Chemistry World Blog

We’ve had a look at some of the financial results for the third quarter of 2010 already. Here’s the rest of the data. (All percentage changes are based on the same period last year.)

PHARMACEUTICAL

AstraZeneca made sales of $7.9 billion (£5 billion), a 4 per cent decrease. Operating income decreased 25 per cent to $2.4 billion.

Bayer made sales of €8.6 billion (£7.3 billion), a 16 per cent increase. Operating income decreased 14 per cent to €560 million.

Merck & Co made sales of $11.1 billion, an 84 per cent increase. Net income decreased 89 per cent to $370 million.

Pfizer made sales of $16.2 billion, a 39 per cent increase. Net income decreased 70 per cent to $870 million.

Sanofi-Aventis made sales of $8.3 billion, a 6 per cent increase. Operating income decreased 2 per cent to $1.7 billion.

Merck KGaA made sales of €2.4 billion, a 25 per cent increase. Operating income increased 64 per cent to €360 million.

CHEMICAL

BASF made sales of €15.8 billion, a 23 per cent increase. Operating income increased 122 per cent to €2.2 billion.

Evonik made sales of €4.1 billion, a 24 per cent increase. Operating income increased 26 per cent to €540 million.

Dow made sales of $12.9 billion, a 23 per cent increase. Operating income decreased 25 per cent to $600 million.

DuPont made sales of $7 billion, a 17 per cent increase. Operating income decreased 11 per cent to $370 million. 

Arkema made sales of €1.6 billion, a 41 per cent increase. Operating income increased 520 per cent to €170 million.

Lanxess made sales of €1.8 billion, a 35 per cent increase. Operating income increased 160 per cent to €170 million.

Solvay made sales of €1.7 billion, a 24 per cent decrease. Operating income fell 90 per cent to €26 million.

What can we take from this? In the pharma sector, sales at Pfizer and Merck & Co are going up while profits head in the other direction, a sign of integration costs following a big merger – costs that weren’t on the accounts a year ago. Pfizer is paying for Wyeth. Merck & Co is paying for Schering-Plough. Things look a little healthier in the chemical sector. BASF in particular seems to be doing well. The company puts its good results down to high volumes, high prices and positive currency effects. In addition, costs associated with the integration of Ciba are now behind the company, which has presumably helped.

Andrew Turley