Pre-Close Trading Update

Smith (DS) PLC
17 October 2007

17 October 2007





DS SMITH PLC PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATE



DS Smith Plc, the international packaging manufacturer and office products
wholesaler, today issues the following trading update for the half year ending
31 October 2007.



The Group's overall trading performance in the first half of 2007/08 has been
good. The trends within the business segments have been broadly as described in
our Interim Management Statement issued on 5 September 2007.  Most
significantly, the UK Paper and Corrugated Packaging segment has benefited
strongly from the price increases implemented in the second half of 2006/07 to
recover higher input costs.  We anticipate that pre-exceptional profit before
tax for the first half of the year will exceed £50 million (H1 2006/07: £29.0
million).



Looking ahead to the remainder of the financial year, key influences on the
Group's performance will be the rate of our recovery of raw material cost
increases, the level of demand across our markets in the light of any general
economic slow-down and the extent of the normal seasonal increase in our energy
costs during the winter months.  The Board is confident that the Group will make
substantial progress this year.



DS Smith will announce its results for the six months to 31 October 2007 on

5 December 2007.









Enquiries



DS Smith Plc    020 7932 5000

Tony Thorne, Group Chief Executive

Gavin Morris, Group Finance Director

Peter Aubusson, Group Communications Manager



Financial Dynamics   020 7269 7121

Richard Mountain/Susanne Yule




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