Södra's operating profit for 2015 increased to SEK 2,162 million (2014: SEK 1,516 million). Net sales for 2015 increased to SEK 18.3 billion (2014: SEK 17.3 billion), of which SEK 6.1 billion (2014: SEK 5.9 billion) was generated in the last four months of the year. Operating profit in the same period totalled SEK 502 million (2014: SEK 504 million).
"2015 was another good year for Södra and it is pleasing to report an historically strong result of SEK 2,162 million (1,516) and that the Board can therefore propose such substantial dividends. The forest economy was stable, our production volumes were high, exchange rates were favourable and our operations became more efficient. However, 2016 will prove a challenging year with the start-up of a virtually new pulp mill, the continuation of a change programme for sawn and planed timber, and a fragile global market," says Lars Idermark, President and CEO.
Södra already has an ongoing investment programme of about SEK 5 billion, most of which pertains to the expansion of the Värö pulp mill. The Board of Södra has now decided to invest a further SEK 1 billion in the mill at Mörrum.
This investment will include a new evaporator and modernisation of the brown stock washing system in the dissolving pulp line, where pulp for the textile industry is produced. A new evaporator will make it possible to increase the production rate, as well as deliveries of energy products, such as electricity, district heating and biofuels. The new investment will increase production capacity by 45,000 tonnes, bringing the total production of paper and dissolving pulp at the Mörrum mill to 470,000 tonnes.
Following the expansion, capacity at the Värö mill will amount to 700,000 tonnes. Capacity at Mönsterås will be 750,000 tonnes.
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