Sales up 7% at Rohm and Haas
US-based chemical company Rohm and Haas Company has reported improved sales figures for its third quarter. Sales totalled $2,065 million, a 7% increase over the same period in 2005. Third quarter earnings were $189 million compared with $163 million for the third quarter of 2005.
Sales in the Coatings segment were $700 million, a 5% increase compared with the third quarter of 2005. The improvement was attributed to higher selling prices to recover rising raw materials, higher demand, particularly in emerging markets, along with the favourable impact of currencies.
Sales in the Monomers sector totalled $500 million, up 18% from $422 million in the 2005 period.
Performance Chemicals sales of $447 million were up 6% over the comparable period in 2005 driven by higher demand, particularly in the Consumer and Industrial Specialties and Process Chemicals businesses, with slightly higher selling prices, and a favourable impact of currencies.
Sales in Plastics Additives were up 3% and Process Chemicals were up 4%. There continues to be strong demand for ion exchange resins, particularly in
Adhesives and Sealants sales totalled $179 million, up 2% versus the comparable period in 2005.
North American sales of $1,042 million were up 5% over the comparable period in 2005, primarily the result of higher selling prices. European sales were also up 5% to $507 million. Asia-Pacific sales were $427 million, a 13% percent increase over the same period last year, led by Electronic Materials and Performance Chemicals. Latin American sales of $89 million in the quarter were 19% higher than the same period last year, reflecting increased demand, higher selling prices and the favourable impact of currencies.
Sales for the nine months ended September 30 were $6,204 million, a 5% increase over the comparable period in 2005, driven by broad-based growth in demand across most chemical businesses and the strength of Electronic Materials. Earnings for this period were $588 million compared with $488 million in 2005.
