Finnish forest products manufacturer Botnia has blamed its first half losses on labour market disputes.
The company recorded a loss of €4m for the period, down from operating profits of €71.2m a year ago, while sales fell 24% to €404.2m.
Botnia said recent lockouts in the paper industry and local strikes had a marked impact on business during the second quarter.
But it said construction work on a new sawmill in Russia is going ahead as planned. The mill in Podporozhje is due to start up early in 2006.
