Natural resources business area sales rose 4% to US$962 million for the 2019 period.

Clariant said its oil and mining services business had double-digit sales growth, while functional minerals was slower and additives dipped. It said oil and mining continued to expand in the September quarter, but sales in functional minerals decreased slightly due to a weak automotive sector and the Additives business "retreated significantly".

"Our nine months results reflect the resilience and quality of our continuing businesses, in particular in light of the worsening economic environment in the third quarter," Clariant executive chairman Hariolf Kottmann said.