The Group’s consolidated sales rose slightly from EUR 1,142.2 million to EUR 1,150.3 million. Both divisions contributed to this rise. At EUR 102.1 million, operating profit was EUR 8.7 million or 7.9 % below the value for the first half of the previous year (EUR 110.8 million). Thus, the Group's operating margin was at 8.9 %, following 9.7 % in the first six months of 2016. Financial income of EUR 1.3 million (1st half of 2016: EUR 1.6 million) was offset by financial expenses of EUR -2.9 million (1st half of 2016: EUR -3.2 million). Owing to the deconsolidation of the Tunisian packaging companies, a one-off expenditure of EUR 2.3 million was incurred due to the accumulated foreign currency translation, which is reported under “Other financial result – net”. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Pure Supreme is a well-established premium white-top kraftliner, optimized for offset printing. BillerudKorsnäs is now launching an upgraded version of Pure Supreme, which is more than a facelift – it could even be regarded as a new product. It offers excellent print results in terms of colour fidelity and lifelike image reproduction. Its strength and stiffness ensure high runnability, allowing for high-speed printing and converting processes. New Pure Supreme is the latest in a series of new products to come out of BillerudKorsnäs’ KM7, the world’s most modern board machine. The advanced technologies applied in KM7 have made it possible to combine several valuable product properties: printability, strength, stiffness, appearance, consistency, and purity. Like all BillerudKorsnäs products, Pure Supreme is made of 100% pure and strong primary wood fibres, sourced from responsibly managed forests. With the high capacity of KM7 – 550,000 tons/year – global availability is high.

First Quarter Highlights *First quarter 2022 net sales were a record $1.77 billion, compared with $1.35 billion in the same period in 2021. *First quarter 2022 GAAP earnings per diluted share were $1.17, compared with $0.71 in the same period in 2021. *Base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) for the first quarter 2022 was a record $1.85 per diluted share, compared with $1.00 per diluted share in the same period of 2021. 2021 base results throughout the release have been revised to conform with the Company’s current Base Earnings definition which excludes amortization of acquisition intangibles. The Company recently provided updated first quarter guidance of $1.70 to $1.80 per diluted share. (See base earnings definition, explanation and reconciliation to GAAP earnings later in this release.) *Cash flow from operations was $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared to $138.7 million in the same period of 2021.