Main developments
DSM is a fully-fledged Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company. Despite the challenges presented by the world economy in 2011, we remain fully committed to our customers, innovation and sustainability.
2011
2011 was another strong year for DSM despite the challenges of the global economy, adverse currency movements and high raw material costs. As a consequence we propose to increase our dividend for the second consecutive year. In Nutrition the company made good progress once again and Polymer Intermediates delivered its highest profitability in history.
Furthermore, the company made significant steps in the first year of implementing its growth strategy. This included the acquisition of Martek, the formation of the joint venture with Sinochem, the completion of non-core divestments, progress in sustainability related innovations and expansion into high growth economies, which now account for 39% of sales. At the start of 2012 DSM announced an exciting joint venture with POET, to make advanced biofuels a reality on a commercial scale.
DSM is conscious that risks to the macro-economic global outlook remain, and that weakness in Europe and some of its end markets, especially building and construction, persists. However, DSM believes that its balanced, relatively resilient portfolio in health, nutrition and materials, its broad geographic spread with a significant presence in high growth economies, together with its strong balance sheet, leave the company well placed to achieve its ambitious 2013 targets.
