Sappi’s completion of the Gratkorn PM9 mill conversion in Austria, to label papers, coupled with good progress on the Somerset PM2 conversion to paperboard in the US, set for commissioning in 2025, positioned the group to meet growing demand for sustainable packaging and speciality papers solutions, the group CEO Steve Binnie said. Its management said the group had exceeded their expectations in the 2024 financial year. Adjusted earnings a share came to 41 US cents versus 53 US cents in 2023, while the dividend was slightly lower at 14 US cents per share versus 15 US cents in 2023. The executive directors total remuneration increased sharply. Binnie’s increased to $2.02 million in 2024, from $835 819 in 2023, while that of chief financial officer Glen Pearce increased to $1.08m from $476 438 previously, the annual report showed.