Metso’s profits narrow, but crusher orders solid

Finland-based Metso Corp., a maker of equipment for the mining, aggregates and metals sectors, says its Aggregates sector has been a bright spot in early 2025 sales made and orders received.

In an interim report covering the first quarter of this year, Metso says its overall sales declined by 4 percent compared with the first quarter of 2024, but Aggregates sector has experienced a 1 percent increase.

“Overall market activity remained at the previous quarter's level,” says Metso of early 2025 equipment market activity.

“Our first quarter performance was solid, despite the increasing uncertainty and turbulence towards the end of the period,” says Metso President and CEO Sami Takaluoma. “Our order intake grew from the previous year, and our profitability remained at a good level, although sales were slightly lower than in the comparison period.”

The company’s earnings per share fell from 15 European cents in the first quarter of last year to 14 cents in this year’s first quarter. Metso also says its operating profit fell by 9 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025.

“The Aggregates segment experienced seasonal improvement in demand at the beginning of the year, especially in North America and Europe,” states Metso, adding that Aggregates orders increased by 10 percent, “positively influenced by the acquisitions made in the United States last fall.”

Last September, Metso announced its acquisition of Diamond Z and Screen Machine Industries from Crane Group, an Ohio-based family-owned investment company. Screen Machine makes aggregates processing and recycling equipment while Diamond Z offers equipment for the wood processing sector.

Metso says in its Minerals segment, “There was good activity in small and mid-sized equipment orders and services, and the segment’s total orders increased by 3 percent when calculated at fixed exchange rates” in this year’s first quarter compared with early 2024.

Looking at the quarter now underway, Metso states, “In April, we have seen volatility, especially regarding tariffs. We believe that our extensive global presence and supply chain will help us navigate these challenges and their direct impacts are likely to be manageable.”

Continues the firm, “A more significant issue is the potential impact of tariffs and counter-tariffs on global economic growth and, consequently, on the demand from our customer industries. So far, the underlying demand has been stable, but we are monitoring the situation and preparing to respond quickly to any changes.”

In the market outlook section of its report, Metso says it “expects that the market activity in both Minerals and Aggregates will remain at the current level,” but “tariff-related turbulence could potentially affect global economic growth and market activity.”