Evonik Q2 net profit jumps on demand rise

German specialty chemical firm Evonik Industries’ second quarter net profit jumped to 240 million (US$302.63 million), from 89 million in the year-ago period. Evonik’s chemicals business reported a 37% year-on-year rise in sales during the second quarter to 3.29 billion (US$4.1 billion), while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 61% to 657 million (US$828.44 million). “In view of the good business trend we are far more optimistic about the outlook for the year as a whole than we were at the start of the year and have raised our forecast again,” said Chairman Klaus Engel. (August 16, 2010)