Henkel 2Q15 sales climbed 13.5%

HENKEL achieved nearly E4.7 billion for the second quarter of 2015. The company posted a 13.5% sales growth on the back of thriving emerging markets and the launch of Persil in the US.

Henkel launched its high-end Persil laundry detergent, a billion-euro global brand in 60 countries outside the US, last spring through an exclusive tie-in with Walmart in a bid to reclaim lost ground.

The company’s Laundry & Home Care business unit recorded 4.3% organic sales growth. Rising demand for the newly launched Persil detergent, which competes with market leader Procter & Gamble's Tide, boosted sales in North America.

In the beauty care segment, organic sales climbed by 1.9%. The adhesives business, which accounts for half of the group sales, experiences slower organic sales growth during the second quarter as opposed to the first quarter due to dipping demand in North America, a key market.

Henkel reiterated it expected to achieve 3% to 5% organic sales growth in 2015 and a flat operating profit margin.

According to chief executive Kasper Rorsted, "We expect the current difficult global economic environment to persist.”

Rorsted said the upside presented by currency rates presents a positive development.