Lonza Group AG (SIX: LONN) issued a Q1 2026 trading update on 8 May 2026 confirming its full-year outlook and reporting that performance across the CDMO business tracked the H1-weighted growth profile management had set out at the January results. The release, published on the company’s investor news page, is the most recent primary disclosure from the group ahead of half-year results.
In the update, Lonza reaffirmed guidance of 11-12% sales growth at constant exchange rates for 2026 and a CORE EBITDA margin above 32%. The company flagged an estimated FX headwind of roughly minus 3.0% on reported sales, attributed to the carry-over weakening of the US dollar through 2025, and noted that the Vacaville mammalian drug-substance site acquired from Genentech is now fully integrated and has secured a fifth commercial contract. Lonza also pointed to continuing ramp-up of growth projects in Advanced Synthesis, covering Small Molecules and Bioconjugates, and to sustained momentum in the Microbial and Bioscience units within Specialised Modalities. The Q1 commentary did not introduce a new capex envelope; the 2025 figure of CHF 1.3 billion, equivalent to 19.6% of sales, remains the most recent disclosed annual outlay, with the previously announced Visp and Portsmouth expansions still in the build phase.
For inline analyzer suppliers, the relevant signal is duration rather than magnitude. A confirmed capex program tied to mammalian, microbial and small-molecule capacity across Visp, Portsmouth and Vacaville implies a steady tail of greenfield and brownfield instrumentation tenders through 2026 and into 2027, covering Raman, NIR, dielectric spectroscopy and bioreactor off-gas analysis. The Q1 update does not name PAT vendors or specify analyzer scope.