Interim Report Q1 2021

• SCA decided in September 2020 to discontinue its publication paper operations in line with the communicated strategy for profitable growth. During the quarter, SCA closed the three remaining publication paper machines at the Ortviken site.
• Measures continue to be taken to avoid the spread of Covid-19. The pandemic has not had any significant effects on production.

JANUARY  – MARCH, 2021
(compared with January – March 2020)

• Net sales amounted to SEK 4,172m (4,793). The lower sales level was related to the discontinued publication paper operations and the divestment of Wood Supply UK, excluding this effect net sales increased with 8%.
• EBITDA improved 32% to SEK 1,359m (1,030), the increase was mainly attributable to higher selling prices in all product areas. EBITDA margin increased to 32.6% (21.5), the higer level was mainly related to the discontinued publication paper operations.
• Operating profit increased to SEK 1,046m (628)
• Operating cash flow amounted to SEK 475m (341)
• Earnings per share improved to SEK 1.14 (0.69)

JANUARY  – MARCH, 2021
(compared with October  – December, 2020)

• Net sales decreased by 9% to SEK 4,172m (4,592). The change was mainly attributable to the discontinued publication paper operations and the divestment of Wood Supply UK.
• EBITDA amounted to SEK 1,359m (1,451) and EBITDA margin rose to 32.6% (31.6)

 
SUMMARY OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021

Earnings for the first quarter of 2021 were in line with the preceding quarter and represent a significant improvement on the year-earlier quarter. Higher selling prices in all product areas had a positive impact on earnings.

During the quarter, SCA discontinued its remaining publication paper operations consisting of three paper machines at the Ortviken site. Following the discontinuation of publication paper operations, SCA is focused on growth in all product areas.

The supply of wood to SCA’s industries was stable during the quarter. The price of pulpwood fell slightly while the price of sawlogs remained stable compared with the preceding period.

The market situation for solid-wood products continued to strengthen during the quarter, driven by high global demand in the building materials trade and an increased level of new construction. Sustained strong demand has led to low inventory levels and higher market prices in all regional markets.

During the quarter, the market for pulp strengthened further and selling prices increased. Delivery volumes rose slightly compared with the preceding quarter. Global inventory levels were normal.

Demand for kraftliner was highly favorable during the quarter, driven by higher box demand. The average selling price was also higher than the preceding quarter.

SCA’s ongoing investment projects – to expand kraftliner manufacturing in Obbola and increase production of chemically pre-treated mechanical pulp (CTMP) at the Ortviken industrial site – are progressing on time and on budget.
 

INVITATION TO PRESS CONFERENCE ON INTERIM REPORT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021
 
Members of the media and analysts are hereby invited to attend a press conference where this interim report will be presented by the President and CEO, Ulf Larsson, and CFO, Toby Lawton.

The press conference will be webcast live at www.sca.com. It is also possible to participate by telephone by calling:

Specify “SCA” or the conference ID: 9291168.
 

Sundsvall, April 30, 2021

SVENSKA CELLULOSA AKTIEBOLAGET SCA (publ)

Ulf Larsson
President and CEO 
 
For further information, please contact

Toby Lawton, CFO, +46 (0)60 19 31 09

Josefine Bonnevier, Investor Relations Director, +46 (0)60 19 33 90

Anders Edholm, Senior Vice President, Communications, +46(0)60 19 32 12
 

Please note:

This is information that SCA is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. This report has been prepared in both Swedish and English versions. In case of variations in the content between the two versions, the Swedish version shall govern. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on April 30, 2021 at 08:00 a.m. CEST. The report has not been reviewed by the company’s auditors.

Anders Edholm, Senior Vice President, Communications, +46 (0)60 19 32 12


The core of SCA’s business is the growing forest, Europe’s largest private forest holding. Around this unique resource, we have built a well-developed value chain based on renewable raw material from our own and others’ forests. We offer packaging paper, pulp, wood products, renewable energy, services for forest owners and efficient transport solutions. 
2020 the forest products company SCA had approximately 4,000 employees and sales amounted to approximately SEK 18.4 bn. SCA was founded in 1929 and has its headquarters in Sundsvall, Sweden. For more information, visit www.sca.com

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