Interim report January - September 2002
Interim report January - September 2002 The Group's earnings after net financial items amounted to SEK 151 million (138). · Competition for less advanced oils and fats is growing stronger on the Nordic and Western European markets. Sales of higher value-added products continue to increase in business area Oils & Fats. · Profit improvements in business area Feed Materials remain strong. · Satisfactory performance despite unfavourable trade conditions for Technical Products. · Karlshamns acquires Raisio's industrial margarine sales to the Swedish food and bakery industries. · MARKET Raw material prices rose in 2002, with the Swedish krona gaining strength against both US dollar and Euro. The stronger Swedish currency has had only marginal effects on this year's profits, however. As a consequence of rising cocoa bean prices, cocoa butter prices have followed an upward trend since early 2002. The last month's notable rise in cocoa butter prices was caused by the current situation in Ivory Coast, a country accounting for some 45 per cent of total world production of cocoa beans and thus having considerable impact on world market prices. Hardening competition for less advanced oils and fats throughout the vegetable oil industry is having negative effects on margins on the Nordic and Western European markets in particular, whereas volumes continue to develop favourably in Eastern Europe. Demand for vegetable feed raw materials continues to increase. Crushing margins for rapeseed remained on last autumn's high level throughout the first nine months of the year. Recession in the metalworking industry continues to hamper the development of technical oils. Demand for fatty acids on the European market increased in the third quarter, despite the general recession. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/22/20021022BIT00710/wkr0001.doc The full report http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/22/20021022BIT00710/wkr0002.pdf The full report