Henkel reports Q2 2013 sales rise of 1.9%

German cosmetics and toiletries giant Henkel has reported a strong performance in the second quarter of 2013, with sales rising 1.9% to €4.286bn.

The good results were attributed to a strong performance across all three of Henkel’s business sectors including Beauty Care, which achieved a solid organic growth rate of 2.8%, while sales rose 0.2% to €923m. In Beauty Care specifically, all regions were reported to contribute to the positive results; Africa/Middle East and Asia recorded a particularly strong performance, with double digit percentage growth rates observed in each region.

Henkel CEO, Kasper Rorsted, said: “Despite the continued challenging market environment, Henkel delivered a strong second quarter. We significantly increased both sales and earnings with all our three business sectors contributing. Our adjusted return on sales has risen to 15.4% for the first time. While all regions reported growth, once again our emerging markets made an important contribution. The share of sales in emerging markets rose substantially reaching 45% for the first time.”

Rorsted added: “We expect the overall economic environment to remain difficult. Hence we will further improve our competitiveness. We will continue to adapt, simplify and accelerate our processes in order to respond more flexibly and efficiently to the volatile market environment in which we operate.”