Total net profit was €401m, up versus H1 2018 of €633m when correcting for the temporary vitamin effect of €275m EBITDA following an exceptional supply disruption in the industry. DSM maintained its full year outlook.

Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman DSM Managing Board, said: “I am pleased to report a good performance for the first half year, achieved against a challenging macro-economic environment. The Nutrition business saw continued good business conditions and delivered a strong performance, demonstrating the quality of its innovative portfolio of value-added solutions. Materials experienced ongoing soft market conditions in some of its end-markets, especially in China. Through a continued strong performance in the Dyneema and Functional Materials businesses, combined with good margin management, our Materials business demonstrated resilience with stable earnings.

DSM continues to be well positioned to deliver on our ambitious Strategy 2021 targets, driven by our commitment to be a purpose led, performance driven science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. We reiterate our outlook for the full year.”