BASF H1 Net Income Plummets 51 Percent to 887 Million Euros EBITDA Down 13 Percent as Chemical Prices Drag

BASF reported sales of €33.2 billion for the first half of 2025, down 1.5% year-on-year, with falling prices in four out of six business segments—especially in chemicals—putting pressure on overall results. The Nutrition & Care and Surface Technologies divisions bucked the trend with price increases, while currency headwinds impacted all areas.

EBITDA fell sharply by 13.4% to €3.7 billion, compared to €4.2 billion in the same period last year, mainly due to weaker chemical segment performance. EBIT dropped 23.4% to €1.7 billion. Net income plunged 50.6% to €887 million, versus €1.8 billion a year earlier.

Operating cash flow was €603 million, a decrease of €834 million year-on-year. Free cash flow came in at negative €1.3 billion, deepening from last year’s negative €986 million. Investment outflows shrank by €1.2 billion, largely because spending on property and equipment—especially for the Zhanjiang site in China—fell by €554 million.

Despite some positive trends in volumes for surface technologies and agricultural solutions, BASF’s overall financials were weighed down by pricing and currency pressures.