Moelven posts a loss of NOK 64 million

A challenging European export market is the main reason for Moelven's operating loss of NOK 64 million in the first quarter.

A weak economy and challenging market conditions in European export markets has dominated the first quarter and led to a decline in both revenue and operating profit compared with the same period last year.

Revenues in the first quarter were NOK 1,849 million (NOK 2,165 million in the same period last year) and an operating loss of NOK 64 million (18.7).

Low activity
CEO Hans Rindal of Moelven Industrier ASA explains that the first quarter ordinarily is the quarter with the lowest activity.

“The first quarter coincides with what may appear to be the bottom of a recession for industrial wood internationally. This affects our accounts. In addition, we are starting up two processing plants - Moelven Profil AS in Kirkenær and Moelven Tom Heurlin AB in Dalsland - where significant investments have been made. The projects are largely going as planned, but are as of now an expense,” says Rindal.

The Building Systems Division has experienced somewhat hesitant markets during the first quarter, especially in Sweden. In Norway, both the module and laminated operations have seen an increase in demand towards the end of the quarter. For the building products division Wood the winter season has progressed as expected in Sweden and Denmark, while activity in the Norwegian market has been slower than expected.

Seasonal improvement in sight
Going forward, the CEO expects a normal seasonal improvement.

“There is also growing demand for industrial wood in many markets outside Europe. The debt crisis many European countries are working their way out of, however, requires more fundamental changes that are taking longer than was the case after the 2008 financial crisis,” Rindal says.

Unfortunately, the situation in the forestry and timber industry is also affected by developments in the pulp and paper industry.

Creates challenges
“Here it is the decision before Easter to liquidate the Södra Cell Tofte pulp company that currently has the greatest focus. In simple terms, 40% of the wood is used for construction or energy purposes, while 60% goes directly or indirectly to paper and pulp. Packaging and hygiene products have good prospects, while demand for printing paper is dropping fast without any new applications in sight that will require similar volumes. This affects some of our sawmills because our timber suppliers also need customers for the parts of the tree Moelven cannot use. Without this, logging would not be profitable. On our part, we need customers for our chip products,” Rindal says.

However, this situation is not new to Moelven. CEO Hans Rindal says that Moelven has been aware that this situation may arise and that this scenario has been a part of Moelven's long-term strategy for some time.

Affects sawmills
The unfortunate issue is however that the Norwegian paper industry in particular has had a strong focus on printing paper and thus receives more than its share of the negative trend.

“We are currently working hard to ensure timber and fibre flows to three sawmills in particular – Moelven Soknabruket AS, Moelven Numedalslågen AS and Moelven Telemarksbruket AS. Here we are currently at the draft stage and the months ahead will show how well we succeed. Fortunately, we have operations in many areas and significant activity in the project and construction materials segments that are not affected by this. Thus there are good opportunities for the group going forward,” Rindal says.

Investing a little less
Moelven is securing its cash flow by reducing the level of investment.

“In addition to reducing expenditure, it helps to focus on getting the most out of the facilities we have, which is requiring more than in a long time. There are many people in many places that are currently making a great effort,” says Rindal.

No short-term improvement expected
Besides the seasonal increase in activity in the second quarter, we expect no early improvement in underlying market conditions. Internal improvement work will therefore still have high priority. A continued weak euro in relation to the Scandinavian currencies weakens the competitiveness of the group's units compared to operators with costs in euros. Raw material prices have declined somewhat, but the effect is lessened by lower wood chip and fibre product prices.  

For further information please contact:
CEO Hans Rindal, +47 906 96 910 
Financial Director Morten Sveiverud, +47 909 80 667 
Ass. Financial Director Rune F. Andersen, +47 913 43 260
Communications and HR Director Kristin Bjørnstad, +47 907 13 701
Communications Officer Tom E. Holmlund, +47 916 68 668

For a local angle on the situation, contact one of our businesses directly:

Building products division Wood:
Head of division Bjarne Hønningstad, mobile +47 97591201
Wood Norway: Managing Director Sverre Kvaerner, mobile +47 95243807
Wood Sweden: Managing Director Mikael Axelsson, mobile +46 (0) 101225004
Moelven Denmark: Managing Director Michael Helmershøj, mobile +45 40452336

Building Systems project division:
Head of division Lars Atterfors, mobile +46 (0)10 1226684
Moelven Byggmodul AB: Managing Director Johan Samuelsson, +46 (0) 70 6199335
Moelven Byggmodul AS: Director Lars Brede Aandstad, +47 90992851
Moelven Töreboda AB: Managing Director Johan Åhlén, mobile +46 (0) 50648189
Moelven Limtre AS: Director Åge Holmestad, mobile +47 (0) 95864620
Moelven Eurowand AB: Manging Director Orvar Sandelin, mobile +46 (0) 101226003
Moelven Nordia AS: Director Trygve Toften, mobile +47 90874964

Timber industrial products division:
Head of division Ole Helge Aalstad, mobile +47 90014343

A list of our companies at the local level is available here:
http://www.moelven.com/no/Om-Moelven/Kontakt-virksomhetene/
http://www.moelven.com/se/Om-Moelven/Kontakta-foretag/
http://www.moelven.com/dk/Om-Moelven/KONTAKT-den-rigtige-medarbejder/

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