US chemicals producer Rohm and Haas Company reported second quarter 2007 sales of $2.2 billion, a 5% increase compared with the same period in 2006. The company reported double-digit growth in all geographic regions excluding North America.

Sales for the performance materials group totalled $296 million, up 5% over the same period last year due to stronger demand in the Asia Pacific region, coupled with favourable currency effects. Earnings for the group were up 19% year-on-year to $19 million.

North American sales of $1.05 billion were down 1% compared with the prior- year period, while in Europe sales of $582 million were up 12%. Asia Pacific sales of $471 million were up 13% and Latin American sales of $90 million grew 11%. Sales in the key emerging markets of the company, such as China, India, Central and Eastern European countries, Turkey and Latin America rose 18%.

Sales for the first six months of 2007 were $4.4 billion, up 5% compared with the same period in 2006, reflecting higher sales across most businesses, and strong growth in the emerging markets. Net earnings were down 12% to $351 million, reflecting the impact of higher raw material costs, higher operating costs, investment to support the implementation of the European headquarters in Switzerland, and the cost of productivity improvement programmes in North America.

The company expects full-year sales to increase by approximately 6-7%.