During the Period, the Group’s total sales volume reached a new height at approximately 6.36 million tonnes, exceeding the expected target, bringing approximately RMB15,686.5 million in sales, increasing by 6.6% as compared with the corresponding period of the last financial year.
Gross profit margin was approximately 13.5%. Profit for the period decreased by 28.7% to approximately RMB 700.8 million ($111.7 million). Basic earnings per share were approximately RMB 0.15. The Board has declared and approved an interim dividend of RMB 2.0 cents per share.
The Group's total design production capacity has now reached 13.73 million tpa. This includes PM 37 at the new Shenyang base which completed its construction and commenced production in September 2014. The Group has basically accomplished its strategic production roadmap for this stage. According to the current production capacity plan, PM 2 (VN) at the Vietnam base and PM 39 at the Shenyang base will be completed and commence production in 2016 and 2017, respectively. By the end of 2016, the Group's total design production capacity will exceed 14 million tpa.
Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited is the largest containerboard product producer in China and Asia (including Japan), and one of the largest producers in the world, in terms of design capacity. The Group primarily manufactures and sells linerboard, high performance corrugating medium and certain types of coated duplex board.