Basf holds in the first quarter of 2025

“In the first quarter of 2025, Basf held its position in an increasingly challenging environment. Ebitda before special items was at about the level of the prior-year quarter and was in line with average analyst estimates,” said Basf’s Chief Financial Officer Dirk Elvermann at the presentation of the first-quarter results of the German multinational. 

Basf Group’s sales in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to 17.4 billion euros, 151 million euros below the figure of the prior-year quarter (17.6 billion euros). This development was mainly attributable to the decline in sales volumes in the Agricultural Solutions, Chemicals and Nutrition & Care segments, while volumes in the Surface Technologies, Industrial Solutions and Materials segments remained at prior-year level. Moreover, lower prices resulting from competitive pressure in almost all segments contributed to the decline. Currencies boosted sales in almost all segments, mainly driven by positive effects from the US dollar.

Ebitda amounted to 2.2 billion euros, following 2.7 billion euros in the prior-year period. The Ebitda margin before special items was 15.1%, following 15.4% in the prior-year quarter. Special items in Ebitda amounted to minus 447 million euros. Net income was 808 million euros, compared with 1.4 billion euros in prior-year quarter. Cash flows from operating activities amounted to minus 982 million euros, a decrease of 468 million euros compared with the prior-year quarter.

Regarding the outlook for 2025, already in the first quarter, production momentum in the chemical industry and its customer industries was significantly influenced by reactions to anticipated tariff increases by the United States. Developments going forward will largely depend on the trade policy decisions made by the United States and its trading partners. A reliable quantification of the impact on the global economy is not possible. In light of the volatile situation, the company confirms its forecasts: Ebitda before special items of between 8 billion and 8.4 billion euros, free cash flow of between 0.4 billion and 0.8 billion euros, CO2 emissions of between 16.7 million and 17.7 million tonnes. It considers that the volatility of the tariff announcements and the unpredictability of other decisions by the United States, as well as possible countermeasures by trading partners are causing a high level of uncertainty.