[24] Inventories

The reported inventories break down as follows: > TABLE 073

Inventories073

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.