Tropical timber specialist Rougier has returned to profit and is predicting continued strong growth in 2011, according to full-year trading figures.
The French-based company, which previously reported an 11.2% jump in sales for 2010, posted pretax profits of €5.3m, compared with a €15.5m loss the year before.
All of its African processing plants mothballed during the downturn have been brought back into production and the company’s projections are for a 40% increase in production to 140,000m³.
The company said all its business lines have continued to pick up although the log export ban in Gabon had affected business there. Gross margin was up to 66.2% from 58%.
“Full-year revenues came to €138.7m, up 11.2% in relation to 2009,” a spokesperson said.
“The fourth quarter of 2010 saw a sustained level of business with sales coming in 20.5% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2009.”
Revenues for the France Import-Distribution business increased 6.3% while the African International Trade segment boosted revenues almost 10%.
