UPM-Kymmene, Mets-Serla and Holmen have all reported increased turnover and profits for 2000, reflecting rises in consumption levels and prices.


Mets-Serla reported a 46% increase in turnover to 3.7bn, while pre-tax profits rose 75% to 329m. Of the increase in sales, 847m was attributable to its acquisition of MoDo Paper.


Sales for the paper group increased 14.8% to 1.2bn. Pulp division operating profits rose 297% to 165m.


UPM-Kymmenes pre-tax profits for the 12 months increased 23% to 1.08bn on sales, up 16% to 6.1bn due to high demand for magazine papers.


Demand grew 10% for LWC paper and 9% for SC paper in Western Europe, with newsprint demand rising by around 5%.
Holmens sales for the year were 1.08bn, a rise of some 4%, with pre-tax profits increasing 97% to 347m.


As a division, Holmen Papers sales increased 9% to 545m but operating profit fell 2% to 99m.