Bayer consolidates its growth in Spain and Portugal, increasing its sales by 2.3%
Bayer billed LifeScience company 842 million euros to customers in the Iberia region (Spain and Portugal) in 2017, which represents a 2.3% growth compared to the previous year. In particular, customer billing in Spain reached 678 million euros, 1.7% more compared to 2016, while in Portugal it was 163 million, 4.6% more.
These data suppose a path of sustained growth that confirms the recovery of the sector in general terms and that prepares the organization to face the challenges of the present and the future. “The data we present today is also a reflection of our continued commitment to the Iberia region and our commitment to innovation, maintaining investment in this regard as an engine that sustains our development and future prospects,” said the CEO of Bayer in the Iberia region, Rainer Krause. “We have great reasons to look to the future with optimism,” he said.
Bayer considers fundamental investment in innovation to make possible its science mission for a better life. In this sense, the company understands innovation as a collaborative process in which all agents of the sector must necessarily intervene, from administrations to research centers or start-ups, both in their health area and in agriculture.
In Spain, Bayer has agreements with nearly 1,000 institutions with which it is committed to a continuous innovation model
By divisions, the turnover of the area of prescription drugs (Pharmaceuticals) in the Iberia region reached 433 million euros (+ 1.4% over the previous year), of which 100 million correspond to Portugal and 333 million to sales in Spain, 5.1% and 0.3% respectively in relation to the previous year. “Some figures that show how after several years especially hard for the pharmaceutical industry due to the economic situation, 2017 maintains the path of recovery that we started a few years ago,” said Krause. The main drivers of this growth have been the oral anticoagulant Xarelto®, the ophthalmologic Eylea® and the product for the treatment of prostate cancer Xofigo®.
The division focused on self-care products (Consumer Health) recorded in 2017 sales to customers in the Iberia region of 132 million euros (110 million in Spain), which represents a slight decrease of 0.2% for the Iberia region. Specifically in Spain the fall was -0.4% while in Portugal they increased by 0.6%. “In 2017 we returned to a complicated market situation, especially due to the introduction of new competitors in some of our main categories. All in all, we were able to maintain our volume of business thanks to the good performance of our most important brands, especially the Canestén® range of intimate female care; Iberogast® for the treatment of digestive discomfort and Bepanthol®, “said Daniela Chuayre, head of the division in Spain.
For its part, the animal health unit (Animal Health) grows to 41 million euros (+ 4.4%), with an increase of 5.6% in Spain, where it reaches 31 million, thanks mainly to good results of the Seresto® dog and cat antiparasitic collar. Portugal also closes the year positive with an increase in sales of 1.2%, to reach 10 million.
The area dedicated to agricultural products (Crop Science) registered in 2017 a turnover in the region of 234 million euros, representing a growth of 5%
In Spain, sales amounted to 202 million, + 4.8% compared to the previous year, while sales in Portugal were 32 million (+ 6.8%). Crop Protection has been one of the areas that has contributed the most to these results, positioning itself as the market leader in 2017.
Spain, priority market
Bayer, which maintains its commitment to the Iberia region, has invested between Spain and Portugal 13.2 million euros in 2017 (10% more than last year), of which 12.4 million in Spain, and located in the best investment data in the region for the last ten years.
“Our commitment to innovation is transversal in all divisions. This year’s results show Bayer’s efforts to implement the innovative capacity of our teams in all its services and give us strength to face future challenges with optimism, “said Krause, CEO of Bayer in the Iberia region.
Currently, the company generates more than 2,200 direct jobs in the Iberia region, through 10 work centers, among which the Felguera plant in Asturias deserves a special mention, which this year puts the finishing touch to the celebration of its 75th anniversary with the inauguration of a new office space more efficient, responsible and sustainable.
Source: Bayer
