Today, Beiersdorf released its H1 financial report of 2024. It maintained its growth trajectory in a dynamic market environment, delivering strong sales growth in the first six months of 2024. Group sales increased to €5.2 billion, up 7.1% organically. The Group’s operating result (EBIT), excluding special factors, amounted to €838 million in the first half of the year (H1 2023: €852 million), resulting in an EBIT margin (excluding special factors) of 16.2% (H1 2023: 17.3%). This EBIT development was positively impacted by a strong gross margin increase, alongside investments in marketing, digitalization, and sustainability efforts, achieving more balanced profitability across the year.
Vincent Warnery, CEO of Beiersdorf, highlighted the company’s strong performance in the first half of 2024, with Consumer Business sales growing by 8.0%, outperforming competition and strengthening its leading position in the skin care industry. NIVEA, the iconic brand, led with a double-digit sales increase across all key regions and categories. Despite challenges in the luxury market, particularly in China, positive results in other segments offset these headwinds.
In the Consumer Business Segment, organic sales increased by 8.0% in the first six months of 2024, with nominal sales growing by 5.4% to €4.3 billion (H1 2023: €4.1 billion). EBIT (excluding special factors) stood at €688 million (H1 2023: €700 million), with an EBIT margin of 15.9% (H1 2023: 17.0%).
NIVEA, including Labello, achieved excellent organic sales growth of 11.1% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. Nominal sales at NIVEA climbed 7.6% to €2,956 million (H1 2023: €2,748 million), driven by balanced price and volume growth. The brand grew in all key regions, especially in Emerging Markets and Germany, with impressive double-digit growth in face care, body care, sun care, and deodorant categories.
The Derma brands, Eucerin and Aquaphor, recorded organic sales growth of 8.3% in the first six months of the year. In nominal terms, Derma sales increased by 7.7% to €714 million (H1 2023: €663 million). Excluding Argentina, the Derma business continued to grow double-digit, driven by strong performance globally. Eucerin saw significant growth in sun protection and face care, gaining market share in all categories.
The luxury brand La Prairie experienced a 7.0% decline in sales in the first half of 2024, with nominal sales falling by 7.2% to €272 million (H1 2023: €294 million), primarily due to weaknesses in the Chinese market. Despite this, La Prairie managed to outperform the market in the first half of the year.
Regionally, Europe achieved 5.5% organic sales growth, with nominal sales up 5.6% to €2,331 million (H1 2023: €2,207 million). The Americas region saw organic sales growth of 3.0%, with nominal sales growing by 3.4% to €1,344 million (H1 2023: €1,299 million).
The Africa/Asia/Australia region achieved 13.5% organic sales growth, with nominal sales rising by 4.9% to €1,500 million (H1 2023: €1,430 million). The Group said that the best performers in terms ofcategories were NlVEA Deo, Body Care and Sun as well as Eucerin Face, Body and Sun, La Prairie recorded solid arowth in Chinadriven by e-commerce as well as strong momentum in Japan.
