- The operating profit amounted to MSEK 703, which may be compared with MSEK 641 for the first quarter of 2000, excluding divested activities. The fourth quarter operating profit was MSEK 438.
- Profit after financial items amounted to MSEK 699 compared with MSEK 605 for the first quarter of 2000 excluding divested activities (first quarter of 2000 including divested activities: MSEK 823). The fourth quarter profit in 2000 amounted to MSEK 424.
- The profit for the period after tax amounted to MSEK 490 (607), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 6.10 (6.80). The return on equity was 13.4 per cent (15.0).
- The market conditions for newsprint and magazine paper were still good, and Holmen Paper's order situation remained strong. Prices were raised at the beginning of the year.
- The market conditions for paperboard were weaker during the first quarter of 2001 than in the corresponding period of last year. Iggesund Paperboard raised the prices of solid bleached board and folding boxboard.
- Holmen's Board has made a decision in principle on an investment in a new paper machine for production of wood-containing printing paper. Production start is planned for the end of 2003/beginning of 2004.