Oct 20, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Finnish consumer and specialty packaging company Huhtamaki Oyj reported on Thursday a 2005 third-quarter earnings per share of Euro 0.20, down from Euro 0.24 a year ago. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the period ended September 30, fell to Euro 33 million, down 12% from Euro 38 million and includes a restructuring charge of Euro 10 million. The company said that raw material prices during the quarter remained on average at a similar level against the same period in 2004. However, Huhtamaki said that while polymer-based raw material prices eased off from April 2005 peak levels, they resumed their sharp upward trend towards the end of the quarter. Sales for the quarter ended September 30, rose to Euro 573 million, up 7% from Euro 534 million a year ago, and was boosted by price and mix changes, currency translations and volume growth. Sales growth accelerated in the Americas and Asia-Oceania-Africa, while growth in Europe was more modest, it said. The underlying group EBIT improved by 14% to Euro 43 million, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 7.5%, up from 7.1% in the year-ago period. The improvement was mainly driven by the significant turnaround in the Americas. Huhtamaki is one of the world’s largest packaging companies and one of the few truly global players. Its focus and expertise is in paper, plastic, films and molded fiber.