International. Clariant announced full-year 2018 sales of CHF (Swiss francs) US$6.623 billion compared to CHF 6.377 billion in 2017. This corresponds to a growth of 5% in local currency, all organic, driven by a progression in all business areas, particularly in Catalysis. Both higher volumes and prices supported this expansion.
Throughout the year, all regions contributed to the growth of sales in local currency. Sales in Latin America grew the strongest, by 12%. Sales in Asia increased by 7%, driven by particularly positive development in China and India. In North America, sales increased by 5%. Both Europe and the Middle East and Africa increased sales by 2%.
The improvement in full-year sales performance was due to growth in all business areas with care, catalysis and natural resources chemicals reporting strong expansion. Sales at Care Chemicals increased by 7% in local currency, mainly backed by Consumer Care. Catalysis sales improved by an excellent 11% in local currency with strong organic sales growth amounting to 8%.
Sales of Natural Resources accelerated by 8% in local currency, mainly due to the improvement in demand for Petroleum and Mining Services and the solid growth of Functional Minerals. At Plastics & Coatings, sales increased by 1% in local currency, with regional expansion particularly strong in Latin America.
