Metsä Group’s sales in 2017 totalled EUR 5,040.0 million, compared to Euro 4,657.9 in 2016. Sales grew by 8% from 2016. The growth was mainly due to higher delivery volumes and the higher sales price of pulp, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
FY 2017 comparable operating result grew by 29% from the previous year and was Euro 566.1 million, or 11.2% of sales. The operating result improved compared to the corresponding period in the previous year due to the positive development in the pulp and paperboard operations. Higher sales volumes improved the operating result in tissue and cooking papers. Exchange rate fluctuations including hedges had a positive effect of approximately Euro 15 million on the operating result for the financial period.
President and CEO Kari Jordan: “Metsä Group’ profitability in 2017 was good. Our result compared to the previous year improved particularly due to an increase in the price of pulp and positive development in the paperboard business. Our growth phase achieved many important milestones in 2017.”
Metsä Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers.
