Beiersdorf has reported a positive start to the year driven by its derma business brands, including Eucerin and Aquaphor.
Organic sales were up 3.6% in the first quarter of 2025, hitting €2.7bn, slightly ahead of market expectations.
The German beauty giant said sales across its consumer business segment reached €2.3bn in the three months from January to March 2025, a rise of 2.3%.
Growth of its Nivea business came in at 2.5%.
This was marked by “a tough comparison base” of 12.6% growth in the same quarter in 2024, and “a strategic repositioning in China, with the aim of focusing on premium products, skin care and e-commerce”.
In North America, Nivea experienced double-digit growth.
Derma business sales grew 11.4%, which includes its Eucerin and Aquaphor brands.
This was driven by double-digit growth in emerging markets due to the launch of Epicelline, an active ingredient launched last year that reduces the effects of epigenetic ageing, in more than 15 countries.
Double-digit growth in North America was credited to the launch of five new Thiamidol-based Eucerin products, following the launch of Eucerin Face in the USA last year.
The hero ingredient tackles pigmentation and dark spots by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme controlling the production of melanin, and was first launched in 2019.
Meanwhile, sales of Beiersdorf’s luxury beauty brand La Prairie fell 17.5% “against a stronger prior-year baseline”.
The company noted “a challenging market environment in China” and said the brand “faced persistent headwinds in the travel retail business” and significantly reduced stock levels in the quarter, especially in Hainan.
Beiersdorf’s e-commerce business delivered 24% growth in China, however.
Chantecaille sales grew 15.9%, driven by a roll-out in mainland China and expansion across Asia.
The results for the first quarter are in line with expectations, but the company noted that “predicting the impact of ongoing uncertainties in the global economy on consumer confidence and business operations remains challenging, particularly in the short term”.
It added that it “remains vigilant and committed to adapting its strategies to mitigate these challenges while continuing to focus on sustainable growth.”
Commenting on the financial results, CEO Vincent Warnery said: “In a continuously dynamic market environment, Beiersdorf’s positive performance in the first quarter of 2025 was fully in line with our expectations.”
“It was driven by our ongoing commitment to expanding into white spaces and delivering breakthrough innovations.
“In addition, we are putting our house in order in China to set the foundation for future growth.
“Excluding the effects of our proactive measures in this key market, our consumer quarterly performance was within our guidance.
“Furthermore, tesa [Beiersdorf’s self-adhesive products business] got off to a strong start due to its high-performing electronics business and the low first quarter of 2024.
“As we look ahead into this year, we confirm our guidance for 2025 to deliver sustainable growth.”
The beauty giant maintained its outlook of growth between 4% and 6% in its consumer business for the full financial year.