wienerberger – Trading update: continued weak demand and further inflation-driven cost increases – wienerberger adjusts full-year guidance
- Persistently challenging market conditions, particularly in the UK and North American markets
- Weak residential new-build activity continues to outweigh relatively more stable developments in renovation and infrastructure
- Additional sales initiatives and enhanced optimization measures did not fully mitigate accelerating cost inflation as of the end of August
- Q3 revenue expected at approximately €1.2-1.3 billion and operating EBITDA at approximately €170-180 million
- Full-year guidance for operating EBITDA adjusted to between €640-650 million
- Further acceleration of cost optimization measures underway in order to strengthen the company’s profitability and lower its leverage
- In addition, the interim CEO and his team are undertaking a strategic review across its businesses to best position wienerberger for the future
Vienna – In the third quarter of the current financial year, the seasonal uplift in construction activity following the summer holiday period for September was less pronounced than anticipated and fell short of expectations. In particular, residential new-build activity in the UK as well as in the US and Canada remains under pressure, while renovation and infrastructure are developing comparatively more steadily. This resulted in continued lower demand and utilization of production facilities across several areas of wienerberger. At the same time, energy, raw materials and logistic costs increased significantly starting from the end of August. wienerberger responded decisively by introducing additional sales initiatives and price increases as well as accelerated cost and efficiency improvements. However, these measures did not fully mitigate the additional cost inflation in the third quarter, but will start to progressively take effect.
Gerhard Hanke, Interim CEO of wienerberger: “The company is operating in a challenging market environment, and, as I take the helm of the company, fundamental decisions must be taken. I firmly believe in the underlying strength of wienerberger’s businesses, which have clear potential to create significant value going forward. Nonetheless, following a cold-eye review of our current performance, we need to adjust the FY 26 guidance to €640-650 million.
To strengthen wienerberger’s profitability, lower its leverage towards our goal for financial discipline and step up the returns of its assets, we have initiated the acceleration and enhancement of ongoing cost optimization measures. Furthermore, we have kick-started a strategic review, and we are developing a comprehensive set of strategic initiatives to address the challenges that we face. Through these actions we are further enhancing the company’s resilience and competitiveness and ensuring we are optimally positioned to benefit from a recovery in demand.”
“We have initiated the acceleration and enhancement of ongoing cost optimization measures. Furthermore, we have kick-started a strategic review, and we are developing a comprehensive set of strategic initiatives to address the challenges that we face.”
Gerhard Hanke
Interim CEO of wienerberger

© Daniel Hinterramskogler
The Results report for the first nine months of 2026 will be published as planned on November 12, 2026. On that day wienerberger will also provide an update on the strategic review and the accelerated cost optimization initiatives.
Sourcewienerberger
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More information on wienerberger AG: See the full profile on EMR Executive Services
More information on Gerhard Hanke (Chief Operating Officer, Central & East, wienerberger AG + Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board, wienerberger AG + Interim Chief Executive Officer, wienerberger): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services
More information on Dagmar Steinert (Chief Financial Officer, wienerberger AG): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services
More information on Harald Schwarzmayr (Chief Operating Officer, Europe West, wienerberger AG + Chief Executive Officer, Pipelife, wienerberger): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services
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- The wienerberger First Half-Year Report 2026 can be found here: https://www.wienerberger.com/content/dam/corp/corporate-website/downloads/investors-downloads/2026/20260812-wienerberger-H1-2026-Report.pdf
- The wienerberger First Half-Year Presentation 2026 can be found here: https://www.wienerberger.com/en/investors/latest-results.html
- The wienerberger 2025 Annual Report can be found here: https://annualreport.wienerberger.com/2025/_assets/downloads/entire-wb-ar25.pdf?h=ZfVgaYxt
- The wienerberger Investor Presentation (November 2025) can be found here: https://www.wienerberger.com/content/dam/corp/corporate-website/downloads/investors-downloads/2025/20251126%20-%20wienerberger%20investor%20presentation%20Q1-3%202025.pdf
- The wienerberger 2024 Annual Report can be found here: https://annualreport.wienerberger.com/2024/
- The wienerberger 2024 Report can be found here: https://www.wienerberger.com/content/dam/corp/corporate-website/downloads/investors-downloads/2024/20250226-wienerberger-FY-2024-Report.pdf
- The wienerberger 2024 Group Results Presentation can be found here: https://www.wienerberger.com/content/dam/corp/corporate-website/downloads/investors-downloads/2024/20250226-wienerberger-FY-2024-Presentation.pdf
- The wienerberger 2023 Annual Report can be found here: https://annualreport.wienerberger.com/2023/
- The wienerberger Annual Financial Report 2023 (only in German) can be found here: https://www.wienerberger.com/content/dam/corp/corporate-website/downloads/investors-downloads/2023/2023-wienerberger-Jahresfinanzbericht.pdf
- The wienerberger 2022 Annual Report can be found here: https://annualreport.wienerberger.com/2022/
- The wienerberger 2021 Annual Report can be found here: https://annualreport2021.wienerberger.com/index.html

