This month marks a new milestone for paper production for Willamette Falls Paper Company (WFPC). On October 1, WFPC expanded its capacity on a third paper machine to manufacture additional coated freesheet paper.
Previously only running at 50% capacity, this paper machine is now operating at 100% capacity to meet customer demand. This has increased our ability to produce additional tons of 60# and 70# text, as well as a new higher yield 75# Sonoma® coated grade.
more at: https://whattheythink.com/news/112492-willamette-falls-paper-company-expands-manufacturing-capacity-meet-demand-coated-freesheet-paper/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily
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President and CEO Ilkka Hämälä: The economy continued to be weak in the third quarter of 2024. In the wood market, trade was normal, and prices remained at a record high, compared with figures across the last two decades. A high cost level combined with low demand across the board resulted in a weak result for the third quarter. The quarterly result was significantly improved by the business interruption insurance compensation for the accident at the Kemi bioproduct mill, which was allocated to the first half. Negotiations on the final insurance compensation are still underway, but EUR 67 million in compensation was recorded for the third quarter. The slowdown in the construction industry continues, and there are no signs of a change in the demand for sawn timber and plywood. Demand for Kerto® LVL has remained strong, proving the product’s competitiveness in construction industry solutions. In China, the pulp market picked up in September, and prices began to gradually increase in softwood pulp trade. Demand remained stable in the European pulp market even though prices continued to decrease, still remaining higher than the price level in Asia. In Europe, the paperboard market continues to be affected by Asian paperboard imports to regions neighbouring the EU such as Türkiye. In the US, the market situation has remained slightly stronger than in Europe. As is typical of consumer products, demand for tissue papers has been stable, and profitability has remained at a reasonable level.
HIGHLIGHTS • Pulp sales of 2,797 thousand tons (+5% vs. 3Q21). • Paper sales³ of 331 thousand tons (-2% vs. 3Q21). • Average net pulp price in export market: US$821/ton (+25% vs. 3Q21). • Average net paper price3 of R$6,905/ton (+40% vs. 3Q21). • Pulp cash cost ex-downtime of R$883/ton (+24% vs. 3Q21). • Leverage ratio declines to 2.1 times in USD and 2.2 times in BRL, despite the investment cycle. • Cerrado Project completes 31% of physical progress and 24% of financial progress
Operating performance for the third quarter was substantially above last year with the group delivering EBITDA(2) excluding special items of US$151 million. Despite the third quarter being seasonally the weakest for our business and a sluggish global economy, the underlying profitability, excluding a US$30 million impact of the scheduled maintenance shuts at Saiccor and Somerset Mills, remained steady quarter-on-quarter. The performance was driven by sustained strong market conditions in the pulp segment, offset somewhat by a muted recovery in paper markets. Included in EBITDA was a positive plantation fair value price adjustment of US$3 million.