Atria Plc achieved 4% year-on-year net sales growth to EUR475.2 million in Q3 despite African swine fever outbreak in Finland reducing exports to China and Japan, with the disease costing the company approximately EUR4-5 million in quarterly earnings.
- Atria reported 4% net sales growth to EUR475.2 million in Q3, with Finland up 3.4% and Sweden up 8.3% year-on-year
- African swine fever impact: ASF outbreak in Finland reduced EBIT by EUR4-5 million, including EUR2 million in Q3 alone, due to export suspension to China and Japan
- Group EBIT declined to 5.3% of net sales from 5.6% in the prior year period, though nine-month EBIT increased EUR4 million to EUR59.9 million
- Sweden and Denmark & Estonia operations delivered year-on-year improvements, partially offsetting Finland's ASF-related losses
- Atria is among Europe's leading poultry producers with 46 million chickens annually and operates across poultry and pork sectors in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia
Third-quarter results published by Atria Plc highlight a year-on-year increase of 4.0% in the group’s net sales to EUR475.2 million (US$533.7 million).
In the July-September period, the group’s businesses in its home base of Finland, and Sweden registered year-on-year sales growth of 3.4% and 8.3%, respectively. A 3.2% dip was recorded for its Denmark & Estonia operation.
Overall, group profit for the quarter — expressed as Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) — slipped to EUR25.3 million. This is equivalent to 5.3% of net sales, and it compares with 5.6% for the comparable period in 2025.
Among the challenges affecting Atria’s business in recent months was the emergence of African swine fever (ASF) in southeastern Finland at the end of July. So far, cases have been detected only in wild boar, with none in domestic pigs. However, the suspension of pigmeat exports to China and Japan due to the presence of ASF within the country’s borders in 2026 is estimated to have reduced the EBIT for Atria Finland by EUR4-5 million, including EUR2 million during the third quarter.
At least partially mitigating the effect of ASF on the group’s overall EBIT were reported year-on-year increases of EUR2.4 million and EUR300,00 in the corresponding figures for its Sweden and Denmark & Estonia businesses, respectively.
Nine-month results: positive developments in Finland, Sweden
For the first three quarters of the current fiscal year, Atria has recorded a 5.2% increase from the same period of 2025 for consolidated net sales at close to EUR1.41 billion. As for the latest three-month period, this was attributed largely to positive sales developments in Finland and Sweden, while for Denmark & Estonia, sales were down 2.5% compared with the same point in 2025.
Across the group, EBIT increased by EUR4 million to EUR59.9 million. For this metric, the Swedish and Danish-Estonian operations delivered year-on-year improvements, while the result for Finland was hit by the adverse trading developments linked to the emergence of ASF in the country.
Investments planned by Atria in 2025 are proceeding as scheduled, the group reports.
The focus in Finland is on the production of convenience foods and pancakes in Nurmo, and the beef sector in Kauhajoki. Meanwhile, ongoing investments in Sweden are targeting its meat product facility in Sköllersta, and the microwave meal plant in Järna.
In his comments on Atria’s financial results to date this year, the group’s CEO Kai Gyllström reported that profitable growth had been achieved in a challenging business environment.
“We can be satisfied with the strong growth and solid year-to-date result, especially considering the immediate impact of the African swine fever outbreak detected in Finland at the end of July on Atria Finland’s exports, as well as the increased cost pressures caused by the conflict in the Middle East,” he said.
More on Atria Plc
With estimated annual production of 46 million chickens, the group is among the leading poultry meat companies in Europe, according to WATT Poultry Top Poultry Companies database for 2025.
The same source records that Finland-based Atria is one of the largest meat producers in its home country. With operations in poultry and pork sectors, the group also has businesses in Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia.
For the last full financial year (January-December of 2025), Atria Plc reported achieving records for total net sales at EUR1.81 billion, and adjusted EBIT at EUR69.9 million. These improvements were ascribed mainly to strong performance delivered by its Swedish operations, as well as those in Finland, which had been boosted by the start of chicken meat exports to China during 2025. However, a year-on-year dip in the group’s adjusted EBIT was attributed to ASF outbreaks at two of the firm’s pig farms in Estonia last year.
