The Bayer Group enjoyed a strong first quarter, with substantial advances in both sales and earnings. All subgroups contributed to this positive development, as the company announced in its first-quarter interim report, issued on May 10.

In view of the trend, group management board chairman Werner Wenning once again confirmed the full-year forecast for 2005. Bayer is targeting an increase of more than 5% in sales, to over €25 billion. Group sales advanced 15.7% to €6,704 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation climbed by 27.3% to €,575 million, while operating profit (EBIT) was up by 50.1% €1,142 million.

Bayer MaterialScience performed particularly well in the first quarter, posting by far the largest increase in sales. Business expanded by 35.5% to €2,544 million, the main growth drivers being Makrolon polycarbonate, the polyurethane raw material MDI and the business of H.C. Starck.

From a geographical viewpoint, the biggest increase in sales was achieved in Europe, where revenues rose by 23.6% to €3,109 million due especially to business expansion in Bayer MaterialScience and the acquisition of the Roche OTC business. Group sales in Germany advanced by 31.0% to €1,030 million, though this was partly because sales to Lanxess are reported as external as of the date of the spin-off.

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