Pre-tax profits hit 54m (SEK702m), while net sales rose almost 14% to 513m.
Production at the group's five pulp mills operated by Sdra Cell rose by 50,000 tonnes to 991,000 tonnes of market pulp.
Sdra president and chief executive Anders Wahroln said the results were particularly good considering the continuing weak economic conditions.
The group expects the pulp market to be weak and uncertain during the second half of the year. Only an upturn in the world economy would improve the market, he said.
Sdra Cells sales totalled 260.5m, down 11.6% on 2002. At one point the price of the groups main product, bleached softwood pulp, increased to $560 per tonne, but by the end of June it had fallen to $520.
Have your say in the Printweek Poll
Related stories
Latest comments
"Gosh! That’s a huge debt - especially HMRC! It’s a shock that HMRC allowed such an amount to be accumulated."
"Whatever happened to the good old fashioned cash job! At least the banks didn't take 2-3% of each sale. After 30 odd transactions that £100 quid you had has gone."
"It's amazing what can be found on the "web" nowadays!"
Up next...
Replacement 'will be operational later this year'
Walstead makes decision on Bicester 64pp
'Ridiculous decision'
Unite “prepared to fight” on proposed DS Smith site closure
Also helps mitigate volatile energy prices
