Investing.com -- bioMérieux on Thursday reported 12.7% organic sales growth in the first quarter of 2025, but shares fell over 4% as currency headwinds widened and sales in China fell.
Revenue for the quarter reached €1.098 billion, up 13.7% as reported from €965 million a year earlier.
The currency impact was a €11 million gain for the quarter, driven by a stronger US dollar, though full-year forecasts now expect a negative impact of €35 million to €40 million on current EBIT (CEBIT), up from €30 million previously.
Clinical applications, which accounted for 85% of total revenue, rose 13% year-on-year to €938 million.
Molecular biology led growth within the segment. BIOFIRE respiratory panels grew 21%, supported by a strong flu and respiratory virus season, especially in the US and EMEA.
Non-respiratory BIOFIRE panels rose 11%, with EMEA sales up more than 15%. The BIOFIRE installed base expanded by 600 units to 27,350.
SPOTFIRE installations increased by 1,400 during the quarter, reaching a total of more than 4,400 units—a 45% jump. The increase included a large one-off delivery in Japan under a government program. SPOTFIRE sales rose 166% to €54 million.
In microbiology, sales increased 4%, with growth in BACT/ALERT and VITEK product lines offsetting a decline in China, where hospital budgets remain under pressure.
Immunoassay revenue dropped 9%, affected by lower VIDAS PCT sales and the expansion of China’s Volume-Based Procurement policy.
Industrial applications, comprising 15% of total revenue, grew 9% year-on-year, led by strong demand for molecular reagents in pharmaceutical quality control. Food safety and quality saw mid-single-digit growth.
North America, representing 49% of total sales, posted a 19% increase, supported by gains across BIOFIRE reagents, SPOTFIRE, microbiology, and industrial products.
Latin America grew 14% organically, with over 20% growth in industrial applications and broad-based strength in clinical segments.
EMEA sales rose 6%, with 20% growth in BIOFIRE panels and 7% in industrial reagents, though microbiology sales slowed due to lower instrument demand.
Asia-Pacific grew 7%, supported by SPOTFIRE installations in Japan. China, accounting for 5% of group sales, reported a decline.
The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance of at least 7% sales growth and 10% CEBIT growth at constant scope and exchange rates.
bioMérieux said it is monitoring tariff developments closely, with exposure to US tariffs on 15% of its imported finished goods and some raw materials, and to Chinese tariffs on US imports.
“With almost 13% sales growth in the first quarter of 2025, bioMérieux is starting the year strongly,” said chief executive Pierre Boulud.
He added that the company launched several new products during the quarter, including the BIOFIRE GI-Mid panel in the US, the GENE-UP Typer for food safety, the VITEK COMPACT PRO in microbiology, and completed the SpinChip acquisition to expand in point-of-care testing.