Chemie raises full-year sales guidance on strong new business

Oct 22 (Reuters) - Swiss chemicals maker EMS-Chemie EMSN.S lifted its full-year sales forecast on Thursday, citing strong new business despite weak consumer sentiment and a struggling global automotive industry.

The group's earnings provide an early read-through for larger European chemical groups reporting later this month. The sector continues to grapple with weak demand, global overcapacity and high energy costs, although business sentiment has improved and supply disruptions linked to the Middle East war have provided some support.

• The company now expects full-year sales to be in line with last year's level, up from its previous forecast for a slight decline.

• EMS said it is developing new business in growth areas including electric vehicles, robotics and data centres.

• It reported nine-month sales of 1.51 billion Swiss francs ($1.82 billion), up marginally from 1.49 billion francs a year earlier.

• EMS said the stronger Swiss franc weighed on sales in reported terms, while sales rose 4.2% in local currencies.

• The group continues to expect EBIT in 2026 slightly above previous year.

  
  

  
  

($1 = 0.8226 Swiss francs)