[24] Inventories
The reported inventories break down as follows: > TABLE 073
in € million |
2019 |
2018 |
|---|---|---|
Materials and supplies |
276.6 |
284.2 |
Work in progress |
143.3 |
132.3 |
Finished goods and merchandise |
638.5 |
550.6 |
Advances paid |
26.9 |
27.8 |
Total inventories |
1,085.3 |
994.8 |
The year-on-year rise in inventories was largely attributable to the volume-related increase in finished goods and in work in progress. There was a small countervailing decrease in materials and supplies.
In 2019, write-downs of €26.6 million were recognised on inventories (2018: €25.3 million). Reversals of write-downs were recognised in an amount of €8.8 million (2018: €6.5 million) because the reasons for the write-downs no longer existed.