Interim report Q1 2010

Interim report Q1 2010

1 JANUARY-31 MARCH 2010 (compared with corresponding period a year ago)


• Net sales decreased by 6% (excluding exchange rate effects, net sales
increased by 1%) to SEK 26,722m (28,327)
• Profit before tax excluding restructuring costs rose 16% (excluding exchange
rate effects, by 20%) to SEK 1,748m (1,511)	
• Restructuring costs in Packaging amounted to SEK 244m (0)
• Profit for the period, excluding restructuring costs, increased to SEK 1,259m
(1,119)
• Earnings per share were SEK 1.53 (1.58) 
• Cash flow from current operations was SEK 1,148m (1,640) 

(Table included in attached pdf)

CEO'S COMMENTS
Profit before tax, excluding restructuring costs, rose 16% (excluding exchange
rate effects, 20%) to SEK 1,748m. Operating profit excluding restructuring costs
decreased by 5% (excluding exchange rate effects, by 1%) to SEK 2,027m. Cash
flow from current operations was SEK 1,148m. SCA's net debt decreased by SEK
9,129m, to SEK 38,713m. The debt repayment capacity rose to 35% (25%). Excluding
the effect of exchange rate movements, net sales rose 1%.

For Personal Care, operating profit improved by 5% (excluding exchange rate
effects, by 9%), mainly due to higher volumes and lower raw material costs.
Operating profit for Tissue decreased by 18% (excluding exchange rate effects,
by 13%) compared with the same period a year ago, mainly due to higher raw
material costs and lower prices.

For Packaging, operating profit increased to SEK 192m (81). The improvement is
mainly attributable to savings achieved from the restructuring programme, better
capacity utilisation and higher prices. Costs for the restructuring programme
have now been booked, and of the projected annual savings of SEK 1,070m, 70%
have been achieved on an annual basis. Operating profit for Forest Products
decreased by 16%. Improved earnings for pulp and solid-wood products failed to
compensate for the lower earnings for publication papers, mainly on account of
lower prices.

Sharply higher raw material costs for pulp and recycled paper have an adverse
impact on earnings. To address this, SCA is now carrying out price increases
along with cost-cutting activities. The effects of these will be felt gradually
during the second half of the year.

Demand for SCA's hygiene products remains stable, with favourable growth in
prioritised emerging markets. In Packaging, market demand is expected to rise.
The publication papers market in Europe is showing signs of a slight recovery,
but from a low level. In solid-wood products, the market balance remains
favourable.

For further information, please contact:
Lennart Persson, Executive Vice President and CFO, +46 8 788 51 22 
Johan Karlsson, Investor Relations, +46 8 788 51 30
Pär Altan, Media Relations, +46 8 788 52 37

SCA discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets
Act. This report has been prepared in 
both Swedish and English versions. In case of variations in the content between
the two versions, the Swedish version 
shall take precedence. The report has not been reviewed by the auditors.