Kimberly-Clark's Q1 consumer tissue sales down 3%

In North America, sales of Kimberly-Clark's consumer tissue went down by 6 per cent, as volumes were down approximately 7 per cent. The decline was mostly in bathroom tissue, including impacts from competitive activity and lower promotion shipments. Further, sales in developed markets outside North America decreased 2 per cent. However, sales in developing and emerging markets increased 6 per cent including an approximate 6 point benefit from favourable currency rates. Net selling prices fell 3 per cent, while volumes improved 2 per cent. Volumes improved 4 per cent, primarily in Western/Central Europe, while the combined impact of changes in net selling prices and product mix lowered sales 2 per cent.

The net sales for the first quarter of 2017 totalled to $4.5 billion as against the same quarter of the previous year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates increased sales by 1 percent, while organic sales decreased 1 percent. It is expected that the company’s net sales for 2017 will rise from 1 to 2 per cent, with organic sales up 1 to 2 percent and currency exchange rates neutral overall.

"We delivered earnings growth in the first quarter despite a challenging environment, particularly in North America. We also achieved $110 million of cost savings and improved our margins. In addition, we returned more than $600 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases," said chairman and chief executive officer Thomas J. Falk.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India