Ahlstrom January–June 2024 financial results
Helen Mets, President and CEO, comments on second quarter 2024:
Ahlstrom delivered another strong performance in Q2. Our profitability improved once again, while cash flow remains solid. Obsessed with our customers and the markets we serve; we launched several innovative new products − including fluorochemical-free filtration and paper-based pet food materials − to meet the growing need for safe and sustainable solutions. We also refined our strategy and streamlined our organization to accelerate our growth transformation. In addition, our Q2 pulse survey showed an increase in employee engagement. The latest engagement score places Ahlstrom close to the level of the top 10% of companies in the manufacturing industry. I am proud of the progress that we continue to deliver. During the second quarter, market activity continued to strengthen. Adjusted for Stenay divestiture deliveries increased compared to both the previous quarter and the previous year. Comparable EBITDA also grew, supported by an increasingly strong margin on variable cost per ton. This improvement can be attributed largely to our transformation initiatives, including disciplined price management and cost efficiency measures. Overall, cash flow remained solid, supported by the higher profitability, efficient working capital management, and sustainable lower capital expenditure.