Increase in energy and procurement costs
The calming of raw material prices that emerged at the end of 2022 has stabilized, but prices remain at a high level. Lower energy prices – which are still high compared to the initial level – influence DB Group directly or indirectly on many levels. Energy-oriented areas with a particular focus on materials in the infrastructure sector are also particularly affected (due, among other things, to the energy-intensive production of steel, cement and concrete). The expiration of price hedges, which could not be concluded again at the same level, also made itself felt in the first half of 2023.