Design

DS Smith expects profits to hit at least £70m for 2006/07 as it continues to cash in on “buoyant” European demand for corrugated case material.

The packaging and paper group, which made a £53.4m profit last year, said a “better pricing environment” and strategic and operational changes had also aided its cause.

DS Smith is one of the biggest players in retail-ready packaging (RRP).

The rise of RRP is thought to be behind growth in UK die-cut corrugated production in the first quarter of 2006.

Die-cut production accounted for 31% of total corrugated production in companies that offer die-cutting in the first three months of 2007, according to Confederation of Paper Industries figures, compared with 29.8% in the same period last year.

DS Smith plans to publish its preliminary results for 2006/07 on 28 June.