Third-Quarter Report 2026 (January – September 2026) of the EMS Group

Course of business January - September 2026

The EMS Group, active worldwide in the business areas High Performance Polymers and Specialty Chemicals, and with its companies combined in the EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, increased net sales compared to previous year to CHF 1'509 million (1'491) in the first nine months of 2026. As expected, the stronger Swiss Franc had a negative impact on net sales development in Swiss Francs. In local currencies, net sales showed growth of 4.2%. Despite a geopolitically hampered environment, dampened consumer mood and struggling global automotive industry, EMS was able to generate pleasing new business as well as significantly increase profitability due to a consistent growth strategy with high-margin specialties and innovation. For 2026, EMS now expects net sales to be at previous year's level, and continues to expect operating income (EBIT) slightly above previous year.

Geopolitical conflicts and trade barriers continued to suppress economic development. Higher energy costs are having an increasing effect on inflation rates and continue to dampen the consumer mood. In this generally unstable global situation, the Swiss Franc is maintaining its role as a "safe haven". 

In Europe, industry is undergoing prolonged restructuring. In the USA and China, growth is concentrated on the high-tech sector. Rising inflation is increasingly limiting consumer spending in the USA and Europe. In China, the continuing real-estate crisis is dampening local demand. 

Already at the beginning of 2026, EMS was preparing for a challenging economic environment and was able to successfully grow result and margins with innovation, cost discipline and proactive planning. In the currently restrained and uncertain market environment, EMS is focusing consistently on growth with high-margin specialties. Pleasing growth was achieved with innovative new business in all market regions, supported by the globally implemented sales offensive and targeted expansion of local development partnerships. Focus on specialty polymers for demanding applications and on total cost-savings for customers generated higher operative profitability. Especially in the currently demanding market environment, cost-saving and energy-efficient metal replacement applications are in particularly high demand. 

Through new developments, EMS is also successfully exploring numerous future growth areas, such as electric cars, robotics and data centers. Working in cooperation with technology leaders, EMS specialists are developing high-performance solutions for components that are exceptionally lightweight, robust and dimensionally stable. In automotive construction, EMS offers car manufacturers groundbreaking coating technologies that cure even at lower temperatures providing significant energy and weight savings for car manufacturers. 

Higher raw material costs had to be compensated by corresponding sales price adjustments.