Revenue rose by 23.4% year on year in the second quarter to 24 billion euros ($24.55 billion), while profit from operating activities (EBIT) grew by 12.2% to 2.3 billion euros.

This beat analysts' expectations of revenue of 21.8 billion euros and EBIT of 2 billion euros, according to a poll posted on the company website.

Net profit after non-controlling interests came in at 1.5 billion euros in the second quarter, up from 1.3 billion euros a year ago.

"Thanks to our strong balance sheet, we can proceed as planned with our targeted investments of around EUR 12 billion by 2024," said CFO Melanie Kreis.

The company said it still expects 2022 EBIT of between 7.6 and 8.4 billion euros, even in the case of a global economic turndown in the second half of the year.

"With unchanged business momentum, the Group even considers an EBIT of more than EUR 8.4 billion being achievable," it added.

($1 = 0.9774 euros)

(Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray)