German cosmetics producer Beiersdorf closed the second quarter of 2026 with a 4.5 percent drop in reported revenue, which reached 4.95 billion euros. Management pointed to weak sales of its flagship brand Nivea as the main reason behind the weaker quarterly performance.
The company, whose portfolio includes Nivea, Eucerin and La Prairie, said organic sales decreased by 3.5 percent year on year in the April-June period. This was yet another quarterly slide for the German group. The steeper decline in reported terms was caused by the appreciation of the euro against other currencies, which translated into negative foreign-exchange effects.
Adjusted operating margin came in at 15.5 percent, 0.6 percentage points below the level recorded a year earlier. Earnings per share reached 2.55 euros, compared with 2.54 euros in the same period of 2025.
Fresh spending on Nivea
Nivea remains at the center of the company’s difficulties. Beiersdorf has already implemented an 18-month support plan for the brand, but this has not been enough to restore its competitiveness in the market.
Management now plans to increase consumer spending to revive sales of Nivea products. – Our priority is to return to growth in 2027 and ensure profitability in 2028 – said Vincent Warnery, CEO of Beiersdorf, quoted in the company’s press release.
The group also warned that both sales and operating margin for the full year are likely to be lower. According to Beiersdorf, competitive pressure in the cosmetics market and the expansion of discount chains offering low prices are among the main reasons for the expected slide.
Beiersdorf’s Polish footprint
In Poland, Beiersdorf operates through three major entities: NIVEA Polska, Beiersdorf Manufacturing Poznań and Beiersdorf Shared Services Poland. The factory in Poznań produces around 216 million packages of cream every year, which amounts to roughly 17,000 tonnes.
Source: WNP.PL, Photo: press materials / NIVEA Polska
