STOCKHOLM – Ahlstrom has reported a solid start to 2026, with first-quarter results showing record profitability on a comparable basis as the group continues to reposition its portfolio towards higher-value speciality materials.
For the quarter to the end of March, reported net sales were broadly flat at €738 million compared with €739 million a year earlier, but increased by 6% at constant currency, reflecting the contribution of 2025 acquisitions and stronger pipeline execution. The company said this growth underlines demand in core application areas including filtration, life sciences, food and consumer packaging, and protective materials.
Comparable EBITDA rose to €119 million from €108 million, corresponding to a comparable EBITDA margin of 16.1%, up from 14.6% in the prior-year period. Ahlstrom noted that this represents a record first-quarter margin and highlights further progress in its shift towards a more specialised materials portfolio and higher-value-added fibre-based solutions.
Within its core divisions – Filtration & Life Sciences, Food & Consumer Packaging and Protective Materials – the comparable EBITDA margin improved to 19.0% from 18.1%, supported by mix improvements, pricing discipline and ongoing operational efficiency measures. For nonwovens converters and brand owners, the stronger profitability signals continued focus on technical performance and specialty grades rather than volume-driven commodity output.
In February, Ahlstrom announced further strategic improvement initiatives aimed at reinforcing long-term competitiveness, profitability and strategic focus. These include the restructruing of its Mosinee site in the United States, expected to take effect in the second half of 2026, and the closure of its Radcliffe facilities in the UK as of 31 March 2026.
President and CEO Helen Mets said the first quarter demonstrated the resilience of Ahlstrom’s business model in a challenging macroeconomic context. “Our comparable EBITDA margin increased to a record Q1 level of 16.1%, underscoring the specialty nature of our portfolio and our ability to perform in an uncertain environment,” she commented, adding that the results reflect “disciplined execution, a resilient business model, and the commitment of our teams across the company.”
Alongside restructuring, the company has intensified its focus on operational excellence, including the rollout of a group-wide waste reduction programme. This is expected to support margin improvement and align with customer and regulatory expectations on resource efficiency and environmental performance across the nonwovens and specialty papers value chain.
