Key data – Consumer Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change (%)1

 

 

 

 

 

Change (%)1

€ million

 

Q2 2025

 

Q2 2026

 

Reported

 

Fx & p adj.

 

H1 2025

 

H1 2026

 

Reported

 

Fx & p adj.

Sales

 

1,427

 

1,445

 

+1.3

 

+1.5

 

2,926

 

2,936

 

+0.3

 

+3.5

Change in sales1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume

 

–0.4%

 

–1.0%

 

 

 

 

 

+0.7%

 

+0.9%

 

 

 

 

Price

 

+0.6%

 

+2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

+0.7%

 

+2.6%

 

 

 

 

Currency

 

–5.6%

 

–0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

–3.0%

 

–3.1%

 

 

 

 

Portfolio

 

+3.3%

 

0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

+2.8%

 

0.0%

 

 

 

 

Sales by region

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe/Middle East/Africa

 

537

 

563

 

+4.8

 

+4.4

 

1,109

 

1,167

 

+5.2

 

+5.8

North America

 

500

 

458

 

–8.4

 

–6.0

 

1,054

 

951

 

–9.8

 

–3.6

Asia/Pacific

 

217

 

224

 

+3.2

 

+2.9

 

435

 

445

 

+2.3

 

+5.5

Latin America

 

173

 

200

 

+15.6

 

+12.3

 

328

 

373

 

+13.7

 

+15.4

EBITDA1

 

323

 

319

 

–1.2

 

 

 

657

 

656

 

–0.2

 

 

Special items1

 

(8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16)

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA before special items1

 

331

 

319

 

–3.6

 

 

 

673

 

656

 

–2.5

 

 

EBITDA margin before special items1

 

23.2%

 

22.1%

 

 

 

 

 

23.0%

 

22.3%

 

 

 

 

EBIT1

 

229

 

222

 

–3.1

 

 

 

466

 

465

 

–0.2

 

 

Special items1

 

(8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16)

 

 

 

 

 

EBIT before special items1

 

237

 

222

 

–6.3

 

 

 

482

 

465

 

–3.5

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

194

 

206

 

+6.2

 

 

 

599

 

504

 

–15.9

 

 

Cash flow-relevant capital expenditures

 

36

 

40

 

+11.1

 

 

 

66

 

68

 

+3.0

 

 

Research and development expenses2

 

56

 

53

 

–5.4

 

 

 

117

 

106

 

–9.4

 

 

Fx & p adj. = currency- and portfolio-adjusted

1

For definition see Annual Report 2025, A 2.3 “Alternative Performance Measures Used by the Bayer Group.

2

After special items and depreciation/amortization/impairments

Second quarter of 2026

Sales

Following a strong first quarter, sales at Consumer Health increased by 1.5% (Fx & portfolio adj.) to €1,445 million in the second quarter of 2026. Business was up in almost all categories, with Digestive Health posting the strongest growth. From a regional perspective, we recorded higher sales in Europe/Middle East/Africa, Latin America and Asia/Pacific. However, we faced continued headwinds from the weak market environment in the United States, as well as a soft cough, cold and allergy season.

  • The Dermatology category posted a moderate increase in sales, with growth largely fueled by higher Bepanthen™ sales in Latin America that were partly attributable to a product line extension in Brazil. By contrast, we recorded declines in North America and Asia/Pacific.

  • Sales in the Nutritionals category were up year on year, with growth largely fueled by significant gains for our Natsana e-commerce business. We also recorded a significant increase in Elevit™ sales in China that was partly driven by a product line extension. However, declines in the United States weighed on growth.

  • Business in the Allergy & Cold category was down against the prior-year period, reflecting a soft allergy, cough and cold season overall. Sales of allergy products mainly declined in the United States amid continued headwinds from a weak market environment.

  • The Digestive Health category posted a sharp rise in sales, with business up in all regions. MiraLAX™ sales advanced substantially in the United States. Following a weak prior-year quarter, business in Europe/Middle East/Africa mainly benefited from substantial volume growth for Iberogast™ and Talcid™.

  • Sales in the Pain & Cardio category were up against the prior-year quarter, with growth mainly fueled by higher Actron™ volumes and prices in Latin America.

Sales by category

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change (%)1

 

 

 

 

 

Change (%)1

€ million

 

Q2 2025

 

Q2 2026

 

Reported

 

Fx & p adj.

 

H1 2025

 

H1 2026

 

Reported

 

Fx & p adj.

Consumer Health

 

1,427

 

1,445

 

+1.3

 

+1.5

 

2,926

 

2,936

 

+0.3

 

+3.5

Dermatology

 

374

 

386

 

+3.2

 

+1.5

 

726

 

761

 

+4.8

 

+5.5

Nutritionals

 

362

 

366

 

+1.1

 

+1.9

 

713

 

741

 

+3.9

 

+7.1

Allergy & Cold

 

266

 

242

 

–9.0

 

–8.0

 

613

 

567

 

–7.5

 

–3.1

Digestive Health

 

224

 

244

 

+8.9

 

+9.4

 

476

 

472

 

–0.8

 

+2.2

Pain & Cardio

 

193

 

198

 

+2.6

 

+3.4

 

381

 

378

 

–0.8

 

+4.4

Other

 

8

 

9

 

+12.5

 

+26.5

 

17

 

17

 

0.0

 

+14.4

Fx & p adj. = currency- and portfolio-adjusted

1

For definition see Annual Report 2025, A 2.3 “Alternative Performance Measures Used by the Bayer Group.

Earnings

EBITDA before special items at Consumer Health decreased by 3.6% to €319 million (Q2 2025: €331 million) in the second quarter of 2026. The decline in earnings was partly due to an increase in the cost of goods sold, product mix effects, and a negative currency effect of €4 million (Q2 2025: €24 million). These headwinds were only partially offset by our continuous cost and price management efforts. The EBITDA margin before special items declined by 1.1 percentage points to 22.1%.

EBIT came in at €222 million (Q2 2025: €229 million) and did not include any special items (Q2 2025: special charges of €8 million).

Special items1 Consumer Health

€ million

 

EBIT
Q2 2025

 

EBIT
Q2 2026

 

EBIT
H1 2025

 

EBIT
H1 2026

 

EBITDA
Q2 2025

 

EBITDA
Q2 2026

 

EBITDA
H1 2025

 

EBITDA
H1 2026

Restructuring

 

(8)

 

 

(16)

 

 

(8)

 

 

(16)

 

Total special items

 

(8)

 

 

(16)

 

 

(8)

 

 

(16)

 

1

For definition see Annual Report 2025, A 2.3 “Alternative Performance Measures Used by the Bayer Group.

First half of 2026

Sales

Sales at Consumer Health increased by 3.5% (Fx & portfolio adj.) to €2,936 million in the first half of 2026, with business up in nearly all categories. However, growth was slowed by continued headwinds from a challenging market environment in the United States and a soft allergy, cough and cold season. We registered a sharp rise in sales in the Nutritionals category that was largely driven by very strong performance in the Natsana e-commerce business and significantly higher Elevit™ volumes in China. Dermatology sales were up against the prior-year period, mainly thanks to substantial gains for Bepanthen™ in Europe/Middle East/Africa and Latin America. Sales also advanced in the Pain & Cardio category, with growth mainly driven by higher Actron™ volumes and prices and in Latin America. The Digestive Health category registered an increase in sales that was primarily attributable to MiraLAX™ continuing to deliver significant gains in the United States. However, growth in this category was slowed by customers in China adapting their ordering behavior as a result of market consolidation. Sales in the Allergy & Cold category declined year on year, with business mainly impacted by a weak allergy, cough and cold season in the United States and Europe/Middle East/Africa.

Earnings

EBITDA before special items at Consumer Health decreased by 2.5% to €656 million in the first half of 2026. The decline in earnings was largely attributable to a negative currency effect of €35 million (H1 2025: €24 million). Earnings were also impacted by higher investments in marketing our innovative products as well as a slight increase in the cost of goods sold. These effects were only partially offset by the increase in sales, active cost management efforts, and a one-time gain from the sale of minor, nonstrategic brands. The EBITDA margin before special items declined by 0.7 percentage points to 22.3%.

EBIT came in at €465 million (H1 2025: €466 million) and did not include any special items (H1 2025: special charges of €16 million).