MUTTENZ, Switzerland – Specialty chemicals company Clariant announced first quarter 2014 sales from continuing operations of CHF 1.492 billion compared to CHF 1.526 billion in the first quarter of 2013. This corresponds to an increase of 5% in local currencies. The 5% organic sales growth was driven by 4% higher volumes and an increase in prices of 1%.
Good sales growth in local currencies was strongly impacted by unfavorable currency developments in the emerging markets as well as in North America, resulting in a sales growth of –2% in Swiss francs, mainly due to the year-on-year weakness of the Brazilian real, Indian rupee, Japanese yen and U.S. dollar.