Feb 07, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Botnia Group sales for 2006 were at Euro 1.3 billion, up 39% on the previous year’s figure of Euro 946.5 million. Operating profit was Euro 212.5 million, a substantial increase on the previous year’s figure of Euro 79.8 million. Sales and profit for the period were boosted largely by strong prices for market pulp, while the biggest negative impact resulted from the weakening of the dollar against the Euro. Pulp delivery volumes and mill utilization rates were much better than the year before, although the figures for 2005 were hit by the labour disputes that affected the industry during the spring. Sales for the fourth quarter were Euro 340.2 million, 6% lower than Euro 360.5 million for the third quarter. Operating profit was also down slightly at Euro 60.7 million versus Euro 63.2 million in third quarter. The reasons were the weaker dollar (down 1.3% against the Euro) and the slight fall in delivery volumes compared with the previous quarter. Market prices in foreign currency rose by 3% for softwood pulp and by 2% for hardwood pulp. The forest industry company Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab - marketing name Botnia - was founded in 1973, and it manufactures high quality bleached pulp grades under the name Botnia. Botnia is owned by M-real Oyj, Metsäliitto Osuuskunta, and UPM-Kymmene Oyj.