9 – Other operating expenses
In EUR mn |
|
|
|
2020 |
2019 |
|---|---|---|
Foreign exchange losses from operating activities |
135 |
67 |
Losses on disposals of businesses, subsidiaries, tangible and intangible assets |
8 |
14 |
Losses from fair value changes of financial assets |
(0) |
5 |
Net impairment losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost |
12 |
33 |
Personnel reduction schemes |
39 |
26 |
Research and development expenses |
61 |
49 |
Residual other operating expenses |
134 |
128 |
Other operating expenses |
389 |
322 |
Foreign exchange losses from operating activities in 2020 and 2019 were mainly impacted by USD development.
Net impairment losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost were mainly related to impairments for receivables in Tunisia amounting to EUR 9 mn (2019: EUR 18 mn). The 2019 impairments were triggered by a reassessment of future production.
The increase in Research and development expenses was largely owing to Borealis group. For further details on the acquisition of additional shares in Borealis AG see Note 3 – Changes in group structure.
Residual other operating expenses contained expenses relating to various digitalization initiatives amounting to EUR 36 mn (2019: EUR 44 mn) as well as storage expenses related to Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft m.b.H. in amount of EUR 56 mn (2019: EUR 53 mn).