Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and produces in over 300 factories. The company conducts its worldwide activities according to regions, which determine the reporting segments. The regional structure is based on unified economic areas and supply chain structures. Overarching leadership responsibility ensures integrated management from production to the costumer.
Sika performed well in 2022 in an increasingly difficult economic environment and exceeded the CHF 10 billion sales mark for the first time. In an environment of high inflationary pressure and rising interest rates, Sika continued to grow in all regions.
High rates of inflation and a rising interest rate environment were also dominant features of the Americas region. This caused declines in both residential construction and in retail trading. In Latin America, there were several changes of government in various countries due to elections, with short-term repercussions on the investment trend in construction. Nonetheless, Sika made the most of the business opportunities available in the overall region in a targeted way. The major metropolitan regions are generating above-average growth, and Sika is optimally positioned to benefit from the dynamism of the construction economy. Furthermore, several multi-billion-dollar investment programs to expand infrastructure are being implemented, and manufacturing processes are being reshored to the US.
The Americas region recorded growth in local currencies of 27.5% (previous year: 21.0%). Sika generated a large part of this growth from the US infrastructure sector, which saw a significantly higher activity in 2022 compared to the previous year. Construction work focused on the modernization and expansion of subway lines, bridges, tunnels, and freeways. High demand also came from investments in commercial construction projects, including stadiums and data centers.
The countries in Latin America likewise benefited from a high infrastructure investment, which has been fueled by strong urbanization trends. The expansion of public transportation networks has reached the implementation phase in several major cities, and investments are also being made in water treatment plants and reservoirs incorporating Sika solutions.
Key figures 2022:
Net sales: CHF 3,194 mn
EBIT: CHF 570.8 mn
EBIT margin: 17.9%
Employees: 6,559
Key investments in 2022:
With Sable Marco in Canada and United Gilsonite Laboratories (UGL) in the United States, Sika acquired two companies in 2022 that sell their high-performance products via established distribution channels.
A new mortar and concrete admixture production facility came on stream in Bolivia, and a new manufacturing plant for concrete admixtures is now operational near Washington D.C.
Economic growth in the eurozone slowed noticeably last year and the euro depreciated. Both manufacturers and the service sector experienced a fall in order volumes. The construction industry likewise could not escape this trend. There were fewer residential and commercial construction projects in 2022, with expenditure up a modest 1.1% and 0.6% in these sectors respectively. By contrast, expenditure on infrastructure projects increased by 2.2%. Whereas total spending in the Western European construction sector was higher than the previous year, with moderate growth of 1.2%, Eastern Europe saw a sharp –9% decline year-on-year. Dynamism was most apparent in the African and Middle Eastern construction markets, which grew by approximately 5%.
The EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) reported a sales increase in local currencies of 8.3% in 2022 (previous year: 16.1%). Sika’s distribution business, which includes product distribution via home improvement stores, builders’ merchants, and online platforms, saw a decline in sales volume. The extraordinarily high level of demand witnessed during the pandemic moved back into line with pre-pandemic era levels. In contrast, volumes in the project business, which account for around 60% of sales in the region, witnessed a smaller decline. Economic stimulus programs and substantial investments in the transitions of the energy sector support Sika’s business activities even in declining markets. The region’s strongest growth rates were recorded in Africa and the Middle East, which once again achieved double-digit sales growth.
Key figures 2022:
Net sales: CHF 4,144 mn
EBIT: CHF 782.6 mn
EBIT margin: 18.9%
Employees: 11,206
Key investments in 2022:
Sika moved to a new site in the East African country of Tanzania in 2022, and is now manufacturing mortar products in Dar es Salaam on top of concrete admixtures.
Sika also extended its facility in Western Africa’s Ivory Coast. This site is now double its previous size, enjoying not only additional manufacturing facilities but also new warehousing capacities, office space, and laboratories.
The economic situation was strained in most countries across the Asia/Pacific region. Alongside the intermittent, radical COVID-19-related restrictions, the Chinese economy was hit by a crisis in the real estate market. At 3.2%, the increase in gross domestic product (GDP) was much lower than in the previous year (6–8%). By contrast, India developed much more dynamically, recording GDP growth of 6.8%. Expenditure in the construction sector increased by 6.6%. In addition, India is investing heavily in the expansion of its transportation infrastructure. Besides extending the rail network, huge sums are earmarked for investment in electric buses for local public transport by 2030.
Sales in the Asia/Pacific region rose by 14.8% in local currencies (previous year: 19.4%). The distribution business in China benefited from ongoing strong growth momentum, recording double-digit growth rates, whereas the project business was heavily impacted by pandemic-related lockdowns in the first nine months of the year and by another wave of the virus toward the end of the year. Sika’s Indian business activities continued to experience dynamic development, and double-digit growth was achieved in challenging markets in Southeast Asian countries once the numerous lockdowns were lifted.
Key figures 2022:
Net sales: CHF 2,344 mn
EBIT: CHF 370.5 mn
EBIT margin: 15.8%
Employees: 7,054
Key investments in 2022:
In 2022, Sika opened a new plant for liquid membranes and mortar production in Chongqing, a city in southwestern China with 30 million inhabitants. With the commissioning of this plant, the Group is strengthening its market position in a fast-growing metropolitan area.
In fiscal 2022, global automotive production grew by 6.2%. Growth stimuli were apparent in the second semester following an improvement in supply chain bottlenecks.
In North America, the volume of new vehicles manufactured rose to 14.3 million, which is almost 10% higher than the previous year.
The Chinese automotive market grew by 6%, with more than 26 million new vehicles produced. Local automotive manufacturers recorded particularly high sales of electric cars.
However, India displayed the greatest dynamism with impressive double-digit growth in new vehicle production of about 20%. The market is dominated by higher-specification vehicles, with an associated increase in materials built into the interior.
In the Global Business, Sika achieved growth in local currencies of 22.2% (previous year: 4.3%), and thus grew much faster than the market. High demand for new vehicles and a normalization of supply chains boosted business activity. For the automotive business, Sika is anticipating a recovery in the market over the medium term with continued growth stimuli from electromobility and alternative drive concepts in particular.
Key figures 2022:
Net sales: CHF 811 mn
EBIT: CHF 48.8 mn
EBIT margin: 6.0%
Employees: 2,175