SCA has highlighted the strong corporate growth and efficiency improvements it has made during the fourth quarter of 2012.

The company's net sales total for the three-month period came to 85.41 billion Swedish kroner (8.39 billion pounds), up by five percent year over year, while its operating profit level increased by 12 percent.

During the year, SCA completed the acquisition of Georgia-Pacific's European tissue operations and the divestiture of its packaging operations, which will help make the company more efficient and streamlined.

Additionally, a new hygiene organisation was launched and an extensive cost-cutting programme was initiated that will deliver extensive savings when it comes into full effect.

Jan Johansson, chief executive officer of SCA, said: "We also introduced an efficiency program in our forest products operations, which will lead to annual savings of 1.3 billion kroner, with full effect from 2015."

The firm operates across around 100 countries and employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide.