Wacker-Chemie results: earnings jump, bolstered by portfolio streamlining.

(From Chemical Business NewsBase - European Chemical News)

Although sales in 2002 declined by 5% to EUR 2.68 bn, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for Wacker-Chemie almost trebled to EUR 47 M compared with 2001. The company is forecasting a 6% drop in sales in 2003 to EUR 620 M because of the uncertain economic conditions. The company's 300 mm silicon wafers, fine chemicals, organofunctional silanes and fumed silica businesses are expected to show medium-term growth. Wacker-Chemie is realising …