French international hardwood trader and processor Rougier increased pre-tax profits by 66% in 2007.
The company’s earnings were €20.1m, compared with €12.1m for 2006, with sales 11% ahead at €178.4m. Income from ordinary operations climbed 89% to €18.5m.
Rougier attributed its performance to continued investment in processing facilities in Africa and growth in its forest management activities.
Its Africa and International Business division benefited from a “sustained rate of industrial and forest production” and achieved like for like growth of 15.8%.
The France Import-Distribution operation experienced strong demand and grew 13.8%.
Rougier said its involvement in forest management and timber processing in supplier countries gave it “long-term control over the raw material at source”. Its commitment to sustainable forestry and certification, it maintains, will also enable it to capitalise on demand for “responsibly [-sourced]” timber. Currently it manages two million ha of forest across Gabon, Cameroon and Congo.
Capital investment at the company in 2007 was €10.7m, with €2.6m spent on its plant at Mevang, its third in Gabon.
