Aug 09, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Ahlstrom's 2Q 2012 net sales decreased by 2.5% to Euro 413.2 million, compared with Euro 423.7 million in the 2Q 2011. The decline was mainly due to lower sales volumes, capacity closures and weaker product mix. A favorable currency effect, mainly as the U.S. dollar appreciated against the Euro, had a positive impact on net sales. Higher selling prices were offset by a weaker product mix, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. Ahlstrom's 2Q 2012 operating profit was Euro 7.4 million, including non-recurring items of Euro -5.7 million. The non-recurring items include a cost of approximately Euro 2.8 million related to the closure of a Filtration plant in Spain. Operating profit excluding non-recurring items was Euro 13.2 million. In April-June 2012, the loss for the period including discontinued operations was Euro 0.8 million. Earnings per share were Euro -0.05. In January-June 2012, net sales decreased by 3.2% to Euro 819 million, compared with Euro 846.2 million in the comparison period. The decline was mainly due to lower sales volumes and capacity closures. A favorable currency effect, mainly as the U.S. dollar appreciated against the euro, had a positive impact on net sales. Higher selling prices were offset by a weaker product mix. In January-June 2012, operating profit was Euro 24.5 million, including non-recurring items of Euro -6 million. Operating profit excluding non-recurring items was Euro 30.5 million. In January-June 2012, the profit for the period including discontinued operations was Euro 7 million. Earnings per share were Euro 0.10. Label and Processing segment's 2Q net sales in April-June 2012 fell by 5.5% to Euro 173 million, compared with Euro 183.2 million in April-June 2011 due to a weaker product mix and lower selling prices in certain segments. Release liners, such as clay coated papers and applications using Acti-V(TM) technology, supported net sales. Operating profit excluding non-recurring items was Euro 4.2 million. The result was negatively impacted by the depreciation of the euro mainly against the U.S. dollar, a weaker product mix, and higher energy costs in Brazil. Streamlining measures taken at the Jacarei plant in Brazil and the Osnabrück plant in Germany had a positive impact on profitability. Operating profit amounted to Euro 4.2 million. In January-June 2012, net sales were Euro 341.5 million and operating profit excluding non-recurring items was Euro 10 million. Ahlstrom is a global leading producer of release papers, counting on the widest product range on the market, for any PSA application. Its release papers are manufactured in Europe and South America and are part of the offering of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business area.