Earnings rose by 21.3% to the record level of €5.6 billion (2005: €4.6 billion).

The upward business trend at Bayer MaterialScience continued in 2006, with
sales advancing 7.6% to €10.2 billion. This growth was due primarily to higher volumes in all business units, while selling prices rose slightly on average. Sales for the Materials segment, where the main product is polycarbonate, were up 3.1% to €2.9 billion and sales in the Systems segment, dominated by the polyurethanes business, climbed 9.5% year-on-year to €7.2 billion.

In regional terms, the company achieved its largest sales increase in Europe, where sales climbed by approximately €1.9 billion, or 17.5%, in 2006 to €12.6 billion. Sales in Germany grew 17.7% to €4.5 billion. Meanwhile, business expanded by 19.8% to €7.8 billion in North America and by 13.2% to €4.6 billion in the Asia Pacific region. Sales in Greater China advanced by 24.1% compared with the previous year to €1.5 billion, while business in the Latin America/Africa/Middle East region grew 16.5% to €3.9 billion.

The company expects to further improve its earning power in 2007, following a positive two months, and is anticipating an increase in sales of more than 10%.

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