German specialty chemical company, Bayer Group, has reported continued growth in sales and earnings in the second quarter of 2005. Group sales rose 19.7% year on year, to €7,053 million compared with 5,890 million for the same period in 2004.

As a result of the positive financial report Bayer is raising its forecast and now expects group sales to exceed €26 billion against previous guidance of over €25 billion.

For the first six months of 2005, sales advanced by 17.8% to €13,757 million (2004: €11,682 million). First-half net income increased by 87.3% to €1,058 million (2004: €565 million).