FINLAND – Valio, Finland’s leading dairy, has reported net turnover of FM 5.8 billion (980m euro) for the eight months to August 2001, a 9% increase on the same period the previous year.

The growth was due to an increase in domestic sales from 595 million euro in 2000 to 671 million euro in 2001. This was a direct result of the merger of Maito-Pirkka and Kainuun Osuusmeijeri co-operatives into Valio. Foreign sales remained unchanged at 309 million euro.

Exports of powders and yellow fats fell behind those of last year, while cheese exports grew. Meanwhile, the dairy received 10% more milk in the first eight months of 2001 than over the same period in the year 2000, taking its procurement share of Finnish milk to 78%.