Jul 24, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Swedish SCA announced on July 24, 2007 its results for the first half 2007. Net sales amounted to SEK 51.7 billion ($7.8 billion) compared to SEK 50.7 billion ($7.6 billion) in the first half 2006. Profit before tax amounted to SEK 3.9 billion ($587 million) compared to SEK 3.3 billion ($496.7 million) a year earlier. Net profit for the period amounted to SEK 3.0 billion ($451.5 million) versus SEK 2.5 billion ($376.3 million) in the first half 2006. Earnings per share amounted to SEK 4.26 ($0.6412) compared to SEK 3.53 ($0.5313), an improvement of 21%. Operating cash flow amounted to SEK 919 million ($138.3 million) versus SEK 712 million ($107.2 million) a year before. SCA president and CEO Jan Astrom comments on the results: "SCA's operations developed well during the second quarter. Profit for the period improved by 21% compared with the same period in the previous year and by 9% compared with the previous quarter. The price and volume trend for most of our operations was favourable. This, together with the intensive efforts currently under way to strengthen our customer offering and develop an even better customer and product mix, resulted in revenue improvements that well exceeded the increased raw material costs. In my opinion we will continue to see stable development during the autumn with good demand. At the same time, raw material costs will continue to rise." Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) is a global consumer goods and paper company that develops, produces and markets personal care products, tissue, packaging solutions, publication papers and solid-wood products. Sales are conducted in some 90 countries. SCA has annual sales in excess of SEK 101 billion (Euro 11 billion) and production facilities in more than 40 countries. SCA had approximately 51 000 employees at the beginning of 2007. SCA shares are traded on the Stockholm, London and New York stock exchanges.