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Demand for Ahlstrom products revive slightly in second quarter
24 Jul '09
5 min read
In the Fiber Composites segment, the demand for Ahlstrom's products in the automotive, construction, marine and windmill industries continued to be exceptionally weak due to the global recession. The windmill application market was slow, especially due to the financing problems of new wind power plants.
The Filtration business area was burdened by a significant slowdown in the servicing of passenger and freight transport vehicles along with the decrease in new vehicle production. The demand for wipes was weak as well. However, the demand for filters and wipes revived slightly during the second quarter. Market demand for food packaging and teabag materials as well as for nonwovens in medical applications was close to the level of early 2008.
In the Specialty Papers segment, the market demand in automotive, furniture, textile as well as in release and labeling industries, continued to suffer from the severe recession. Yet the demand picked up slightly during the second quarter of 2009.
The decrease in the market prices of Ahlstrom's main raw materials, natural and synthetic fibers and chemicals, started to level off and partly turned to an increase at the end of the reporting period.
Development of net sales in April-June 2009
• The weakening of the sales of most of Ahlstrom's products stabilized during the second quarter and the sales of certain products revived. Net sales for April-June amounted to EUR 398.9 million (EUR 465.9 million). This was 14.4% down on April-June 2008 but up 6.1% from the first quarter.
• Net sales of the Fiber Composites segment amounted to EUR 212.4 million (EUR 257.0 million), representing 53% of the Group net sales. The segment's net sales decreased by 17.4% from April-June 2008. Net sales were reduced in all business areas due to lower volumes in most products. The steepest fall was seen in the Glass & Industrial Nonwovens business area (-32.9%) while net sales in the Advanced Nonwovens area were close to the figures of the comparison period (-4.0%). However, compared to the first quarter of 2009, net sales increased by 1.7%, mainly due to a revival of demand in the Filtration and Home & Personal Nonwovens business areas.
• Net sales of the Specialty Papers segment amounted to EUR 188.2 million (EUR 209.7 million), representing 47% of the Group net sales. The segment's net sales decreased by 10.2% compared to April-June 2008. Net sales were reduced in both business areas, the Release & Label Papers (-11.2%) and Technical Papers (-9.3%). Nevertheless, the situation improved compared to the first quarter of 2009. Net sales in both business areas increased by approximately 11% mainly due to a revival of demand.
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The Filtration business area was burdened by a significant slowdown in the servicing of passenger and freight transport vehicles along with the decrease in new vehicle production. The demand for wipes was weak as well. However, the demand for filters and wipes revived slightly during the second quarter. Market demand for food packaging and teabag materials as well as for nonwovens in medical applications was close to the level of early 2008.
In the Specialty Papers segment, the market demand in automotive, furniture, textile as well as in release and labeling industries, continued to suffer from the severe recession. Yet the demand picked up slightly during the second quarter of 2009.
The decrease in the market prices of Ahlstrom's main raw materials, natural and synthetic fibers and chemicals, started to level off and partly turned to an increase at the end of the reporting period.
Development of net sales in April-June 2009
• The weakening of the sales of most of Ahlstrom's products stabilized during the second quarter and the sales of certain products revived. Net sales for April-June amounted to EUR 398.9 million (EUR 465.9 million). This was 14.4% down on April-June 2008 but up 6.1% from the first quarter.
• Net sales of the Fiber Composites segment amounted to EUR 212.4 million (EUR 257.0 million), representing 53% of the Group net sales. The segment's net sales decreased by 17.4% from April-June 2008. Net sales were reduced in all business areas due to lower volumes in most products. The steepest fall was seen in the Glass & Industrial Nonwovens business area (-32.9%) while net sales in the Advanced Nonwovens area were close to the figures of the comparison period (-4.0%). However, compared to the first quarter of 2009, net sales increased by 1.7%, mainly due to a revival of demand in the Filtration and Home & Personal Nonwovens business areas.
• Net sales of the Specialty Papers segment amounted to EUR 188.2 million (EUR 209.7 million), representing 47% of the Group net sales. The segment's net sales decreased by 10.2% compared to April-June 2008. Net sales were reduced in both business areas, the Release & Label Papers (-11.2%) and Technical Papers (-9.3%). Nevertheless, the situation improved compared to the first quarter of 2009. Net sales in both business areas increased by approximately 11% mainly due to a revival of demand.
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