Finland's Ahlstrom's solid Q1 performance earns $140 mn gross profit

The company achieved an operating result of €54.3 million and delivered a record comparable EBITDA of €107.6 million (~$115.13 million), driven by disciplined execution across key transformation levers such as pricing, procurement, operational excellence, and an improved product mix. EBITDA stood at €99.3 million, supported by lower items affecting comparability, Ahlstrom said in a press release.

“In a volatile and uncertain market, we have achieved a record-high comparable EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025. This is driven by the ongoing disciplined execution of our strategy. We once again reached a new high for margin on variable cost per ton, thanks to our focus on pricing, variable cost efficiency, operational excellence, and an improved product mix,” said Helen Mets, president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Ahlstrom.

“Additionally, our operating cash flow remained solid. Customer activity increased, and most businesses matched the solid levels achieved in the first quarter of 2024. I am particularly proud that our customer net loyalty score, already in the highest decile in our industry, improved in each of our businesses. This reflects the strength of the partnerships we have with our customers,” added Mets.

Moreover, Ahlstrom recently announced the execution of a binding agreement to acquire Stevens Point, a high-end solutions provider in food, consumer packaging, and e-commerce applications.

The company operates a global network of 35 production facilities across North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Its local-for-local manufacturing and supply approach supports operational flexibility and delivery reliability, helping mitigate the effects of trade disruptions in the current market environment, the release added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)