Sartorius returns to a path of profitable growth in 2025

According to preliminary figures, Sartorius AG, Göttingen (Germany) reported a significant increase in revenue and earnings last year. Group sales grew by 7.6% at constant exchange rates to around EUR 3.54 billion, and the laboratory equipment supplier was also able to further improve its margin. Sartorius thus not only achieved a return to solid growth following the industry-wide demand dip of previous years, but also an over-proportional increase in profitability.

Growth was driven primarily by the high-margin, recurring consumables business. In both Group divisions, revenues from consumables increased noticeably, while the more cyclical business with equipment and instruments stabilised over the course of the year but has not yet fully recovered. All sales regions contributed to growth, with particularly strong increases in the Americas and the Asia/Pacific region.

Bioprocess Solutions as the key growth engine

The Bioprocess Solutions division, which generates more than three quarters of Group revenue, confirmed its role as the most important earnings pillar in 2025. Revenue increased by 9.5% at constant exchange rates to EUR 2.87 billion. The main driver was the continued strong demand for consumables such as filters and single-use components for biopharmaceutical production. These products structurally benefit from the growing demand for biologics and new therapeutic modalities.

By contrast, the bioprocess equipment business remained subdued due to the still cautious investment activity of many customers, although it showed signs of bottoming out over the course of the year. All the more remarkable, therefore, is that despite weaker demand, internal efficiency efforts already had a strong impact, as reflected in the significant increase in the division’s EBITDA margin to 31.7%.

Strategically, Sartorius remains on course here: the company continues to invest selectively in technologies for process intensification, continuous manufacturing processes and more sustainable solutions, such as PFAS-free filters and the use of renewable raw materials. New software and analytics offerings, as well as collaborations in the field of cell and gene therapy, complement the portfolio.

Laboratory division stabilises – Mattek strengthens future field of organoids

The smaller Lab Products & Services division proved resilient in 2025 in a challenging market environment. While overall revenue stagnated, the division returned to a moderate growth path in the second half of the year. In particular, the business with laboratory consumables and services developed positively, while the instruments business remained under pressure.

With the acquisition of the micro-tissue and organoid specialist Mattek, Sartorius has selectively strengthened its position in the strategically important field of advanced cell models. Organoids and 3D cell cultures are regarded as key technologies for drug discovery and are also gaining importance against the backdrop of reducing animal testing. Although the acquisition weighed on the division’s margin in the short term, it underlines the long-term focus on research-driven growth fields.

Strategy remains consistent – resilience and organic growth

Overall, the business performance does not signal a strategic change of course, but rather a confirmation of the existing strategy. Sartorius continues to focus on organic growth, a strong emphasis on recurring revenues and the targeted expansion of its global research and production infrastructure. In 2025, the company invested EUR 442 million, including in the expansion of bioprocess production in Europe and Asia.

The improved earnings situation also strengthens the balance sheet: the equity ratio increased and the debt ratio declined further. This gives Sartorius additional financial leeway to remain capable of acting even in a volatile market environment.

For 2026, the Group expects constant-currency revenue growth of 5 to 9% and a further improvement in margins to above 30%. The consumables business is likely to remain the most important growth driver, while a gradual recovery is expected for equipment and instruments.

Macroeconomic uncertainties, geopolitical risks and possible additional tariffs remain burdening factors. At the same time, Sartorius – like the industry as a whole, including CDMOs – continues to benefit from long-term trends such as rising demand for biologics. This is counterbalanced by cost pressure in healthcare systems and the increasing outsourcing of complex manufacturing steps. However, as a supplier of consumables to production sites around the world, the structure of the users is of lesser importance as long as more and more bioprocesses are being integrated into industrial manufacturing lines everywhere. Sartorius is also active in the growing field of laboratory-based production of animal feed and food. Against this backdrop, the company sees itself as strategically well positioned to continue its path of profitable growth