Tropical timber producer Rougier increased its third-quarter sales 3.4% despite difficult maritime logistics on its African routes.
The company recorded €31.9m sales for the period, with the main Africa international business showing sales of €80.8m for the nine months to September 30 – an 8.6% growth on a year ago.
Turnover in the lumber business grew 21.3% for the nine months to €55.9m (2010: €46,1m) – 53% of consolidates sales. Plywood sales declined 8.4% to €24.7m and logs sales fell 1.2% to €24.9m.
Third-quarter activity was still down 8% due to difficulties in the Port of Douala which affected Cameroon and Congo export sales. This was partially offset by the development of local sales in Gabon.
Rougier is continuing with its 2011 €11m programme of industrialisation and increasing production capacity in Africa. The Gabonese plywood plant at Owendo is being modernised, while a new sawmill is being created and the capacity of the Mevang mill is being doubled.
Other investments include modernisation at Mbang, Cameroon and a new facility on a secondary processing site in Libreville (Gabon) acquired by Rougier last month.
