Wienerberger : strong Q1 2021 performance exceeds expectations

Performance of the Business Units

Following a late start to the construction season, driven by unfavorable weather conditions in January and February, the Wienerberger Building Solutions Business Unit benefitted from robust demand in March. This enabled the business to catch up the lower volumes of new construction activities at the beginning of the year. In the renovation segment, Wienerberger Building Solutions saw a significant increase in demand relative to Q1 2020, especially in Western Europe. Revenues for the quarter decreased 4% year-on-year to € 478.5 million (2020: € 500.4 million), whilst EBITDA LFL amounted to € 76.8 million (2020: € 83.9 million).

The Wienerberger Piping Solutions Business Unit had a successful start to 2021. The business saw strong demand for infrastructure and in-house solutions, successfully managed raw material price increases and supply chain bottlenecks, and further strengthened its market position in the quarter. Revenues increased by 9% to € 240.7 million (2020: € 220.7 million), whilst EBITDA LFL improved by 13% to € 21.2 million (2020: € 18.7 million).

The North America Business Unit had a record first quarter. Despite a weaker US dollar, reported revenues increased by 7% to € 76.5 million (2020: € 71.4 million), whilst EBITDA LFL improved by 81% over the previous year's level to € 9.2 million (2020: € 5.1 million). The main drivers of this result were the extremely strong performance of the Canadian market and the plastic pipe business. The closing of the acquisition of Meridian Bricks is still expected in Q2, subject to the approval of the US Competition Authority. We look forward to a successful integration and to even stronger performance in future, supported by both the quality of the business and a favorable market outlook.

Outlook for 2021

In the first half of 2021, Covid-19 will continue to contribute to ongoing uncertainty in Wienerberger's markets, but Wienerberger nonetheless expects to see a recovery of demand in both new build and infrastructure in Europe. Moreover, in the short-term, all Business Units are benefitting from catch-up effects due to slower starts at the beginning of the year. Wienerberger anticipates that overall market fundamentals will support future growth for all its core segments with the potential for further upside from government stimulus programs. The renovation and infrastructure markets, in particular, are expected to remain strong. In North America, Wienerberger expects swift recovery in all core segments, supported by increasing housing permits, public stimulus programs and continued low mortgage rates.

Wienerberger's resilient supply chain structures, including local sourcing and supporting hedging policies in all its Business Units, will continue to provide some level of protection from rising input prices. Regarding the current price development for raw materials and other operating supplies, Wienerberger will be able to cover this with corresponding price increases for the year 2021. As already announced, the extremely strong price increase for plastic granulates will affect the group's results in Q2 and Q3 negatively by a maximum up to € 20 million. Due to market conditions, this cannot be passed on to customers immediately. This situation should ease from the end of Q2. The amount of € 20 million is already included in the guidance for 2021.

Wienerberger assumes that its self-help program, including further operational excellence measures and targeted investments, will achieve an EBITDA improvement of € 40 million in 2021 and reaffirms its overall EBITDA LFL guidance for 2021 of € 600 - 620 million.

For the complete report on the first quarter of 2021, please click here.