SCA this morning reported its year end results for 2011. While total sales decreased slightly, when adjust for exchange rates the company reported that sales increased 4% to reach SEK 105.7 billion ($15.6 billion). These results are much brighter when you look at the personal care market, particularly in emerging markets where growth was reported at 13% for the year. This growth is being driven by acquisitions in the developing world, where most recently SCA has bought stakes in two Turkish hygiene producers and one Brazilian company.

Reporting that demand is expected to continue within SCA’s hygiene operations, CEO Jan Johansson reported that SCA continues to carry out important efficiency measures while stepping up the pace of new products in both mature and emerging markets.