AAK Annual Report 2017

Risks AAK’s operations are constantly exposed to risks, threats and external factors with an impact on the company. Through a proactive approach to business intelligence, the company aims to anticipate changes in factors affecting operations. Plans and policies are adjusted continuously to counteract potential negative effects. Active risk management, such as hedging raw material prices and currencies, reduces the risks that the company faces. Raw materials +DUYHVWV DUH ZHDWKHU GHSHQGHQW :KLOH D \HDU RI SRRU harvests drives up prices, a year of successful harvests reduces them. Most of our raw materials are traded on the international world market, where they are purchased in IRUHLJQ FXUUHQFLHV 7KLV H[SRVHV XV WR VLJQL¿FDQW FXUUHQF\ and raw material price risks. Our strategy of active risk management means that, as soon as a sales contract is signed, we hedge the equivalent currency and raw material price exposure. This safeguards margins against price risks on agreed sales contracts. Since many raw materials are produced at a considerable distance from our production plants and markets, transport costs are an important factor. Particularly the potential impact on margins from the growing demand for environ- mentally-acceptable transport methods has to be taken into FRQVLGHUDWLRQ &RPSHWLWLRQ LQ FRPPRGLWLHV LV ¿HUFH The processing industry AAK is part of the processing industry. Improvements in results are achieved through organic volume growth and by increasing sales of speciality products with higher margins relative to lower-margin bulk products. Capacity expansion aimed at increasing total volumes in order to meet growing demand has a relatively long planning horizon. AAK must analyze potential growth in good time. In the meantime, it is possible to balance production between RXU SODQWV WR HQDEOH SURFHVVLQJ RI VSHFL¿F SURGXFWV FORVHU to their markets and accommodate swings in supply and demand. Key speciality products are produced at dedicated plants, where problems with machinery can have a major impact. Political instability Operating globally always carries risks, but it can also be a stabilizing factor. Although AAK largely operates in mature markets in the US and Europe, much of company growth is generated in developing markets, which are vulnerable to political instability that can impact currencies and exchange rates. We also operate in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America, where instability may arise.