In the first six months of the year, RMK’s sales turnover reached EUR 75 million, with EUR 9 million earned in profit  13.10

In the first six months of 2014, RMK had a return on sales of EUR 74.8 million and a profit of EUR 9.1 million; these figures were EUR 72.4 and 11.3 million, respectively, in the same period last year.The 2014 budget has been planned to allow for a total return on sales of EUR 140 million and a profit of EUR 15 million.In the first six months of the year, 60% of the profit forecast has been met.

“Economic performance in the first half of the year was impacted the most by a short winter,” commented Aigar Kallas, Chairman of the Management Board of RMK. “The period of frost lasted just a few weeks, with firewood selling below the planned levels as a result; furthermore, the ground froze for only a very short period, complicating the performance of any forest works,” Kallas added. That being said, an early spring facilitated the planting of forest and other silviculture works, with respect to which RMK came out ahead of its planned budget during the first half of the year. This year has seen 700 000 more trees planted in the forest than during the same period last year. Aigar Kallas added that the quality of firewood harvested in winter will only improve as it is being stored, and that the planned quantities will be sold over the upcoming heating period.

In the first six months of the year, RMK sold 1.5 million cubic metres of timber, for a total of EUR 69.8 million. The average sales price of timber settled at EUR 47.1 per cubic metre, up 12.6% year on year. In the first half of the year, RMK sold 80 000 cubic metres of cutting waste and wood chips, for EUR 2.5 million, with the average sales price reaching EUR 30.3 per cubic metre.

Compare: In the first half of 2013, RMK sold 1.6 million cubic metres of timber, for a total of EUR 66.8 million, at an average price of EUR 41.8 per cubic metre; 0.1 million cubic metres of cutting waste and wood chips were sold for EUR 3.2 million, with the average sales price being EUR 27.7 per cubic metre.

RMK is the keeper, protector and manager of the forest and other natural biotic communities belonging to the Republic of Estonia. RMK earns a profit for the state through forest management, growing reforestation material, and organising forest and nature protection works. In addition, RMK establishes opportunities for nature walking and shapes nature awareness. RMK consists of the Sagadi Forest Centre, the Elistvere Animal Park, 70% of the Estonian-Finnish joint company AS Eesti Metsataim and the Põlula Fish Farm. More than 700 people work for RMK.