Metsä Group's sales for the 1Q 2016 were Euro 1.16 billion, compared to Euro 1.26 billion in 1Q 2015. Sales were reduced by the considerable decrease in Metsä Board’s non-core paper deliveries. The deliveries decreased to 15,000 tonnes from last year’s 156,000 tones.
The operating result excluding non-recurring items was Euro 109.5 million, or 9.5% of sales. The decrease in the operating result compared to the previous year is primarily due the lower market price of long-fibre pulp and the start-up of the new folding boxboard production line at Husum.
President and CEO Kari Jordan said: “The development of Metsä Group's business operations was as expected in the 1Q 2016. The operating result was affected by the slightly decreased price of pulp and the start-up phase of the new folding boxboard production line at Metsä Board’s Husum mill. The production line was inaugurated in April. The start-up has proceeded well and the required quality targets have already been met. The full production capacity is estimated to be reached by the end of this year.”
Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh forest fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers.
