Finance
Swiss Nylon Maker Ems Chemie's Sales Dip, 2025 Looks 'challenging'
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 29, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 24, 2026
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EMS Chemie sees a 4% sales drop due to economic challenges and tariffs. The company remains optimistic about earnings growth despite a tough outlook for 2025.
EMS Chemie Reports 4% Sales Decline; 2025 Economic Outlook Challenging
By Alberto Chiumento
(Reuters) -Swiss nylon maker EMS Chemie reported a 4% decline in first-quarter net sales on Tuesday, citing market-driven lower prices and cost levels and warning of "a particularly challenging economic environment" in 2025.
The European chemical industry, long suffering from weak demand and high production costs, faces uncertainty as European leaders seek to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing planned tariffs on U.S. imports of European goods.
The announcement of additional tariffs has contributed to inventory build-ups and persistent inflation in the United States, EMS Chemie said.
The group reported net sales dropped to 522 million Swiss francs ($634 million) from 545 million Swiss francs the previous year, but the results were in line with company forecast, which in February 2025 projected annual net sales to remain below levels seen in 2024.
"Sales were impacted by a subdued first quarter and a weakening global economy," said Vontobel analyst Sibylle Bischofberger.
EMS added that in China economic stimulus packages announced by the government had not shown any effect yet.
EMS is a supplier of the world's largest EV maker, China's BYD . The company makes lightweight polymer car parts, which are especially useful in electric vehicles, which typically weigh more due to heavy batteries.
Bischofberger added that although ongoing sales initiatives showed some results, they were unable to offset the difficult environment.
EMS said in February - before the official U.S. tariff announcement in April - that it had taken steps to mitigate any impact from tariffs, and it "will remain unaffected".
Vontobel estimates that its tariff exposure is around 5% of total sales.
The company reaffirmed its outlook for earnings before interest and tax, projecting a slight increase over levels seen in 2024.
($1 = 0.8237 Swiss francs)
(Reporting by Alberto Chiumento in GdanskEditing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Peter Graff)
Key Takeaways
- •EMS Chemie reports a 4% decline in first-quarter sales.
- •Economic challenges and tariffs impact the chemical industry.
- •European leaders seek to avoid U.S. tariffs on imports.
- •EMS Chemie's sales initiatives show limited results.
- •The company remains optimistic about earnings growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about Swiss Nylon maker EMS Chemie's sales dip, 2025 looks 'challenging'
1What was the percentage decline in EMS Chemie's first-quarter sales?
EMS Chemie reported a 4% decline in first-quarter net sales.
2What factors contributed to the sales decline?
The sales decline was attributed to market-driven lower prices and cost levels, along with a subdued first quarter and a weakening global economy.
3How has the U.S. tariff situation affected EMS Chemie?
EMS Chemie noted that the announcement of additional tariffs has contributed to inventory build-ups and persistent inflation in the United States.
4What is EMS Chemie's outlook for earnings before interest and tax?
The company reaffirmed its outlook for earnings before interest and tax, projecting a slight increase over levels seen in 2024.
5What is EMS Chemie's exposure to tariffs?
Vontobel estimates that EMS Chemie's tariff exposure is around 5% of total sales.
