World News | 9
Nordic mills post strong annual results
Nordic forest products operations have reported strong performances, despite the disruptions caused by the global health crisis.
Bergs Timber’s full year (January 1-December 31 2020) results show net sales increased 5% to SEK2.149bn, mainly related to higher sales volumes for processed wood products.
The fourth quarter was particularly strong, with net sales increasing by 38% to SEK558m. The higher net sales were related to higher sales volumes and higher sales prices. Peter Nilsson, Bergs’ chief executive officer, said deliveries and order intake remained strong for most of the Group’s products. He singled out demand for sawn and planed wood products, which was “unexpectedly strong” in the second half of 2020, treated wood and garden products, and window and door production. Holmen’s year-end report shows net sales down on 2019 – from SEK16.959bn to SEK16.327bn – but operating profit up on the previous year – from SEK2.345bn to SEK2.479bn. Higher wood product prices
Approval for West Fraser/Norbord deal
West Fraser’s US$3.1bn takeover of Norbord has obtained final approval from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List). Vancouver-based West Fraser, one of the largest lumber producers in North America, will be acquiring the largest OSB manufacturer in the world in an acquisition which West Fraser says will expand its product and geographic diversity.
The two companies announced they had entered into a strategic business combination on November 19 and after completion the combined company would operate as West Fraser. West Fraser intends to retain all Norbord mills in North America and Europe, and rely on the skills and experience of current Norbord management and employees to continue to grow the engineered wood business.
□ Despite the pandemic, the European parquet flooring market managed to remain flat in 2020, led by renovation and its increased use of real wood flooring, according to European body FEP.
and lower production costs in paperboard had a positive effect on earnings, said the company.
“Despite a major planned maintenance shutdown, the year ended on a strong note with an operating profit of SEK595m in the fourth quarter, said Henrik Sjölund, Holmen’s chief executive officer. Setra has reported operating profit of SEK117m (2019: SEK8m) for 2020. Net sales totalled SEK4.13bn (2019: SEK4.26bn).
The company generated operating profit of SEK61m (2019: SEK-87m) for Q4, 2020, with net sales of SEK1.08bn (2019: SEK1bn).
Setra’s earnings improvement of
SEK109m for 2020, compared with the previous year, was achieved by lower raw material prices, positive exchange rate effects, lower fixed costs and higher delivery volumes.
“Demand in the autumn has been healthy in our markets and these conditions are set to persist into the start of 2021,” said Katarina Levin, Setra’s CEO. Stora Enso saw a 4.6% growth in its
Carrefour du Bois postponed to 2022
After postponing the show twice due to the pandemic, the organisers of the Carrefour International du Bois have now delayed holding it until next year.
The biennial all-timber exhibition will
take place at the Parc Beaujoire in Nantes, France from June 1-3, 2022. It was originally scheduled to take place in May 2020 and was first postponed until February 2021, then to May this year. But the Covid-19 situation led the organisers to conclude that it was best to hold off for another 12 months.
“The safety of our exhibitors and visitors is our primary concern and this and recent government decisions in France persuaded the bureau of Atlanbois, comprising professionals from the forestry and wood industry, not to hold the event this year,” said the organisers.
They added that they were confident they could count on the “solidarity of exhibitors, visitors and partners” for the 2022 exhibition.
The last Carrefour broke records, with exhibitor numbers at an all-time high of 560, 37% from outside France, and show space 6% bigger. Attendence was up 10% at 11,500, with 29% from outside France.
operational earnings (EBITDA) in 2020 to €160m (2019: €153m). Sales were down 11.7% in 2020, while product deliveries were down 7.3% to 4.4 million m3
. Annica Bresky, Stora Enso president and
CEO, said the company’s wood products division delivered the second best Q4 results in the company’s history – with operational EBITDA of €44m (2019 Q4: €26m) – a 69% improvement. At SCA net sales in January-December 2020 declined 6% to SEK18.41bn (2019: SEK19.591m). The fall in sales was attributed to lower selling prices, which was partly offset by higher delivery volumes.
In the fourth quarter, however, net sales increased 6% to SEK4.592bn (2019: SEK4.338bn), mainly due to higher delivery volumes.
The company notes that the market for solid-wood products remained strong during the quarter, driven by high demand in the building materials trade in the US, Scandinavia, UK and the rest of northern Europe. Market prices increased compared with the preceding period.
Lunawood breaks company records
Finnish ThermaWood producer Lunawood is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a record company performance in 2020 despite the global pandemic. “Lunawood achieved considerable international growth in 2020, with over 13% increase in our turnover,” said Arto Halonen, chief executive officer. The company, which has an annual revenue of €55.5m and production capacity of 155,000m3
, said it would carry out an
ambitious investment programme during the spring of 2021.
For its factory in Kaskinen, it will invest in a new thermo treatment kiln, a sticking and stacking plant and a sprinkler system covering the whole factory area.
Above: Lunawood’s turnover has increased
www.ttjonline.com | March/April 2021 | TTJ
World News
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