Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Belarus: Gomelstroymaterialy has entered talks with the administration of St Petersburg’s Krasnogvardeyski District over the possible start of exports of insulation and wall panels to the Russian population centre. Business World Magazine has reported that construction, especially of social facilities, is also an area in which the local government officials say they would like to advance cross-border cooperation.

Denmark: Rockwool recorded consolidated sales of Euro924m in the first quarter of 2022, up by 38% year-on-year from first-quarter 2021 levels. The group’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 12% year-on-year to Euro155m.

CEO Jens Birgersson “High demand and sales price increases drove double-digit revenue growth across almost all business units. While not materially affecting sales performance at this point, the terrible war in Ukraine and the challenging geopolitical situation are contributing to an already stressed global economy. Even with the price increases, the soaring energy, material, and logistics costs diluted margins in the first quarter. This will necessitate further price increases across the businesses.” Birgersson added “We expect to restore margins in the coming quarters.”

In its Outlook 2022, Rockwool predicted full-year net sales growth of 20 – 25% in local currencies and Euro425m-worth of group investments during the year, excluding acquisitions. It says that its business in Russia continues operating on a stand-alone basis, in order to avoid nationalisation and loss of its intellectual property.

Russia: Denmark-based Rockwool has cancelled plans for a Euro200m expansion to its Vyborg stone wool insulation plant in Russia. In a statement, the company said that it would continue its operations in the country, while also respecting international sanctions. Rockwool employs 1200 people in Russia, 10% of its total employees.

In defending its decision to maintain ordinary operations, the producer said “For Rockwool, there is no contradiction in standing side by side with the Ukrainian people and at the same time standing side by side with our Russian colleagues.” It added that it has donated to the Danish Red Cross to support Ukrainian victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.