The recently published quarterly figures from BASF shed a nuanced light on the financial health and future strategies of the corporation. While sales remained stable, other financial indicators show challenges the company must face.
Quarterly Figures Q1 2025
Revenue: BASF’s revenue in the first quarter of 2025 remained stable at 17.4 billion euros, which is nearly unchanged from the previous year. This stagnation indicates a difficult market where no significant expansion has occurred.
Profit: However, net profit fell significantly by 560 million euros to 8 million euros. This decline is an indication of the challenges the company is facing.
EBITDA and EBIT: EBITDA was approximately 2.2 billion euros, which represents a decrease compared to the previous year, as it was 2.7 billion euros in the first quarter of 2024. EBIT decreased by 493 million euros to 1.2 billion euros.
Cash Flow: Cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow were negative, indicating ongoing operational challenges. Free cash flow deteriorated to -1.8 billion euros.
Market Forecasts and Strategy
Resilience: Despite the challenges, BASF emphasizes its resilience through a strong presence in all regions. Local production for local markets is seen as a competitive advantage, especially given US tariff announcements.
Strategic Initiatives: BASF continues to focus on strategic initiatives and cost reduction programs to maintain its position in a difficult global economic environment.
Investments: The company plans to invest in the production of semiconductor sulfuric acid, indicating long-term growth strategies.
Overall, BASF shows stable revenues but also challenges regarding profit and cash flow. The forecasts are rather cautious as the company operates in a challenging environment. However, the focus on strategic initiatives and cost reductions could have positive long-term effects.