Woodcats International Ltd posted a 13.7 per cent decline in profit before tax for the three months ended March, marking the wood products manufacturer's first earnings report since listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market in March.

"Demand for our products from manufacturers and other key customers declined,” stated the company executives in the preface to its financials.

It was due to the “trailing impact of Hurricane Melissa” which struck the island last October, and also sales seasonality. Woodcats, which operates from Slipe Pen Road, Kingston, manufactures and sells wooden products, including pallets and mulch. Parent company Derrimon Trading Company Limited retains a 49.4 per cent stake.