Ponsse achieved growth, profitability and cash flow from operations during each quarter
Profitability was good at 11.7 per cent and they achieved 11.4 per cent growth figures and a positive cash flow of EUR 56.5 million. Exports made up 77.3 per cent of turnover. At the end of the year, their order books stood at EUR 124.6 million. The Vieremä factory produced a record number of forest machines during 2017, all while the work for constructing the new factory was in progress.
Ponsse was satisfied with the global market in 2017, indicating there were no poorly performing market areas. The forest machine market in Russia developed strongly, surpassing Sweden and Finland to become the world’s largest market for cut-to-length forest machines. Ponsse has a strong market share in Russia. In addition to Russia, the forest machine market grew in Finland, Sweden, Germany and Latin America. In North America, the market situation was normal. Net sales were regionally distributed as follows: Northern Europe 38.0 (39.3) per cent, Central and Southern Europe 18.6 (20.3) per cent, Russia and Asia 20.1 (14.7) per cent, North and South America 22.9 (24.6) per cent and other countries 0.5 (1.1) per cent.
The Group's euro-denominated operating profit is expected to be at the same level in 2018 as it was in 2017. The market situation has continued to be favourable. Ponsse’s sales of used machines was very good. The cumulative net sales rose to a historical level of EUR 576.6 (517.4) million and operating profit amounted to EUR 67.4 (55.2) million. Source