Swedish forest industry group Södra has trebled its profits to SKr702m for the first half of 2003.
Profits in the corresponding period last year were SKr230m. Net sales rose from SKr5.87bn to SKr6.7bn.
Södra Wood Products reported net sales of SKr1.56bn and operating profits of SKr55m. Supply of sawn timber is “currently good” and its 10 sawmills produced 711,000m3 of sawn timber.
Södra president and chief executive officer Anders Wahrolén said: “The results for the first half of 2003 are very good considering the continuing weak general economy.”
However, he said the market for both sawn timber and pulp was expected to be uncertain and weak for the second half, with an upturn in the world economy needed to achieve positive change.
