M-real improves first quarter result

M-real's sales were 602 million Euros in the first quarter (623), and the operating result, excluding non-recurring items, was EUR 39 million (-65). Operatingresult, including non-recurring items, was 49 million Euros (-118). Result before taxes, excluding non-recurring items, was 15 million Euros (-62), and resultbefore taxes, including non-recurring items, was 25 million Euros (-115).Earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, was 0.03 Euro (-0.18)."M-real's result improved further during the first quarter, and we achieved a clearly positive net result. However, M-real's structural change is not ready yet. We have several measures underway to improve profitability further," said Mikko Helander, CEO of M-real."The demand has improved in all of M-real's main products," Helander continued. "M-real will increase the prices of all main products to cover increasing fiber costs."