Swiss sanitaryware specialist Geberit has reported a modest rise in sales for 2025, with the group pointing to continued resilience in its core European markets despite ongoing weakness in the wider construction sector.
The company recorded net sales of CHF 3.2 billion (£3.06bn), up 2.5% year-on-year, or 4.8% on a currency-adjusted basis, as demand for its sanitary systems and bathroom products held up across much of Europe.
Net income edged up slightly to CHF 598 million (£572m), a 0.1% increase, while basic earnings per share reached CHF 18.15 (£17.35) and diluted EPS came in at CHF 18.04 (£17.25).
Operating profitability remained strong, with the group reporting an EBITDA margin of 29.4%. However, the margin was affected by one-off costs linked to the closure of a ceramics plant in Germany, part of wider efficiency measures across the business.
Geberit generated free cash flow of CHF 659m or £630m, up 7.4% on the previous year. During the period the company also continued to invest in its operations, spending CHF 173m (£165m) on property, plant, equipment and intangible assets.
Commenting on the results in the accompanying business report, Albert M. Baehny, Geberit chairman of the board of directors, said: “Despite challenging conditions in the building construction industry in Europe, we were able to significantly increase sales and sales volumes.
“In this regard, the development of newly introduced products, broad-based growth in the markets and high market acceptance were all very pleasing.
Baehny added: “Operating margins were only slightly below the previous year’s level. Without the one-off costs resulting from a plant closure, operating margins would have increased, thanks in part to efficiency improvements.
“At the same time, investments continued in the innovation pipeline and all important, larger investment projects were carried out as planned. This enabled us to further expand and strengthen our market position as leading supplier of sanitary products.”
Looking ahead, Geberit expects slight growth in Europe in 2026, although demand trends are likely to vary outside the region. The group anticipates continued strong growth in India, while China is expected to remain in decline.
Strategically, the company said it will continue focusing on new product development, IT investments and further digitalisation, including the use of AI technologies, as well as expanding logistics capacity to support future growth.