Huhtamäki Oyj’s Half-yearly Report January 1–June 30, 2023: Stable performance in a challenging market
Q2 2023 in brief • Net sales decreased 8% to EUR 1,052 million (EUR 1,147 million) • Comparable net sales growth at Group level was -2% and -2% in emerging markets • The impact of currency movements on the Group’s net sales was EUR -38 million and EUR -3 million on EBIT. Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO: “The market environment remained muted in the second quarter of 2023, as inflation affected consumption across categories and geographies. Destocking also continued to impact volumes during the second quarter, although at a lower level than during the first quarter. Our financial performance in the second quarter was in line with the first quarter of 2023, however it was soft compared to last year. Market conditions remained challenging, resulting in lower sales volumes. Our comparable net sales decreased by 2% in the second quarter but remained stable during the first half of the year. Adjusted EBIT decreased by 10% in the second quarter and 8% during the first half of the year, mainly due to lower sales volumes and the divested operations in Russia. Free cash flow continued to improve, reaching EUR 28 million during the second quarter and EUR 71 million during the first half of the year, driven by reduced working capital.