Kristian Tornøe Johansen's questions to RCWLY leadership • Q3 2024
Question
Asked for clarification on the growth slowdown in Eastern Europe, the seemingly mixed signals on pricing, the expected level of price increases for the next year, the outlook for the Grodan business, and the comparison basis for December sales.
Answer
The slowdown in Eastern Europe is due to a mix of factors including reduced building activity and price pressure from foam competitors, though ROCKWOOL is holding its prices. The overall Q3 price increase of 2% was driven by an 8% hike in North America, while other markets like Eastern Europe and France saw price pressure. A 2-3% average price increase is planned for next year. The negative mix in the Grodan business is not expected to continue in Q4. December of the previous year was a normal December, with sales typically 25-30% lower due to holidays.