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RAISIO GROUP MAKES A LOSS IN Q1

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Raisio Group plc           Stock Exchange Release
                           14 March 2003 at 09.00 Finnish time


RAISIO GROUP MAKES A LOSS IN Q1

Continued weak demand of paper chemicals, as well as further
rising petrochemical raw material prices, which could not be
transferred into sales prices, push the Raisio Chemicals operating
result in red figures. The turnover will increase due to the
acquisition of Latexia last autumn.

Also the result development of Raisio Nutrition has been weaker
than expected. Food workers’ strike at Raisio plants, that started
again this morning, decreases significantly the turnover and the
result of Raisio Nutrition. The effect of the strike so far,
including indirect losses, is expected to be as high as 3 million
euros. To be able to secure margarine deliveries to Sweden even
during the strike, Raisio has decided to continue margarine
production at Carlshamn Mejeri during the spring, which was not
the original plan. This, however, postpones the realisation of
rationalisation benefits further to autumn. Within Raisio
Nutrition, especially the results of margarine and grain starch
businesses are lower than in the comparison period. Raisio
Nutrition is expected to make an operating loss in January-March.

Sales of stanol ester, the cholesterol-lowering Benecol ingredient
of Raisio Life Sciences, is at the level of the comparison period.
Decreased margins are weakening the result, though. Raisio Life
Sciences has placed a public offer for Diffchamb AB:s
shareholders.

Raisio Group turnover in the first quarter is estimated to
slightly increase in spite of the strike. However, the result
before taxes will be clearly negative. The ongoing rationalisation
programs will help the result to improve towards the end of the
year. In this current uncertain international situation, there are
lot of risks related to the result development.


RAISIO GROUP PLC



Rabbe Klemets
Chief Executive Officer


Further information:

Taru Narvanmaa, Executive Vice President, Communications and IR
tel. +358 50 590 9398
Antti Salminen, CFO
tel. +358 40 535 1216

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