(Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR)
(Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR)
The EMS Group, active worldwide in the business areas High Performance Polymers and Specialty Chemicals, and with its companies combined in EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, achieved net sales of CHF 487 million (522) in the first three months of 2026. As expected, the significantly stronger Swiss Franc negatively impacted net sales in Swiss Francs. However, thanks to its consistent strategy focusing on high-margin specialties and innovation, EMS was able to realize pleasing results despite the challenging geopolitical environment. Sales volumes and operating income rose above previous year and profitability was considerably improved.
At the beginning of the year, both consumers and companies were already unsettled about further development of the global economy. The inconsistent US trade policy, with a continuingly unclear tariff situation, further suppressed the consumer mood. In addition, the escalation of the war in the Middle East, triggered a broader wave of uncertainty. Anticipated global supply shortages led to a sharp rise in energy prices, followed by significant increases in chemical raw material costs.
In recent months, EMS has shown a pleasing course of business and strong order backlog. Extensive new business was realized successfully. Growth was achieved in all regions. Despite the difficult environment, EMS was able to successfully increase result and margins through innovation, cost discipline and proactive planning. In this challenging market situation, EMS concentrates consistently on growth with specialties. A globally implemented sales offensive and focused expansion of the technical sales and development organization are showing pleasing effects. Intensive local development partnerships, also in new growth markets, form an important pillar for EMS to realize further improvements and total cost savings with customers. In the current challenging market situation, higher energy prices are opening up additional, interesting growth opportunities. The energy, cost-saving and metal replacement system solutions from EMS are currently in particularly strong demand with global customers.
Already at an early stage, EMS prepared for possible international trade barriers and structured its own supply chains accordingly. Products sold in the US are either produced locally or, as important specialties, are exempt from US customs duties. EMS has no business relations in the Middle East. However, significantly higher energy, freight and raw material prices require sales price increases for customers. Global delivery reliability of all EMS companies is ensured.
For the remaining business year 2026, EMS is expecting a particularly challenging geopolitical environment. The sustained trade conflicts are disrupting global supply chains and unsettling companies and consumers. The continuing Middle East conflict, which has severely impacted actual export of oil and gas resources, may have an increasing effect on global supply chains, resulting in various supply shortages and increasing costs right down to consumer level. The global economic mood will remain subdued.
EMS will continue to follow its sales offensive and successful growth strategy with specialties. The distinct innovative strategy, providing customers with total cost, energy, weight and CO2 savings and enabling them to achieve technologically leading solutions, is based on existing local development partnerships and global supply capabilities. EMS considers itself in an excellent position to exploit the numerous opportunities arising in the market, e.g. those opening up based on higher energy costs for customers, and thus to achieve disproportionally high growth. The additional costs for EMS resulting from rising energy prices are being addressed through corresponding sales price increases.
For 2026, EMS continues to expect net sales below previous year due to currency effects and net operating income (EBIT) slightly above previous year.
