Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

SGL Carbon: Improved profitability despite slightly lower sales

07/11/2024

Weak demand in some of our customer markets is increasingly hindering SGL Carbons sales growth. After nine months in 2024, SGL Carbon generated sales of 781.9 million, which was slightly below the prior-year level at minus 4.8% (9M 2023: 821.7 million). Adjusted for currency and structural effects, Group sales decreased by 3.6%. Adjusted EBITDA, an important key figure for the Group, remained at a comparable level of 127.6 million in the reporting period (9M 2023: 130.0 million). Despite the slight decrease in sales, the adjusted EBITDA margin improved from 15.4% in Q1 and 16.7% in Q2 to 16.9% in Q3 and amounted to 16.3% after nine months (9M 2023: 15.8%). The reasons for the improved adjusted EBITDA margin are, in particular, product mix effects in the Graphite Solutions and Process Technology business units. By contrast, the ongoing weakness in demand and the associated price pressure for carbon and textile fiber products in the Carbon Fibers business unit continued to weigh on the Groups sales and earnings development.

Even with our diversified product portfolio, we can no longer completely withdraw from the generally weak economic environment. In addition, there was a decline in demand for specialty graphite products for the semiconductor industry in the third quarter. In particular, our products for the manufacture of silicon carbide-based semiconductors are suffering from the restrained demand for electric vehicles on the customer side, explains CEO Dr. Torsten Derr. While the last 18 months were characterized by enormous demand for silicon carbide semiconductors and insufficient production capacities, the market has cooled down significantly. Due to a lack of demand from the automotive industry, our semiconductor customers have significantly reduced order volumes. We do not expect to see a significant upturn in demand for our specialty graphite products until the sales figures for electric vehicles pick up again.

Based on the adjusted EBITDA of 127.6 million and taking into account depreciation and amortization of 41.0 million (9M 2023: 43.3 million) and one-off effects as well as non-recurring items of minus 18.3 million (9M 2023: minus 47.2 million), EBIT after nine months of 2024 will be 68.3 million (9M 2023: 39.5 million). The one-off effects and non-recurring items result, among other things, from the restructuring measures at Carbon Fibers and the Battery Solutions business line as well as from expenses for a strategy project. When comparing with the previous year, it should be noted that the first nine months of 2023 were disproportionately affected by an impairment loss on the assets of Carbon Fibers ( 44.7 million).

Development of the business unitsAfter nine months in 2024, sales in the Graphite Solutions business unit stagnated at 412.5 million, the same level as in the prior-year period (9M 2023: 418.4 million). While sales in this business unit had still grown slightly by 1.3% in the first half of 2024, the slowdown in demand in the Semiconductor & LED market segment weighed on Q3 2024. The reason for the weakening demand for our graphite products is the significantly lower-than-expected decline in electric vehicles, which in particular use silicon carbide semiconductors. Our products are needed to manufacture silicon carbide-based semiconductors, meaning that the market development of these semiconductors has a direct impact on our business. Looking at the first nine months of 2024 as a whole, slight sales increases in the Semiconductor & LED and Automotive & Transport market segments were offset by the decline in demand in the other market segments.

Adjusted EBITDA at Graphite Solutions increased by 4.8% to 104.3 million (9M 2023: 99.5 million) despite the lower level of sales. This is mainly due to the change in the product mix compared with the first nine months of the previous year. Despite the decline in demand in Q3 2024, overall production capacity used for our silicon carbide semiconductor customers was higher than in the previous year. Accordingly, the adjusted EBITDA margin improved year-on-year to 25.3% (9M 2023: 23.8%).

Process Technology generated sales of 106.2 million and continued its positive business performance with an 11.0% increase in sales in a nine-month comparison. This is also reflected in the adjusted EBITDA, which increased from 17.5 million in the same period of the previous year to 25.6 million (+46.3%). Higher capacity utilization and positive product mix effects led to an improvement in the adjusted EBITDA margin from 18.3% in the first nine months of 2023 to 24.1% in the reporting period.

The Carbon Fibers business units sales for the first nine months of 2024 amounted to 157.1 million, significantly below the figure of 179.6 million for the prior-year period. The decline is due in particular to the continued weak demand from the wind industry and to the increasing competitive pressure resulting from global overcapacities for carbon and textile fibers.

Idle production capacities and the associated lack of fixed cost absorption as well as declining margins for commodity products led to a further deterioration in the adjusted EBITDA of the Carbon Fibers. The adjusted EBITDA of the Carbon Fibers business unit fell to minus 7.9 million in the first nine months of 2024 (9M 2023: 3.2 million). It should be noted that the adjusted EBITDA of the Carbon Fibers business unit includes an earnings contribution of 11.6 million from the joint venture BSCCB, which is accounted for At-Equity (9M 2023: 14.1 million). Excluding this contribution from the At-Equity accounted BSCCB, the adjusted EBITDA of Carbon Fibers would have been minus 19.6 million (9M 2023: minus 10.5 million).

SGL Carbon assumes that demand for carbon fibers will not recover in the coming months and that the realizable prices for these products
LINK: https://www.sglcarbon.com/en/newsroom/news/press-report/sgl-carbon-imp...
See more stories from sgl

Most recent headlines

27/11/2025

Vizrt Launches Viz One 8.1 With AI-Powered Features

LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...

27/11/2025

Prime Video Debuts AI-Powered Video Recaps

Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...

27/11/2025

Sky unveils first look image from high-stakes action thriller Prisoner, coming 2026

Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...

27/11/2025

Sky Arts Reveals the Nations Greatest Basslines and Queen Reign Supreme

Thursday 27 November 2025 Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...

27/11/2025

Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With Our Final Season Coverage Guide

Back to All News Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...

27/11/2025

Elastic Compute for a Sustainable Media Industry

The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...

27/11/2025

Arqiva Achieves Five-Star GRESB Rating

Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...

27/11/2025

Retail Media Audits Explained: What Networks Need to Know

What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...

27/11/2025

Katie Taylor, Rachael Blackmore and Arthur Gourounlian among the guests on this week's Late Late Show

World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...

27/11/2025

Tonight on RT Prime Time, serious child protection concerns emerge over online gaming platform, Roblox

Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...

27/11/2025

The Ultimate Black Friday Deal Is Here

Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...

26/11/2025

SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Featuring NFL, NBA, and Golf

SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...

26/11/2025

Inside the Archives: Winter Is in the Air and in Our Festival Films

A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...

26/11/2025

10 Book Podcasts You Can't Miss

Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...

26/11/2025

JioStar and Nielsen Unveil Breakthrough Cross-Screen MeasurementStudy, Redefining Advertising Effectiveness in Live Sports

Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...

26/11/2025

ITN Deploys IP-Based Production Control Room

LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....

26/11/2025

YouTube TV, TelevisaUnivision End Lengthy Blackout

MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...

26/11/2025

OpenDrives Bridges the Gap Between IT and Creatives with...

OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...

26/11/2025

Disguise to Showcase Future of Event Visuals at LDI 2025

Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...

26/11/2025

HighField AI Expands Global Channel Partner Network to Ac...

HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...

26/11/2025

Mono Streaming selects PlayBox Neo to manage English Prem...

As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...

26/11/2025

Bell Centre arena in Montreal elevates fan experience wit...

Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...

26/11/2025

Vizrt launches AI-powered advances for speed and accuracy...

Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...

26/11/2025

ITN Launches Low-Latency IP Control Room Powered by Teche...

ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...

26/11/2025

Ikegami Maintains Initiative in Broadcast Systems Develop...

Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...

26/11/2025

Fubo, NBCUniversal Trade Barbs in Carriage Dispute

Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....

26/11/2025

Global Sports Rights Spending to Top $78 Billion in 2030

LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...

26/11/2025

Vubiquity Earns AWS Media & Entertainment Competency Status

LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...

26/11/2025

Comcast Pays $1.5 Million to Settle FCC Data Breach Probe

WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...

26/11/2025

Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List

Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...

26/11/2025

Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on Romance Between Aristocrat and Exchange Student in London

Back to All News Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...

26/11/2025

NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator

Back to All News NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator Social Impact 26 November 2025 United States Link copied to clipboard The National Assoc...

26/11/2025

YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for Sustainability

YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025 YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...

26/11/2025

Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Horse Film Festival, Launches New Talent and Storytelling Initiatives

Back to All News Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Hors...

25/11/2025

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke: Winner, Young Journalist Award 2025

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025. The 26-year-old-sele...

25/11/2025

SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES Network

SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES NetworkThe Indiana alum has turned storytelling into an artform for more than two decadesBy...

25/11/2025

Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, Cost-Effective Alternatives

Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, C...

25/11/2025

Analysis: Is Baller League Really the Future of Sport?

Analysis: Is Baller League really the future of sport? By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:10 Print This Story With KSI on...

25/11/2025

Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale Events with SOS Global

Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale E...

25/11/2025

SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports Workshop

SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports WorkshopBy Samantha Gabay Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:27 am Print This Story | Subscribe Story Highlig...

25/11/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of the CDN and Prioritizing Throughput

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of th...

25/11/2025

Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as the Primary Angle and More Madden Elements

Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as...

25/11/2025

Sauna Is an Intimate Exploration of Queer Love and Identity

Mathias Broe attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Sauna at Library Center Theatre. (Photo by Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Fes...

25/11/2025

5 Reasons to Try Spotify Premium This Holiday Season

The best playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks bring a little extra magic to your daily routine. With new features and offerings, Spotify Premium delivers even mo...

25/11/2025

New Study Reveals Australians Love Discovering New Music

Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on strea...

25/11/2025

Why Use a SIM Card With The SNYPER-5G

Applicable Products Objectives The purpose of this application note is to give a brief background on 5G (NR) wireless communication an explain the reason a SN...

25/11/2025

Lionsgate and Nielsen expand partnership to deliver first-ever combined FAST channel and digital network measurement

Nielsen will now measure both Lionsgate's FAST channel MovieSphere and Movie...