Semperit reports significant growth as it sheds gloves business

Vienna – Austrian-based rubber products maker Semperit has recorded significant year-on-year improvements in both revenue and earnings from its ‘continuing operations’ for 2022.

The group operates four industrial segments: Semperflex hose production unit; Sempertrans conveyor belts; Semperform gasket and sheeting unit; and Semperseal seals manufacturing business.

The positive development mainly reflects the group’s shedding of a large part of its gloves production business, which has been reported as ‘discontinued operations’.

In December last year, Semperit agreed to sell its Sempermed medical examination gloves unit and sales & distribution organisation to Harps Global Pte of Malaysia.

Within five years, the group’s production of surgical gloves in Wimpassing, Austria and Sopron, Hungary, are also to be transferred to Harps.

Until the second phase of the sale is completed, surgical gloves will be produced for Harps under a contract manufacturing arrangement.

Across its ‘continuing operations’, meanwhile, Semperit reported an 86% increase in earnings (EBITDA) to €100 million, on overall sales almost 30% higher at €780 million – including a 32% increase in industrial sector revenue to €734.0 million.

Revenue from continued operations in the medical sector remained virtually unchanged at €45.8 million, said Semperit, noting challenges during 2022 due to inflation and economic slowdown as well as rising costs for materials, energy and wages.

These factors, the group said, were “passed on promptly” through increased average sales prices in the industrial sector.

The Sempertrans segment, which was particularly hard hit by the corona pandemic and achieved a 14% increase in production volume in 2022.