Rougier recorded Euro 35.7 million in revenues for the 1Q 2016, down 8.5% from the 1Q 2015, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
The Rougier Afrique International branch’s conventional shipments were penalized by the limited number of ships heading for Asia that stopped off at Douala Port, with certain deliveries of logs from Cameroon and Congo postponed to the 2Q.
This significant impact was partially offset by the improvement in business in Gabon, benefiting from buoyant local demand and the upturn in the European market for plywood and veneers. The France Import-Distribution branch has continued moving forward with its strategy to develop more in-depth product ranges and recorded an improvement in sales in a French market that is recovering.
The changes in the product mix reflect the weak contribution by log sales faced with the slowdown in Asian demand linked to the general economic climate, with its impacts compounded by certain deliveries being deferred to the second quarter. Sales of processed products (84.5% of quarterly revenues) have benefited from growth in volumes and a more favorable timber species mix, making it possible to offset the drop in prices for certain wood species. Plywood and veneers have achieved stronger progress.
Rougier Group is a market leader for certified African tropical timber. The Group has three core business lines: Rougier Afrique International (natural forest harvesting, industrial processing and international trade), Importing and distribution in France of timber from all origins (including Rougier Sylvaco Panneaux) and Plantations (research, management and investment in industrial forest plantations in Africa).
