Stora Enso half-year report January-June 2017: Positive contribution from transformation projects accelerates
Q2/2017 (year-on-year): • Sales of EUR 2 528 (EUR 2 526) million increased marginally despite the divestment of paper mills. • Sales excluding the paper business increased 7.1%. • Operational EBIT decreased from EUR 226 million to EUR 219 million. This was mainly due to the impact of higher maintenance costs of EUR 15 million compared to a year ago. The operational EBIT margin was 8.7% (8.9%). • Balance sheet strengthened further; net debt to operational EBITDA was 2.0 (2.2) despite a dividend payment. • The ramp-up of Beihai Mill continues to proceed ahead of plan, and it is expected to reach operational EBITDA break-even in Q4/2017, one quarter earlier than previously forecast. • Varkaus kraftliner mill is expected to reach full production during the second half of 2017. A positive quarterly operational EBIT was achieved in Q2/2017. • Stora Enso signed today an agreement to divest its holding in the equity accounted investment Bulleh Shah Packaging Ltd. to the main owner Packages Ltd. Q1–Q2/2017 (year-on-year): • Sales of EUR 5 025 million increased 1.1%. Sales excluding the paper business increased 8.3%. • Operational EBIT of EUR 434 million decreased 8.4%, mainly due to increased maintenance costs. Click Read More below for additional details.