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Smurfit Westrock reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings July 30, and the Dublin-based paper packaging company says its seen “significant improvement” in its North American business thanks to a “sharper operating focus.”
Overall, Smurfit Westrock, which has North American headquarters in Atlanta, recorded $7.94 billion in net sales in the second quarter of this year compared with $2.97 billion in the same period last year—the sharp increase is thanks to Smurfit Kappa’s acquisition of WestRock last summer.
The company also saw a slight increase in operating profit, going from $244 million in last year’s second quarter to $251 million this year, and its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, are up to $1.21 billion in the most recent quarter—a 15.3 percent margin, compared with $480 million and a 16.2 percent margin last year.
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"I am pleased to report a strong second quarter performance as we continue to deliver in line with our adjusted EBITDA guidance,” Smurfit Westrock President and CEO Tony Smurfit says in a statement accompanying the second-quarter results. “This performance is driven by the significant improvement in our North American business and continued excellent results from our Latin American operations, somewhat offset by a resilient performance from our EMEA and APAC businesses.”
Net sales in the company’s North American business jumped from $438 million in the second quarter of 2024 to $4.76 billion in the second quarter of 2025, while the segment’s adjusted EBITDA went from $61 million to $752 million.
“We have delivered an initial yet significant improvement within our North American business, reflecting a much sharper operational and commercial focus, together with identified synergy benefits,” Smurfit said during an earnings call July 30. “We are only getting started here and with significant scope for continued delivery.”
Despite what Smurfit calls a “challenging market,” the European segment also continues to perform, and the CEO says the company expects “we are close to a low.”
The company recorded $2.77 billion in second-quarter net sales in its Europe, MEA and APAC business compared with $2.21 in the same period last year, while the segment’s adjusted EBITDA improved slightly from $362 million last year to $372 this year.
Meanwhile, the Latin American segment also saw improvement in net sales and adjusted EBITDA.
Smurfit Westrock reported $515 million and $123 million in second-quarter net sales and adjusted EBITDA, respectively, compared with $325 million and $87 million in the same period last year.
“Our Latin American operations delivered an outstanding margin performance in a region which continues to present opportunities for growth,” Smurfit said. We see opportunity across each region, whether it's in terms of operating efficiency, a sharper commercial focus or capitalizing on growth areas.
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“Smurfit Westrock is about building on the strong foundation we have laid to be the go-to innovative and sustainable packaging partner of choice for our customers, with an emphasis on value, quality, and service,” he adds regarding the first year of the combined business.
“Smurfit Westrock, which operates in 40 countries, is truly at the beginning of this journey. We believe that we have the best people in the business, we believe we have the best knowledge in our business, and we have strong market positions in practically all countries in which we operate.”
The company’s full second-quarter 2025 earnings report can be found online.