[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.