Feb 04, 2009. /Lesprom.com/. Metso reports good profitability and increasing profit 2008 compared to 2007, but the order backlog at year-end 2008 was 6% lower than at the end of 2007, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. 2009 will be demanding for Metso, according to CEO Jorma Eloranta. Metso's net sales were Euro 6.4 billion (6.2 billion in 2007). Earnings before interest, tax and amortization were Euro 680 million (635 million). Operating profit was Euro 637 million (579 million). “I am satisfied with the development of our operating profit - our persistent work to improve profitability is yielding results. Our financial position continues to be satisfactory but our cash flow has a lot to improve," says Jorma Eloranta, CEO of Metso Corporation. Eloranta says that 2009 will be demanding for Metso because of the market situation. This will, in turn, mean decline of net sales and operating profit. The demand for paper, pulp and fiber lines is expected to be weak in 2009. The delivery schedules of some large paper and board machine and fiber line projects in Metso's order backlog have been prolonged. In the pulp and paper industry, low capacity utilization rates are expected to weaken the demand for Metso’s service business, particularly in North America and Europe. “We are taking actions to improve and secure competitiveness and profitability. We have already initiated measures to adjust our capacity and cost structure to an extended period of weak demand in several product areas. Unfortunately the actions will also mean reductions in the number of employees,” Eloranta says. Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries.