Only filtration business is picking up
Ahlstrom’s (SF) quarterly report reflects that only the filtration business increased its turnover from EUR 82.3 to EUR 87.5 million or plus 6.3 % whereas overall net sales declined by 3.9 % or from EUR 422.5 million to EUR 405.8 million
The division Building and Energy declined 16.4 % or from 82.0 million to EUR 68.5 million, Food and Medical business declined 4.7 % or from EUR 93.4 to EUR 89.0 million and Label and Processing lost 7.3 % to EUR 168.5 (EUR 181.7) million. Specifically there was a weak demand in Europe, however the North American business showed some signs of recovery and Asian Markets, particularly China, experienced a slowdown at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. Product prices were on the raise but could not compensate the lesser demand. Total operating profit dropped by 12.5 % or from EUR 19.5 to EUR 17.0 million.
Filtration is mostly on demand because of new regulations in various countries and probably also because the automotive industry sells again more cars.