Strong demand lifts sales at Croda

Related tags Cent Marketing Croda

UK chemicals group Croda has seen strong demand for its marine and
nutritional oils as well as products for the personal care sector,
driving sales to the personal and healthcare sectors up 14 per cent
at constant currency rates in this year's first half.

The company, which has divested some of its non-core businesses such as fire fighting chemicals earlier this year as well as surplus sites, is aiming to focus around lower volume, higher added value areas.

It has already grown sales to healthcare and personal sectors from 30 per cent in 1998 to 58 per cent last year. Recently completed expansion of its production facilities, designed to double capacity for plant and marine lipids, will allow the company to boost this sector further.

At £89.5 million (€135.3m), sales to the personal and healthcare markets made up 61 per cent of the group's overall sales, which edged up 2.7 per cent over the prior year's first half to £146.5 million.

"Improvements in mix, helped by a number of new product launches by our Personal Care customers, and price increases, delivered a trading margin of 17.7 per cent (2003; 17.3 per cent) in the core Oleochemical business despite the negative effects of currency and higher raw material prices,"​ commented Croda​ chairman Anthony Beevor.

This improved operating profit from continuing operations to £23.7 million, 6.7 per cent ahead of the same period last year.

"As we start the second half, underlying demand continues to be firm. We are planning further product launches in the second half and are maintaining good control of costs,"​ added Beevor.

Net debt at the group has been reduced by over £8 million to £20.4 million.

Related topics Omega-3s & Nutritional oils

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Nutriterra DHA Canola for Global Omega-3 Day

Nutriterra DHA Canola for Global Omega-3 Day

Content provided by Nuseed Nutritional | 28-Feb-2024 | Data Sheet

March 3 is Global Omega-3 Day. While almost everyone needs more omega-3, not everyone tolerates marine oil. Nutriterra DHA Canola makes it easy to celebrate...

Krill oil supports six key areas of healthy aging

Krill oil supports six key areas of healthy aging

Content provided by Aker BioMarine | 14-Feb-2024 | White Paper

The global population is getting older—according to WHO by 2050 the world’s population over 60 years will double and the population above 80 years will...

Consumers' growing demand for Omegas

Consumers' growing demand for Omegas

Content provided by Fruit d'Or | 13-Feb-2024 | White Paper

Consumers are increasingly interested in the benefits of omegas supplements. According to forecasts for 2023–2030, the global omega-3 market is expected...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars