- Strong economic development, comprehensive internationalization strategy as well as consistent innovation, efficiency, and cost management lead to all-time-highs in revenue and all earnings categories
- Strong growth momentum in Europe, China, India as well as largely in North America, Brazil back on expansion track after four years of recession
- “America First” policy dampens economic sentiment, but de facto effects on real economy modest up to now
- Automotive industry remains strong; consumer goods and aerospace stable on a high level; continued recovery in oil and gas; upward trend in mechanical engineering, construction; potential for improvement in railway systems
- Revenue rises by 14.2% from EUR 11,295 million to EUR 12,898 million
- Operating result (EBITDA) improves by 26.8% to EUR 1,954 million (previous year: EUR 1,541 million), EBITDA margin of 15.2% (previous year: 13.6%)
- Profit from operations (EBIT) jumps by 43.3% to EUR 1,180 million (previous year: EUR 823 million), EBIT margin of 9.1% (previous year: 7.3%)
- Profit before tax soars by 48.9% from EUR 700 million in the previous year to EUR 1,043 million in 2017/18
- Profit after tax soars by 55.2% from EUR 527 million in the previous year to EUR 818 million
- Equity climbs to EUR 6,554 million as of March 31, 2018 (EUR 6,060 million as of March 31, 2017)
- Gearing ratio (net financial debt relative to equity) falls from 53.2% in the previous year to 45.7%
- Dividend proposed to the Annual General Meeting: EUR 1.40 EUR per share (previous year: EUR 1.10 per share), sixth consecutive year of dividend increases
- Fully digitalized 550,000 ton wire rod mill goes into regular operations, “new special steel plant” and “hydrogen pilot plant” investment projects approved
