SEK’s year-end report 2018: Strong Swedish exports despite signs of economic slowdown

Swedish exports show a positive development despite indications of an economic slowdown. Exporters’ finances are strong, order intakes are high and access to finance in the banking and capital markets is good. SEK’s new lending in 2018 was down on last year but the number of clients increased.

Future growth and employment in Sweden is expected to be driven by small and medium-sized enterprises. SEK aims to attract more clients, mainly medium-sized companies, and to broaden its business with existing clients.

“We have become more client-centric and moved client operations closer to the executive management. Our efforts have met with considerable success and we now have more clients than ever before” says SEK’s CEO Catrin Fransson.

Operating profit for 2018 was down year-on-year at Skr 852 million. Year-on-year, net interest income was down as well and totaled Skr 1,442 million. Net interest income was negatively impacted due to the higher resolution fee under 2018 that SEK pays to the Swedish National Debt Office, and higher average borrowing costs.

Results for January – December 2018 (compared with January – December 2017)

• New lending amounted to Skr 57.0 billion (2017: Skr 89.3 billion)
• Net interest income totaled Skr 1,442 million (2017: Skr 1,683 million)
• Operating profit was Skr 852 million (2017: Skr 1,007 million)
• Net profit was Skr 648 million (2017: Skr 772 million)
• The return on equity amounted to 3.6 percent (2017: 4.5 percent)
• Earnings per share before and after dilution amounted to Skr 162 (2017: Skr 193)
• The total capital ratio amounted to 20.1 percent (2017: 23.0 percent) 

Press contact 

Catharina Henriksson, Head of Press and Public Affairs

+46 76-677 59 09
catharina.henriksson@sek.se

About SEK

SEK’s mission is to ensure access to financial solutions for the Swedish export industry on commercial and sustainable termss. SEK finances Swedish exporters and buyers of Swedish products and services. The business focus is on large and medium-sized companies. SEK provides long term funding and the loans can be disbursed in different currencies. 

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