The group posted operating profits of SKr883m between January and June, up from SKr596m a year ago. Sales also grew to SKr9.2bn from SKr8.2bn.
Södra’s timber division produced a record 911,000m3 of timber during the period, compared with 788,000m3 a year ago. The proportion of planed goods was up 1%.
“Despite Hurricane Per we can see that we’ve managed to keep our productivity work in the mills, where we’re on track to achieve our long-term objective of 2% annual productivity improvement,” said Södra president and CEO Leif Brodén.
During the first half of 2007, Södra implemented 532 improvement proposals and invested SKr695m in assuring its long-term competitiveness.
The group’s logging division, Södra Skog, has focused on managing the effects of Hurricane Per so far during 2007. Prior to mid-year it had processed an estimated 6.9 million m3 (underbark) of storm wood from a contracted total of 7.5 million m3 (underbark). The processing has been helped buy 130 extra trucks and 100 extra felling groups.
