[25] Inventories
The reported inventories break down as follows: > TABLE 073
Inventories |
|
073 |
in € million |
2017 |
2016 |
Materials and supplies |
185.2 |
158.0 |
Work in progress |
109.0 |
105.3 |
Finished goods and merchandise |
459.0 |
396.5 |
Advances paid |
15.4 |
12.6 |
Total inventories |
768.6 |
672.4 |
The year-on-year expansion in inventories was largely attributable to increases in materials and supplies (17.2 per cent), work in progress (3.5 per cent) and finished goods (15.8 per cent). In 2017, write-downs of €18.0 million were recognised on inventories (2016: €17.8 million). Reversals of write-downs had to be recognised in the amount of €7.5 million (2016: €3.2 million) because the reasons for the write-downs no longer existed.