Würth Group Continues Down the Road to Success

According to the preliminary annual financial statement, the Würth Group reports a sales volume of EUR 13.6 billion in 2018 (previous year: EUR 12.7 billion). This corresponds to a growth of 7.1 percent. Adjusted for foreign currency effects, growth comes to 8.6 percent. All of the individual regions reported successful development again in the past year. With respect to the business units, Electronics and Electrical Wholesale showed above-average growth rates.

Operating result

According to preliminary calculations, the operating result of the Würth Group is between EUR 860 and 880 million, which is a new record and a clear increase over the previous year (2017: EUR 780 million). “We are highly pleased about this positive result. It provides proof of the fact that thanks to our strategies and services we are still an important partner for our customers in trade and industry,” explains Robert Friedmann, Chairman of the Central Managing Board of the Würth Group. E-business sales in 2018 amounted to EUR 2.4 billion and grew at above-average proportions compared to Group sales.

Employees

The number of employees increased by 2,921 from 74,159 to 77,080 in 2018. In Germany, the number of employees amounts to 23,772 corresponding to an increase by 5.1 percent. The Group currently has 33,218 sales force employees on the payroll.

Outlook

The Würth Group expects sales growth in the moderate single-digit range as well as a proportionately rising operating result in 2019. “Due to an economic slowdown, the year 2019 will certainly become a bigger challenge than 2018. Nevertheless, there is still no cause for concern, as the company is based on stable ground,” says Friedmann about the expectations for the new business year.

The next press conference on the Würth Group’s annual financial statement will be held at Kunsthalle Würth in Schwäbisch Hall on 8 May 2019.