For the first time in the company’s history, sales at German chemicals company BASF AG have surpassed the €50 billion mark in 2006. Sales increased by 23% to reach almost €53 billion with the businesses acquired in 2006 contributing €4.2 billion to this amount. Income from operations before special items also climbed to a new record, exceeding €7.2 billion.

The company’s Chemicals segment posted a 43% improvement in sales to reach a record €11.6 billion, which was largely attributed to the first-time inclusion of the new Catalysts division. Sales in the Performance Products segment rose 23% to more than €10 billion as a result of newly acquired businesses, whilst higher volumes and price increases also led to a 9% improvement in sales in its Plastics segment. Meanwhile, sales in the Agricultural Products & Nutrition Segment slipped 2% due to unfavourable weather conditions for the use of fungicides, low prices for agricultural produce and high energy costs negatively impacting results.

BASF expects significantly higher sales in 2007 compared with 2006, driven by the businesses acquired in 2006 as well as organic growth in the company’s existing businesses.