The Zeiss Group closed fiscal year 2019/20 (balance sheet date: September 30, 2020) with a slight decline in revenue and operating profit: Revenue reached Euro 6.3 billion (-2% compared to the previous year), while EBIT landed at Euro 922 million (-13% compared to the previous year). Around 90% of the decline in sales was attributable to markets outside Germany. Order intake grew to 6.8 billion euros (previous year: 6.6 billion euros).

Automotive and aerospace industries drag down industrial metrology business

The industrial metrology business of the Industrial Quality & Research division felt the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic particularly keenly, as it intensified structural and technological change, especially in the automotive industry. The aerospace market was also hit hard. Thanks to the expansion of the customer base, the 3D optical metrology business was maintained at virtually the same level as the previous year. The microscopy business declined slightly overall. There was an increase in demand from the life sciences and pharmaceuticals. International researchers are using microscopes from Zeiss to investigate the coronavirus and its spreading mechanisms. Overall, the Industrial Quality & Research Division generated sales of EUR 1.640 billion, around 6% less than in the previous fiscal year.

"Overall, we were able to achieve a good business result for the ZEISS Group, also thanks to our broad portfolio and global positioning. We see this as an outstanding performance by our employees - in extraordinary times," said Dr. Karl Lamprecht, CEO of Zeiss.

At the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2020), Zeiss employed 32,201 people worldwide, 3% more than one year earlier.