Packaging giant Smurfit Kappa saw its pre-tax profit rise 39% to €321m over the first nine months of the year.
Revenues for the period grew by 1% to €5.975 billion from €5.924 billion the same time last year.
That was despite what chief executive Gary McGann described as a weaker macroeconomics backdrop in the three months to the end of September.
During that quarter the company's profits fell by 11%, while revenues inched 1% higher to €2.027 billion.
Mr McGann said that after a period of debt paydown, Smurfit Kappa is "substantially better positioned" today than at any other point in its recent history, with a well invested asset base and an optimal capital structure.
He said that despite the macroeconomic concerns, the group expects to deliver 2014 EBITDA growth in line with market expectations.
Shares in the company closed 2.7% higher in Dublin trade today on the back of the results.
Smurfit Kappa said that European revenue in the first nine months of the year rose by over 3% to €4.615m after a solid performance in the third quarter and despite weaker containerboard prices earlier in the year.
The company increased its craftliner prices by €30 a tonne in September, which it said will be an immediate boost to profitability. But it added that market conditions remain "tight" during 2014.
In the Americas, Smurfit Kappa said the third quarter results include strong volume growth in the larger markets of Colombia and Mexico.
It said the operating environment for the business there reflects improvements in the domestic economies as well as a generally improving business environment as the US economy strengthens. However, some currency weakness in the region - especially in Venezuela, impact profitability in the quarter, it added.
