Suominen Corporation, a global leader in nonwoven fabrics, reported a 3.4% increase in net sales, reaching €117.5 million ($132.15 million) for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Despite lower sales volumes compared to the same period last year, the company achieved higher sales prices due to rising raw material costs, an improved product mix, and robust commercial execution. Additionally, currency fluctuations positively impacted net sales, contributing €0.9 million ($1.01 million).
The company operates across two business regions:
Americas: Net sales amounted to €73.6 million (~$82.78 million).
EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa): Net sales totaled €43.9 million (~$49.37 million).
However, comparable EBITDA declined to €4.1 million (~$4.61 million) due to higher operating expenses. There were no factors affecting comparability during this period.
“The market remained volatile in the first quarter of 2025, making for a challenging start to the year. Global supply chains are being impacted by geopolitical uncertainty, particularly around tariffs, prompting stakeholders to take precautionary measures. Stock levels for Asian-imported goods are increasing across both of our business areas. Despite a decline in consumer confidence, demand for our products remained stable during the first quarter of the year. Notably, 27 per cent of our net sales in the quarter came from new products launched in the last three years, demonstrating our ability to innovate and meet market needs,” said Tommi Björnman, president & CEO.
Commitment to Sustainability and Operational Excellence
Suominen places a high priority on safety, aiming for zero lost-time accidents (LTA). One LTA was recorded at Suominen sites during Q1 2025. The company is also focused on achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), targeting an 80% DEI index by 2030.
Aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C, Suominen is dedicated to reducing scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating manufacturing waste to landfill by 2030.
The company’s portfolio includes sustainable nonwoven materials, with ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact. Suominen aims to source over two-thirds of its raw materials from plant-based resources and ensure that more than half of its new R&D initiatives focus on advancing sustainable product development.
“Sustainability is integral to our strategy and a key factor in our long-term success. We are committed to being the frontrunner in sustainable nonwovens and our innovation work is strongly focused on developing more sustainable nonwoven solutions that meet our customers’ needs. In March, we published our new sustainability agenda for the period 2025–2030. The most important topics for us and our stakeholders are people and safety, sustainable nonwovens, low impact manufacturing and corporate citizenship. The KPI’s presented in the agenda reflect our commitment to sustainability and help us measure our impact as well as drive meaningful change. Last year, we announced two large investments, in Spain and in the US, to enhance our capabilities in sustainable products. These projects, totaling approximately €30 million (~$33.74 million), are progressing as planned,” Björnman added.
Innovation and Investment for the Future
Suominen continues to focus on sustainable growth by integrating innovation with long-term environmental and social goals. With a strong emphasis on safety, resource efficiency, and impactful R&D, the company is positioning itself as a leader in the global nonwovens market, ensuring it meets both customer demands and sustainability objectives.
