• Sales up by 7.5 percent to EUR 12.7 billion
• Record operating result of EUR 780 million
• Above-average growth in the e-business segment

In 2017, the Würth Group generated sales in the amount of EUR 12.7 billion, setting a new record in the company’s history (2016: EUR 11.8 billion). This represents growth of 7.5 percent. After adjustments to reflect exchange rate effects, the rate of growth came out at 7.9 percent. The positive development is underlined by the fact that, in the months of March and November, the company reported two new sales records in excess of EUR 1.1 billion in each case. The companies in Eastern and Southern Europe showed particularly dynamic development. The solid growth in 2017 is broad-based within the Würth Group. All business areas reported an increase in sales. Developments in the Electronics unit were particularly impressive, with above-­average sales growth of 17.5 percent, a figure that made it into the double digits for the third year in a row. In the Würth Line, developments in the Industry and Construction divisions are encouraging, with their sales also up significantly on the previous year. The e-business strategy that Würth has adopted is bearing fruit, with sales increasing by 19.3 percent in 2017. In 2017, company acquisitions made only a minor contribution to sales growth, contributing 0.5 percentage points.

As far as its operating result is concerned, the Würth Group reported the highest result in the company’s history at EUR 780 million (2016: EUR 615 million). At 6.1 percent, the rate of return surpassed the 6 percent mark for the first time in nine years. There are many reasons explaining the above-­average earnings growth: In addition to increased productivity, favored by very positive economic conditions, successful company reorganization measures and the targeted expansion of multi-channel distribution also played their part in the improvement in earnings.

In order to implement its planned strategies, the Würth Group is making sustainable investments in its various business areas and markets. Capital expenditure amounted to EUR 524 million in 2017.
The number of employees rose by 2,768, from 71,391 to 74,159 in 2017. As in the past, the majority of the employees are still based in Germany. In 2017, this figure came to 22,620. Würth is a sales company at its core. Including sales-related areas, more than 45,000 employees have direct contact with customers, with 32,295 of them working as sales representatives. Thus, the Würth Group remains the biggest employer of salaried sales specialists.