RMK’s profit in 2010 increased nearly threefold 28.01

According to Aigar Kallas, Chairman of the Management Board of RMK, three quarters of the turnover was earned from the sale of timber. “Significant growth in turnover and profit compared with the previous year resulted from the rapid recovery of demand on the timber market. The forestry segment managed to pull out of the economic recession the quickest, and RMK marketed a record yearly quantity of timber – 2.83 million cubic metres,” said Kallas.

“This year we plan to sell the same amount of timber and as the prices of raw material have increased, the sales projection in the budget for 2011 has been made for EUR 130 million (EEK 2 billion),” said Kallas.

In 2010 RMK marketed 2.57 million cubic metres of timber at the average price of EUR 40.7 per cubic metre and 0.26 million cubic metres of wood chips at the average price of EUR 35.1 per cubic metre. During the year, the sales volume of timber increased by 20%. In comparison, in 2009 RMK sold 2.29 million cubic metres of timber at the average price of EUR 32.8 per cubic metre. Slightly less than 70 000 cubic metres of wood chips were sold in 2009, at the average price of EUR 33.4 per cubic metre. The prices of timber grew by 24% on average, and wood chips by 5% with the year.

In 2010 RMK grew 7.7 million forestry plants. AS Eesti Metsataim – 60% of which is managed by RMK – grew an additional 5.7 million plants. Most of the grown plants were used for regenerating cutting areas of state forests.

In 2010 RMK performed reforestation works in state forests – planting, sowing and helping natural regeneration – on a little over 4600 hectares. In addition, cleaning of young growth was performed on 14 000 hectares and improvement cutting of medial age forests was performed on 11 000 hectares.

Regeneration cutting was performed on almost 8300 hectares. Forest, ruined as the result of the storm in August, was cleared from over 200 hectares.

Over the year, people used the activity possibilities of recreational areas and protected areas managed by RMK a total of 1 570 000 times. In 18 nature centres, RMK carried out 1926 programs promoting nature awareness and nature preservation, with almost 37 000 participants. The programs were complemented by the campaign “Together With Nature” dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Estonian Nature Conservation Society. Various events of the campaign were attended by more than 30 000 people.

RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, aimed at sustainable and efficient management of the state forest.RMK grows reforestation materials, organises forestry works, is engaged in the sale of forest and timber and organises game upkeep.In addition, RMK establishes opportunities for hiking in nature and forest recreation on recreational areas, in Estonia’s five national parks and 40 other protected areas, and shapes awareness of nature.RMK manages 38% of Estonia’s forests.

Aigar Kallas
Chairman of the Management Board of RMK
Tel +372 676 7299, +372 528 1299
E-mail aigar.kallas@rmk.ee
www.rmk.ee