Switzerland’s Clariant - one of the world’s leading specialty chemical companies – has released results for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2004, showing increased sales and operating margins compared with the same period in 2003. Sales increased by 7% in local currency terms rising to CHF6.550 billion ($5.53 billion).

Operating margins also increased to 7.9% from 7.6% last year. Sales growth was evident in all regions with the Americas and Asia producing the best sales results.

In an impressive turnaround, the company produced net income of CHF170 million ($143.7 million) for the period, compared with a loss of CHF49 million in 2003. Gross profit also increased significantly, rising 6% to achieve CHF2.106 billion from CHF1.984 billion a year earlier.

Nearly all of Clariant’s business units saw growth in the first nine months of 2004 with Functional Chemicals producing the best results with a 13% increase; followed by Masterbatches at 8%; and Textile, Leather and Paper Chemicals at 4%. The only unit to produce negative results was the company’s Life Science division with a 4% decline. However, despite the positive figures Clariant stated that certain units – including the Textile Dyes and Pharma Chemicals - are still facing considerable pressure due to overcapacity in the market.

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