Sales of the Rolling Mills and Strip Processing Lines Business Area in 2004 increased significantly. At 235.4 MEUR, Sales surged by 36.0% compared to 2003 (173.1 MEUR).  This favorable development is mainly due to the execution of the record Order Backlog as of the end of 2003.

EBITA also developed very favorably in 2004.  At 12.1 MEUR, it almost tripled compared to 2003 (4.4 MEUR), which was affected by a temporary capacity under-utilization in one of the Business Area’s product segments.  Profitability also showed a positive development, with EBITA margin increasing to 5.1% in 2004 (2003: 2.5%).

The Business Area’s Order Intake in 2004 was 266.7 MEUR, a decrease of 7.3% compared to the record level achieved in 2003 (287.6 MEUR).  However, several orders were announced in the Third Quarter 2004 which will become effective in the First Quarter 2005.  The main portion of the Order Intake came from China, amounting to approximately 71% of the Business Area’s total Order Intake in 2004.