Notwithstanding a persistently tricky trading backdrop across the first half of 2026, marked by fluctuating energy and raw material costs, muted worldwide consumer appetite and fiercer rivalry emanating from Asia, the Lenzing Group delivered a markedly encouraging outcome.
Net profit after tax more than doubled, reaching €35.6 million against €15.2 million a year earlier. Free cash flow climbed to €45.8 million, while EBITDA reached €239.2 million in the first six months of 2026, versus €268.6 million in the corresponding stretch a year prior, whilst turnover totalled €1.27 billion.
“Our figures for the opening half of 2026 show that our commercial drives and tight grip on costs are paying off. They likewise confirm both the need for, and the promise held by, our strategic overhaul. Through ‘Grow Nonwovens, Reset Textiles’, we are building the groundwork for a structurally more profitable and durable Lenzing Group,” notes Mathias Breuer, CFO of the Lenzing Group.
“The dip in turnover versus the first half of 2025 stemmed chiefly from the deliberate paring back of low-margin fibre volumes and the consequent drop in fibre output, together with softer income from the external pulp trade,” Breuer added.
Set against the first quarter of 2026, turnover climbed from €615.7 million to €651.7 million in the second quarter of 2026, buoyed by focused sales drives, notably steady pricing measures.
Against the opening quarter of 2026, EBITDA rose from €116.3 million to €123 million in the second quarter of 2026, highlighting the Group’s emphasis on lastingly boosting profitability.
The EBITDA margin settled at 18.9% as against prior year’s 20%. Earnings were bolstered by steady rollout of the performance programme and favourable one-off effects.
“The fresh “Grow Nonwovens, Reset Textiles” strategy builds upon the operational headway made in recent months and firmly steers the company toward profitable expansion, greater resilience and focused market niches,” the Austrian cellulose fibre producer said in a press release.
“The strategy seeks to further grow the nonwovens arm organically, sharpen the textiles arm’s focus on differentiated premium market niches and strategic customer alliances, and further bolster the pulp and biorefinery arm,” it added.
With the consolidation of fibre production sites sanctioned by the Management Board on July 27, 2026, Lenzing is speeding up the Group’s strategic overhaul and rolling out decisive steps to position the company for lasting success within a fundamentally altered market backdrop. In so doing, Lenzing is building the groundwork for profitable expansion and a still more resilient and focused Lenzing Group.
Having already delivered savings exceeding €200 million during the 2025 financial year, Lenzing is rolling out further efficiency measures in 2026. The focused Performance Programme targets savings of €120 million versus the 2025 cost base, intended to have their full earnings impact by the close of 2027.
