Aug 04, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Myllykoski’s consolidated net sales for January-June 2010 totalled Euro 530 million, which is 15.9% less than in the corresponding period in 2009 (Euro 631 million). The decrease in net sales was due to the sale of the Utzenstorf and Alsip mills in 2009, as well as to low paper prices in the first half of 2010. Total deliveries in January-June 2010 amounted to 878,000 tonnes, compared to 945,000 in the corresponding period in 2009, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. The operating profit in January-June 2010 was Euro 1 million, which represents 0.3% of net sales. The operating profit for the first six months of 2009 was Euro 38 million. The operating profit for 2010 includes a profit of Euro 19 million from the sale of a hydro power plant in Madison, USA. The operating loss was Euro 18 million without non-recurring items. In addition to low paper prices, the result was weakened by the prices of pulp and recycled fibre, which were significantly higher than in the previous year. The loss before tax for January-June 2010 amounted to Euro 11 million, compared with a profit of Euro 1 million in January-June 2009. The loss before tax without non-recurring items for January-June 2010 was Euro 30 million. The loss for January-June 2010 was Euro 7 million, compared with a profit of Euro 1 million in the corresponding period in 2009. The result without non-recurring items was negative, representing a loss of Euro 25 million. The Group’s equity ratio on 30 June 2010 was 26.7%, compared with 29.7% a year earlier. The equity ratios with the capital loans included in the shareholders' equity were 30.7% and 33.8%. Myllykoski is a family-owned international paper group with manufacturing in Finland, Germany and the United States and sales offices around the world.