The Villeroy & Boch Group has reported a satisfactory performance for the first quarter of 2026 despite ongoing geopolitical and economic pressures impacting global markets.
Group revenue for the period totalled €318.7 million, down 13.7% from €369.1 million in the same quarter last year. The company said performance was affected by the disposal of the northern European business operations of the Gustavsberg and Vatette brands, alongside adverse currency effects. Adjusted for these factors, revenue declined by 8.3
Despite softer sales, the Group reported a positive increase in its order book, which rose by €47.3 million to €197.7 million as of 31 March 2026. Operating EBIT reached €17.2 million for the quarter.
Dr Markus Warncke, chief financial officer of Villeroy & Boch AG, said: “The first quarter of 2026 was marked by a complex interplay of divestments and geopolitical tensions that affected our results. Despite these challenges, we were able to achieve positive developments in certain areas, such as the order book across both divisions and the e-commerce business in Dining & Lifestyle. This underscores the resilience of our business model and our strategic direction,” said
Bathroom & Wellness division affected by geopolitical pressures
The Bathroom & Wellness division achieved revenue of €248.0 million in Q1 2026, a year-on-year decline of 16.1% Adjusted for the divested Gustavsberg entities, revenue was down 9.9%.
Regionally, revenue fell by 15.6% across EMEA and by 23.2% in APAC/Americas, with the business citing divestments, economic weakness, the conflict in the Middle East and the slowdown in the Chinese construction sector as key factors. Operating EBIT for the division stood at €12.9 million.
Dining & Lifestyle division delivers stable result
The Dining & Lifestyle division delivered stable revenue of €70.0 million during the quarter. The company highlighted strong performances in e-commerce and its own retail stores, supported by Easter trading activity.
In Germany, revenue increased by 7.5%, driven primarily by e-commerce growth. Operating EBIT for the division rose slightly to €4.3 million.
Full-Year 2026 Outlook
Despite continued geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Villeroy & Boch has confirmed its full-year 2026 guidance. The company expects consolidated revenue to remain in the mid- to high-single-digit percentage range below the prior year.
However, the Executive Board now anticipates operating EBIT to be towards the lower end of its previously forecast range of €75 million to €85 million.