Double digit growth for Rohm and Haas

Rohm and Haas have reported full-year 2003 sales of $6.421 billion, representing a 12% increase over 2002, with organic growth of approximately 4%, currencies accounting for approximately 5%, and acquisitions representing 2%. The organic growth was across most of the businesses. Full year earnings were $280 million. 'Our 2003 performance was a substantial improvement over the previous year and reflects the continued emphasis on growth through new product introduction and our strong global presence, the benefit of favourable currencies, and productivity improvements we are implementing throughout the organisation, which more than offset the higher costs associated with raw materials, energy and general inflation-related increases', said Raj L Gupta, chairman and chief executive officer. 'With growth and productivity improvements our key focus again this year, together with improvements in the external global economy and a strong recovery in the electronics market, we are well positioned for an even stronger 2004', he said.