EMS Chemie sees another year of falling sales in troubled environment

Ems Chemie Holding AG

06/02/2026 06:40

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Swiss nylon maker EMS Chemie EMSN.S on Friday forecast another year of falling sales in a tough market environment shaped by trade uncertainty, geopolitical instability and adverse currency exchange effects.

Net operating income should increase slightly this year, the company added.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

EMS's earnings provide a sneak peek into what to expect from bigger chemical companies across Europe, most of which report their annual results later this month. The sector faced another crisis year in 2025, shaped by weak end-markets, intense competition from Chinese producers and U.S. tariffs.

The 2026 outlook was in line with German industry forecasts of continued stagnation in the chemicals market.

KEY QUOTES

     "For the business year 2026, EMS continues to expect a challenging and geopolitically troubled environment," the company said in a statement.

"In the US, consumers continue to suffer from high prices. In Europe, industry is continuing to undergo a prolonged restructuring process," EMS said.

"Due to the ongoing slump in the real estate market, Chinese customers continue to show restraint. The unstable global economic situation is further strengthening the Swiss Franc," it added.

CONTEXT

Since roughly half of EMS's production volume is manufactured in Switzerland, the cost base of the company is tied to the value of the franc, which last year rose in value against the U.S. dollar and the euro due to its perceived safe haven status in volatile times.

BY THE NUMBERS

EMS Chemie reported a 5.8% drop in its full-year net sales to 1.95 billion Swiss francs ($2.51 billion).

Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation grew 5.2% to 622 million francs in 2025.

($1 = 0.7765 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Simon Ferdinand Eibach and Bartosz Dąbrowski in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

((simonferdinand.eibach@thomsonreuters.com; bartosz.dabrowski@thomsonreuters.com))