Utenos Trikotazas: Utenos Trikotažas Group achieves 13.4% growth in 2017

Utena, Lithuania, 2018-03-01 16:02 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Utenos Trikotažas AB, the largest textile group in Central and Eastern Europe,
grew rapidly during 2017, with group sales increasing 13.4% from the previous
year to EUR 25.8 million. The Group's pre-tax profit for 2017 was EUR 383
thousand. The pre-tax profit was negatively impacted by a substantial increase
in raw materials prices which was not fully transferred to client prices for
products. Wage costs also rose significantly. 

Sales of products and services for the company Utenos Trikotažas AB itself
increased 15% in 2017 to EUR 22.6 million, of which 82.2% was for export. The
Company's pre-tax profit for the year was EUR 2.25 million, compared with EUR
674 thousand in 2016. Growth of the Company's pre-tax profit was due to income
from subsidiary companies dividends and capital reduction. 

"Last year's sales growth sets a positive tone - sales grew in all business
segments. Factors behind that include the groundwork done in export markets and
work with new clients as well as expansion of our chain of own-brand stores and
the creation of new collections. I'm convinced the Group's potential to grow
rests on the two pillars of our business strategy to be "organically
innovative": first, we focus completely on meeting clients' needs for top
quality manufacturing and product innovation, and second, we take great care to
ensure production processes are environmentally friendly and consumer-friendly.
Our clients both in Lithuania and abroad really value that," said Algirdas
Šabunas, the general manager of the Utenos Trikotažas AB group. 

Compared to 2016, when the Group had a pre-tax profit of EUR 1.22 million, its
smaller pre-tax profit in 2017 was due to sharply increased prices for raw
materials as well as complications in the supply of materials which prevented
fulfilment of the full potential for client orders. Rapid growth of wages in
the Group was partially offset by increased production volumes and orders. 

Exports made up 78.7% of the Group's product sales last year, which is 14.7%
more than in 2016. The largest export markets (accounting for 68.1% of all
exports) remain Scandinavia and the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria
and Switzerland. Exports of goods and services to these regions grew 14.5%
during the year to EUR 17.6 million. 

Sales in Lithuania also grew significantly and were up 9,0 % in 2017 compared
to 2016. Own-brand sales increased 18.0% and made up 13.6% of all Group sales.
That was thanks to the renewed UTENOS brand, which is attracting more and more
consumer attention, and expansion of the UTENOS chain of branded stores. Late
last year 4 new stores were opened - in Mažeikiai, Alytus, Taurage and Kaunas.
In total the Group owns 15 stores throughout Lithuania. 

During 2017, the Group invested EUR 0.8 million (twice the 2016 amount) to
increase manufacturing capacity and acquire new technological equipment. The
same types of investments also dominate plans for 2018. 

"The growing scale of operations lets us continue increasing capacity and
production efficiency, thus addressing the challenges of rising labour costs.
Operational efficiency is one of the top priorities this year. We hope it will
allow us to not only control operating costs, but also successfully fulfil
growing client orders," Algirdas Šabunas noted. 

The Group ended 2017 with rapid growth: sales of goods and services in the last
quarter of the year grew 20.8% versus the same period of 2016. Positive growth
dynamics also continue in 2018 - in January the company Utenos Trikotažas AB's
sales exceeded the EUR 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. The last
time the company had a bigger monthly result was February 2008, when sales were
EUR 3.49 million. 

At the start of last year, the Utenos Trikotažas AB group of companies joined
Greenpeace's "Detox" project to promote fashion without pollution. In joining,
the Group committed itself by 2020 to eliminate from its production chain any
chemical substances that have an adverse effect on people or the environment. 

The Utenos Trikotažas AB group includes the companies Utenos Trikotažas,
Šatrija, Gotija and Mrija (Ukraine). The Group of companies is part of the SBA
concern. 

About Utenos Trikotažas AB:

Utenos Trikotažas AB is the largest and most modern textile group in Central
and Eastern Europe and part of the SBA concern. Companies in the Group include
Šatrija, Gotija and Mrija (Ukraine). The company Utenos Trikotažas itself owns
two retail brands - UTENOS and ABOUT. In 2017, Utenos Trikotažas AB was the
first in Lithuania to join Greenpeace's "Detox" project for fashion without
pollution and commit by 2020 to eliminate from its production chain any
chemical substances that adversely affect people or the environment. 

Utenos Trikotažas AB

Managing Director Algirdas Šabunas

tel. No. 370 389 51445

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