Smurfit Kappa has released it results for the full year ending 31 December 2022.
Sales reached €12,815m, up 27% on the year before. EBITDA was €2,355 m, up 38%, with an EBITDA margin of 18.4%
Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, commented, “Set against a year of extraordinary circumstances, 2022 was another highly successful year for the Smurfit Kappa Group. Our performance reflects the ongoing benefits of our investment programme together with our customer-led innovation and sustainability initiatives. SKG’s integrated model together with our geographic footprint continue to deliver for all stakeholders.
“For the full year, box volumes for the Group were down less than 2%. The rate and pace of inflation clearly had a negative effect on the demand environment in 2022. As guided by the Group, this coincided with the partial reversal of the unsustainably high demand levels seen through the pandemic period. This slowdown was particularly evidenced in the latter part of the year, especially in the month of December, where we saw stock reductions and downtime taken by customers.
“In our European business, box volumes were down 2% year-on-year. While two of our larger countries, Germany and the UK, performed below our expectations, others, such as Spain and France, were less affected. Box volumes in the Americas, excluding acquisitions, were broadly flat year-on-year, with growth in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina offset by a weaker performance in our North American business.
“The year was characterised by unprecedented cost inflation, especially in energy, which moderated in the latter part of the year. As illustrated by our performance in 2022, SKG has successfully navigated this environment.
“In 2022 we invested close to €1 bn to support our customers and capitalise on long-term demand growth drivers. We also continue to make progress towards our sustainability goals with investments to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce our impact on the environment and help our customers achieve their own carbon reduction and sustainability goals. The Group continued to expand its geographic footprint and product portfolio through acquisitions in 2022. In Europe, we purchased operations in Spain and the UK, while in the Americas, we acquired operations in Argentina and Brazil.”
He concluded, “Although very early, 2023 has started well. While there are and always will be challenges, SKG has never been in better shape strategically, financially and operationally. We have put ourselves in a position with the steps that we have taken and continue to take, to deliver high quality performance and to take advantage of the many opportunities we see around us.”
