2024/05/06

• Renewed growth: sales of around 4.4 billion euros and EBITDA of around 1.3 billion euros
• Investments remain at a high level of around 0.6 billion euros
• Number of employees increased from 11,259 to 11,519

In its 125th anniversary year, Messer was able to further increase both sales and EBITDA despite challenging economic conditions. As a result of high inflation rates, economic activity slowed in 2023, which had a corresponding impact on demand for industrial gases. However, Messer's business once again proved to be resilient: the world's largest privately owned specialist for industrial, medical and specialty gases was able to increase its total sales by 7.1 percent* to around 4,391 million euros in the 2023 financial year. The company was also able to improve its EBITDA once again. It rose by 9.1 percent to around 1,284 million. At around 636 million euros, investments remained at a high level.

"Our investments are geared towards securing the economic viability of our existing business and exploiting profitable growth potential," explains Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer, adding, "Our investment decisions also support Messer's sustainability goals, for example with regard to our customers' decarbonization efforts or plant optimization and digitalization." Like the other key figures, the number of employees also increased. In the 2023 financial year, there were 11,519 employees; in the previous year, 11,259 people worked for Messer.

Sales development in the regions
In Asia, Messer generated sales of 811 million euros in the 2023 financial year. Although this corresponds to a decrease in sales of 4.4 percent, this development is mainly due to a negative currency effect in China and, among other things, the weaker Vietnamese steel market compared to the previous year.

In 2023, Messer in China again invested primarily in projects that further strengthen the company's position in the liquefied gas market and thus promote a balanced diversification of customers. Messer also invested primarily in specialty gas production facilities, particularly for supplying customers in the electronics industry.

In the ASEAN region, Messer's investments focused mainly on projects in Vietnam. In addition to investments in air separation plants for on-site customers, the industrial gases specialist has driven forward the expansion of its liquefied gas production capacities in the south of the country. The investment projects are also intended to supply a wide range of industries in Vietnam. In Thailand, the foundation stone was laid for Messer's first air separation plant.

The companies in Europe generated sales of around 1,284 million euros in the 2023 financial year.

In Western Europe, Messer achieved sales of 501 million euros. This is an increase of 3.6 percent. The Central Europe region generated sales of 401 million euros, representing an increase in sales of 22.8 percent compared to the previous year. The Southeast Europe region increased its turnover by 18.8 percent compared to the previous year to 383 million euros.

Investment projects in Central and Southeast Europe included, in particular, the carbon dioxide production plants in the Czech Republic, Austria, Serbia and Poland. Messer also invested in an air separation plant in Serbia and a filling plant in Romania.

In Germany, the final work on the air separation plant in Speyer and the filling plant in Siegen was completed. In Spain, Messer commissioned an air separation plant in the chemical park near Tarragona and a filling plant for gases in cylinders.

The sales of Messer's companies in North America amounted to approximately 1,874 million euros in the 2023 financial year, up 8.3 percent on the previous year. Of this, around 1,557 million euros is attributable to the US companies and 317 million euros to the business in Canada. Investment projects in this region were mainly concentrated in the USA. The focus here was on the plants in Texas and Ohio and on investments in the helium business.

The South American companies in Brazil, Colombia and Chile recorded an increase in both medical and industrial gases, generating sales of 391 million euros. The result is therefore 8.8 percent higher than sales in the 2022 financial year.

P: Messer's investments remained at a high level in 2023 at around 636 million euros. Among other things, the industrial gases specialist invested in the completion of its air separation plant in Speyer, Germany.