Brenntag (ETR:BNR) said its first-quarter 2026 results reflected a slow start to the year followed by a sharp improvement in March as volatility tied to the crisis in the Middle East lifted pricing and prompted some customers to rebuild inventories.
On the company’s earnings call, Chief Operating Officer Jens Birgersson said he was “satisfied” with the quarter despite weak activity in January and February, when volumes were down about 5%. He said the company had expected difficult comparisons after a strong first quarter in the prior year, but market conditions changed quickly after the outbreak of the Iran crisis at the end of February.
