Bayer MaterialScience, the materials business of Bayer Group, posted a 34.9% decline in net sales for Q1 2009 to EUR 1,636 mln compared to EUR 2,512 mln for the same period last year. The drop in sales was due to severe weakening of demand in all the regional markets led by global economic downturn. The sales in Polyurethanes and Polycarbonates business sharply plummeted as did those of raw materials for coatings, adhesives and specialties driving down the performance of material science subgroup. "The MaterialScience subgroup experienced a steep fall in volumes, with pressure on prices increasing at the same time. Nearly all product groups at MaterialScience were impacted by this trend in all regional markets," said Management Board Chairman Werner Wenning.
The steep drop in quarterly sales for MaterialScience dented the group's performance as its HealthCare and CropScience subgroups posted increase in sales for the same period. In Bayer's HealthCare subgroup, Q1 sales rose by 3.0% compared with the strong prior-year quarter, to EUR 3,843 mln. The CropScience subgroup also witnessed 7.2% increase in sales to EUR 2,120 mln for the quarter. As a result, Bayer Group recorded a 7.5% decline in Q1 sales reaching EUR 7,895 mln as compared to same period last year.
30-Apr-09 
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