By Kim Richters

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA on Thursday reported a decline in first-half earnings and sales, and said that it still couldn't provide guidance for 2020.

The German consumer-goods company posted first-half earnings before interest and taxes of 1.09 billion euros ($1.29 billion) compared with EUR1.49 billion a year earlier.

Adjusted operating profit fell to EUR1.19 billion from EUR1.64 billion a year earlier.

Its Adhesive Technologies business was hit mainly by declining demand in key customer industries, while its Beauty Care business was especially hit by coronavirus-related salon closures, it said.

The Laundry & Home Care business "showed a very strong development."

Sales for the first half dropped to EUR9.49 billion from EUR10.09 billion, while second-quarter sales came in at EUR4.56 billion compared with EUR5.12 billion a year earlier.

The maker of Dial soap and Purex laundry detergent withdrew guidance for 2020 earlier this year. It now said it still couldn't give a new outlook for the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 



  Write to Kim Richters at kim.richters@wsj.com