Profits boost for Suominen

Suominen has announced net sales of €224.9 million for the first six months of 2015, up 16% on the same period of 2014. 

Pre-tax profits were €15.1 million, up 42% compared to €8.7 million for the first six months of 2014. 

“We confirmed in May that we will carry out our planned investment in a new wetlaid production line at our plant in Bethune in the United States,” said Suominen president and CEO Nina Kopola. “The new line is expected to be installed during the second half of 2016. Our goal is to increase both our sales volumes and the proportion of value-added products in our portfolio, which is why the new production line will focus on higher-value nonwovens, which are used for, among other things, household and industrial wiping products and flushable wiping products.”

In January-June 2015, sales were comprised of fabrics for baby wipes (40% of sales), personal care wipes (23%), household wipes (16%), industrial wipes (11%), and hygiene and medical products (8%).

Investments in equipment at Suominen’s Paulínia plant in Brazil and Alicante plant in Spain continue. The plants will, according to Kopola, be able to supply nonwovens not only for higher added-value wiping products, but also to the medical market.