EQS-News: SUSS expects significant improvement in order momentum in the fourth quarter

• Order intake remained muted in the third quarter at €70.0 million; increased order momentum expected for the fourth quarter
• Sales increased by 15.1% to €118.0 million in the third quarter and by 30.2% to €384.4 million after nine months
• Strict cost management has shown initial positive effects, but was unable to offset the decline in gross profit margin and EBIT margin

Garching, Germany, November 6, 2025 – SUSS MicroTec SE, a leading manufacturer of equipment and process solutions for the semiconductor industry, today confirmed the figures for the period from July to September already published in the ad hoc announcement on October 27, 2025, with the publication of its interim report for the third quarter of 2025.

Burkhardt Frick, CEO of SUSS, speaks of an “overall unsatisfactory third quarter” and points to order intake, which at €70.0 million (previous year: €84.0 million) was still “below the level of previous quarters.” The Advanced Backend Solutions segment once again contributed the majority of order intake with a solid €62.4 million – primarily with numerous orders for coaters and follow-up orders for temporary bonders and debonders and UV projection scanners, which are used in the manufacture of high-performance memory chips and AI chip modules. In the Photomask Solutions segment, order intake between July and September 2025 amounted to only €7.6 million (previous year: €16.3 million). In total, SUSS received orders worth €236.8 million in the first nine months (previous year: €276.2 million). “However, based on specific customer inquiries, we now expect a very significant upturn in the fourth quarter,” said Frick.

Sales reached €118.0 million in the third quarter, up 15.1% on the previous year's figure of €102.5 million. As expected, sales declined compared with previous quarters as a result of the comparatively low order volume in the first half of 2025. After nine months, sales rose by a total of 30.2% to €384.4 million (previous year: €295.3 million). With growth rates of 25.9% (Advanced Backend Solutions) and 40.5% (Photomask Solutions segment), both segments contributed to the growth achieved to date.

Gross profit rose to €137.9 million in the year to date as a result of higher sales volume (previous year: €116.8 million). SUSS thus achieved a gross profit margin of 35.9% in the first nine months of financial year 2025 (previous year: 39.6%). In the third quarter, the gross profit margin reached 33.1% (previous year: 39.0%), the lowest level in the current financial year to date. The main reasons for the low margin were additional expenses for rework during assembly and a temporary increase in customer ramp-up support efforts for already installed tools, an unfavorable product and customer mix, and a lower total output compared to previous quarters. These factors led to lower contributions to fixed cost coverage. In addition, there were expenses related to the new production site in Zhubei. The EBIT margin was 10.5% in the third quarter (previous year: 16.9%) and 14.1% after nine months (previous year: 16.1%).

Cost-cutting measures are effective – Management Board examines further options
Strict cost management limited research and development, sales, and administrative expenses to €27.3 million in the third quarter, compared with €32.5 million in the second quarter. Dr. Cornelia Ballwießer, CFO of SUSS, comments: “We expect to keep research and development, sales and administration expenses below €30 million in the fourth quarter as well, thanks to strict cost discipline. At the same time, we recognize that short-term measures are not sufficient to sustainably improve cost structures. We are therefore currently reviewing additional options.”

Short-term cost-cutting measures have also already been implemented in the global production network of SUSS. “We began reducing flexible production capacities in the summer by decreasing the number of temporary workers,” explains Dr. Thomas Rohe, COO of SUSS.

Outlook
The order book as of September 30, 2025, amounted to €276.1 million, of which tool orders worth around €140 million are scheduled for production and delivery in financial year 2026. Based on current production planning, the company expects sales in the range of €470 million to €510 million in 2025, as planned at the beginning of the year. Since the guidance adjustment on October 27, 2025, the gross profit margin is now expected to be in the range of 35 to 37% and the EBIT margin in the range of 11 to 13%. “In the fourth quarter, we will again have to cope with the additional financial burden of the recently opened new production site in Taiwan,” said Dr. Cornelia Ballwießer. “In addition, the product and customer mix will not improve in the fourth quarter, partly because customer projects with above-average margins have been postponed until 2026.”

The Interim Statement is available at www.suss.com/en/investor-relations in German and English. 

Media contact:
Sven Koepsel
Vice President Investor Relations and Communications
E-Mail: sven.koepsel@suss.com 
Tel.: +49 89 32007151

About SUSS
SUSS is a leading supplier of equipment and process solutions for microstructuring in the semiconductor industry and related markets. In close cooperation with research institutes and industry partners SUSS contributes to the advancement of next-generation technologies such as 3D Integration and nanoimprint lithography as well as key processes for MEMS and LED manufacturing. With a global infrastructure for applications and service SUSS supports more than 8,000 installed systems worldwide. SUSS is headquartered in Garching near Munich, Germany. The shares of SUSS MicroTec SE are traded in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange (ISIN DE000A10K0235). For more information, please visit suss.com.
 

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