Lanxess gets profit boost as US customers stock up ahead of Trump presidency
German specialty chemicals maker Lanxess said on Monday it expected its fourth-quarter core profit to exceed market expectations by more than 20%, largely due to pre-buying by U.S. customers ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration given the threat of potential tariffs. Shares in Lanxess, which makes high-end speciality chemicals such as additives, lubricants, flame retardants and plastics, were up 6.4% in afternoon trading. "The fourth quarter was positively influenced by a stronger than expected December, in particular due to customers’ pre-buying," the company said in a statement, flagging that the underlying macroeconomic environment had not improved.