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Mondi PLC reported on Thursday its profitability was robust for the first quarter of 2025, crediting a rise in sales volumes and cost-control efforts. The Weybridge, England-based packaging firm said underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation was €290 million for the first quarter of 2025, up 11% from €261 million in the fourth quarter last year. Underlying Ebitda surged 36% from €214 million in the first quarter last year. The company said higher sales volumes, good cost control and fewer planned maintenance shuts in the first quarter offset lower average selling prices when compared to the last three months of 2024. In corrugated packaging & flexible packaging, stronger order books drove higher sales volumes across Mondi’s range of paper grades, compared to the fourth quarter. Average selling prices in the first quarter were lower than the fourth quarter. In uncoated fine paper, market conditions remained muted, with lower average selling prices in the quarter when compared to the fourth quarter. Profitability was supported by strong cost control, Mondi said. The group said it has made ‘good’ progress with the completion and ramp up of its capacity expansion projects, including the new kraft paper machine at Steti in Czech Republic and the newly converted paper machine in Duino in Italy, which started up in April. ‘In the first quarter of the year, we have seen stronger order books driven by increased demand for our sustainable packaging products,’ Mondi Chief Executive Officer Andrew King said. This, King said, has supported recent price increases, which are expected to come through from the second quarter of this year. ‘Towards the end of the first quarter, global trade tensions heightened macroeconomic uncertainty,’ the CEO said. ‘While the direct impact of announced tariffs on our operations is limited, we remain mindful of the potential second order impacts that could affect trade flows, consumer confidence and supply chains,’ he warned. Shares in Mondi rose 3.6% to 1,149.50 pence on Thursday morning in London. In Johannesburg, its shares were up 3.1% at R 279.81. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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