59
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MARCH
2014
Bolstered by a late European
winter, Sika AG's sales picked up
momentum in the 4
th
quarter
of 2013. Total sales grew 9,4% in Euro-
pean currencies in the 2013 financial
year. Adjusted for exchange rates, sales
were 6,5% higher at CHF5,14-billion.
This positive development is largely
due to organic growth. The rapid integra-
tion of acquisitions also helped to drive
growth momentum.
Some 5,9% of the overall sales increase
reported in the 2013 financial year
was attributable to organic growth, to
which all regions contributed. Acquisi-
tion-related sales growth came to 3,5%.
The strong Swiss franc produced a nega-
tive currency effect of 2,9%. This resulted
in 6,5% sales growth in Swiss francs. In light
of the demanding conditions prevailing in
numerous markets, the results achieved
bear testimony to the strength and robust-
ness of Sika's growth strategy.
The region EMEA (Europe, Middle East,
Africa) reported 8,5% growth for 2013.
This positive trend was driven primarily
by organic growth in Eastern Europe,
Africa, the Middle East and the UK, as well
as by acquisitions.
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
STRONG GROWTH
MOMENTUM
Sika AG, is a globally active specialty chemicals company,
which has its South African head office in Durban, along with
branches in all major SA cities.
The Sika head office in Durban.
Sika Technology Building, Switzerland.
• Sales up 9,4% to CHF5,14-billion
• Growth in all regions
• Sales 17,2% higher in emerging
markets
Business in the region North America
picked up considerably toward the end
of the year, resulting in a 2,3% increase
in sales for 2013. While the residential
real estate market recovered, any positive
impact on the rest of the construction
industry remained modest.
Latin America posted the strongest
growth of all regions in 2013. Year-on-year,
sales were 15,1% igher, with every country
and target market recording increases.
With above-average growth, the region
Asia/Pacific also saw sales rise by 12,5%.
The OECD countries reported increases
in the single-digit percentage range, while
China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia
and Vietnam all posted double-digit
growth rates.
The accelerated build-up of business
in the emerging markets produced sales
growth of 17,2% in local currencies and
11,8% in Swiss francs. The proportion of
sales generated by the emerging markets
increased to 38% (previous year: 37%).
Through investments in emerging
markets, the launch of new products, and
the acquired companies, Sika is poised to
continue its growth strategy in the current
year 2014.
That being said, the significant currency
movements witnessed in the past few
months and the process of integrating
the newly acquired companies present
a challenge in terms of sales growth and
costs items.
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