middle East/Africa in particular thanks to higher prices, as supply for glyphosate-based products was tight. Sales at Corn Seed & Traits rose 8.8 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) as the division increased its market share. Price increases in all regions more than offset a decrease in acreages in North America and lower license revenues. Sales at Fungicides were up 5.2 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), with higher prices in the Latin America and Europe/Middle East/Africa regions in particular more than offsetting a decline in volumes in North America. Sales at Soybean Seed & Traits were level with the prior year, with business growing in Latin America but declining in North America due to lower volumes.
EBITDA before special items at Crop Science advanced by 46.2 percent to 6.867 billion euros, mainly due to the significant increase in sales. Earnings also benefited from contributions from ongoing efficiency programs and a positive currency effect of 284 million euros (2021: negative currency effect of 387 million euros). By contrast, earnings were mainly diminished by an increase in the cost of goods sold, which was primarily due to high inflation. The EBITDA margin before special items increased by 4.1 percentage points to an industry-leading 27.3 percent.
