Despite difficult market conditions, the Austrian fiber manufacturer Lenzing AG started with sales in 2025. In addition, the company benefited from the effects of its comprehensive austerity measures in the first quarter and was able to return to the profit zone.
According to a message released on Thursday, the group turnover was 690.2 million euros from January to March, which corresponded to an increase of 4.8 percent compared to the previous year.
Austerity measures and positive special effects inspire the result
At the same time, the company was able to significantly improve its profitability. The result before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) was more than twice as high at 156.1 million euros as in the comparison period of the previous year, which was 71.4 million euros.
“The operational development of results was essentially shaped by the positive effects of the performance program,” said the company. In addition, “positive special effects from the sale of excess EU emission certificates of 25.5 million euros and the change in the at the time to be added by biological assets of 9.2 million euros” were booked.
The bottom line was that a net profit of 31.7 million euros had to accept a loss of 26.9 million euros in the first quarter of the previous year. The result after taxes is “for the first time since the third quarter of 2022,” said the company.
“Increasingly aggressive customs policy”: CEO Rohit Aggarwal warns of increasing uncertainties
“The Lenzing Group continued its recovery course in the first quarter of 2025 and, thanks to our performance program, achieved significant increases in sales and results,” emphasized CEO Rohit Aggarwal in a statement. At the same time, however, he also referred to the difficult framework. “The uncertainty of the markets and thus also the limited visibility of results have further exacerbated by an increasingly aggressive customs policy,” said Aggarwal. “Therefore, we will not let up and implement the measures that have been taken to implement the turnaround completely and further strengthen our position as a leading integrated fiber company.”
Despite the current uncertainties, the group confirmed its result forecast for the current year. He continues to expect “a higher EBITDA compared to the previous year”.