BASF posts slight increase in 2018 sales and decline in earnings due mainly to lower contributions from Chemicals

BASF generated sales of €62.7 billion last year. This represents an increase of 2% compared with the previous year. Income from operations (EBIT) before special items declined to €6.4 billion, compared with €7.6 billion in the previous year. This was mainly attributable to the Chemicals segment, which accounted for around two-thirds of the total decline in earnings. Isocyanate margins fell sharply in the second half of the year. Furthermore, cracker margins were lower than expected in all regions in 2018.