CPH Group achieves higher sales in 2021

Despite higher costs for raw materials, the CPH Group was able to increase its sales by 11.6 per cent in 2021. In the paper segment, the high prices for recovered paper had an impact on the business division.

Despite higher costs for raw materials, the CPH Group was able to increase its turnover by 11.6 per cent in 2021. The company was thus able to make up for the decline in sales from the previous year and grow in all business areas. 

The CPH Group generated sales of CHF 496.7 million in 2021. Adjusted for currency effects, sales were up 12.6 per cent on the previous year. EBITDA fell to CHF 25.7 million due to the sharp rise in raw material costs. After a one-off impairment of CHF 150 million on the fixed assets of paper production in Perlen, the net result was CHF -151.4 million. 

High waste paper and low paper prices impact the Paper division

Following the largely Covid-related slump of more than 20 per cent in the previous year, the Demand for printing and press papers in Western Europe largely stable in 2021. However, paper prices continued to fall and reached new lows. At 505,000 tonnes, the paper division sold 15.0% higher volumes in 2021 and was able to further increase its market share. Sales increased by 10.2 per cent to CHF 230.9 million.

The Raw material prices rose sharply over the course of the year on. The poor availability of recovered paper meant that the facilities could not be fully utilised in the interim. EBIT before impairment fell to CHF -24.9 million. Due to the ongoing cut-throat competition in the paper sector, the CPH Group reassessed the value of its fixed assets and recognised a non-cash one-off impairment charge of CHF 150 million on the fixed assets of its paper production plant in Perlen. 

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„The Paper Division has important competitive advantages to maintain and further expand its market position in the long term and sustainably. Thanks to modern machinery, the division produces very cost-efficiently and almost CO2-neutrally.“

Peter Schildknecht, CEO of the CPH Group

Declining demand for packaging

As the protective measures against the coronavirus pandemic also severely restricted the transmission of other infections, demand for non-prescription medicines and therefore also for blister films in Europe declined. The Packaging division expanded the share of higher-value products in the product range and realised price increases, so that sales rose by 5.1 per cent to CHF 170.7 million in 2021 despite lower volumes. The strategic focus on emerging markets paid off with double-digit growth rates in Latin America and Asia. However, the sharp rise in raw material costs was reflected in EBIT, which fell from CHF 21.6 million in the previous year to CHF 5.7 million. 

Source: CPH Group

 

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