Chemicals

Rated A-Z

Air Liquide	France	A-
Akzonobel	Netherlands	A+
Arkema	France	B+
BASF	Germany	A-
Bayer	Germany	A-
Centrica	UK	A-
Chemours	U.S.	C
Clariant	Switzerland	A-
DSM	Netherlands	B+
DuPont	U.S.	B-
Evonik Industries	Germany	B+
FMC	U.S.	B-
Huntsman	U.S.	C+
ICL	Israel	C
K+S	Germany	B
Lanxess	Germany	B+
Linde	Germany	B
Lonza	Switzerland	B+
Mitsubishi Chemical	Japan	B
Monsanto	U.S.	C+
Mosaic	U.S.	C+
Novozymes	Denmark	A
Nufarm	Australia	B-
PPG Industries	U.S.	C+
Praxair	U.S.	C+
Sabic	Saudi Arabia	C+
Sasol	South Africa	A
Solvay	Belgium	B+
Sumitomo Chemical	Japan	B+
Syngenta	Switzerland	B+
Uralkali	Russia	B+
Yara	Norway	B

Ranked

Screenshot of AkzoNobel's annual report 2016

Akzonobel	Netherlands	A+
Sasol	South Africa	A
Novozymes	Denmark	A
BASF	Germany	A-
Centrica	UK	A-
Bayer	Germany	A-
Clariant	Switzerland	A-
Air Liquide	France	A-
DSM	Netherlands	B+
Arkema	France	B+
Evonik Industries	Germany	B+
Solvay	Belgium	B+
Sumitomo Chemical	Japan	B+
Uralkali	Russia	B+
Lanxess	Germany	B+
Syngenta	Switzerland	B+
Lonza	Switzerland	B+
Linde	Germany	B
Yara	Norway	B
Mitsubishi Chemical	Japan	B
K+S	Germany	B
Nufarm	Australia	B-
DuPont	U.S.	B-
FMC	U.S.	B-
Praxair	U.S.	C+
Mosaic	U.S.	C+
Sabic	Saudi Arabia	C+
Monsanto	U.S.	C+
Huntsman	U.S.	C+
PPG Industries	U.S.	C+
Chemours	U.S.	C
ICL	Israel	C

Compared

Chart comparing chemical companies

Noticed

Akzonobel

With its very holistic approach to value creation, it remains a model of integrated and sustainability reporting, also well served by a user-friendly online format.

BASF

Factors influencing sales are shown very clearly while the considerable decline in some items isn’t concealed -yet put in perspective. They are among other good features in an intelligible and well-supported Management's Report.

Bayer

The CEO is pictured as CEO but signing as Chairman, and concluding on new strength to be injected into the European ideal while acquiring Monsanto (and having more shareholders in the U.S. than in Germany)? Hmm, commitment to social responsibility, perhaps... Yet this needs to be demonstrated. For the rest, a Bayer report as (informative and heavy) as usual.

Centrica

The online homepage may satisfy a few needs. The report itself is well introduced and delivers best on KPIs, business reviews -segmentation also looks clearer than at a few peers-, risks and uncertainties, and governance matters. Not bad for a tough year.

Clariant

A crystal-clear business model. The rest -i.e. the whole- is up to it.

DSM

Sustainability seems to be embedded in strategy, e.g. thanks to a specific Advisory Board. Clarity about reporting policy options.

DuPont

The last Annual Report -before the merger with Dow- doesn’t go further than a dull and conformist 10-K. The Data Book adds some value with figures yet some ratios may be questioned. The Sustainability Progress Report is short on real facts and slow to update.

FMC

Laudable efforts to make a 10-K more readable, but an unchanged structure means it’s just a halfway job.

K+S

An unexciting read. A report made in Deutschland über alles -neither worse nor better.

Lanxess

Another report that seems to have been written in corporate lingo and edited by consultants. However, it’s factual -check e.g. the Input-Output Balance Sheet and a solid Management Report- and charts are very legible. Why such an emphasis on last quarter in Key Data?

Linde

This report isn’t a real gas. And the arguments for a planned merger (of equals, of course) are mumbo-jumbo.

Mitsubishi Chemical

How to name it? MCHC? Mitsubishi Chemical? Kaiteki? Value creation and APTSIS (sic) are quite abstruse too. Dialog between CFO and Investor is commendable but makes a hard read.

Novozymes

An online report that works smoothly and effectively to deliver on many key reporting ingredients: e.g. Novozymes in a nutshell; key events; product launches; a nice business model exploration; and, last but not least, a strongly integrated approach.

Sasol

Value chain, operating model and refined legal structures (sic), both external and internal operating context, and value creation set out very clearly. Check out KPIs and risk factors, too.

Sumitomo Chemical

Perfect overview of business sectors and their contribution. 17 Sustainable Development Goals highlighted in a rather solid CSR book that includes a wealth of environmental data.

Uralkali

Key Performance Indicators that mean something.

Yara

With its extensive menu, is the digital version supposed to be more convenient to use? Actually, due to basic navigation facilities, it isn’t. Content is satisfying but not made most persuasive in the market context.

Best annual report 2017 badge