International technology group ANDRITZ has been awarded significant service contracts by SCA, Europe’s largest private forest owner, to further improve the performance of the Östrand pulp mill in northern Sweden. The contracts include the replacement of an economizer in the recovery boiler and the implementation of the SYNERGY Services concept for the white liquor plant and pulp drying processes. These improvements will increase availability and efficiency, thus helping to deliver the mill’s primary objective of increasing pulp production. Replacing recovery boiler heating surfaces, such as economizers, is one of ANDRITZ’s core service capabilities. According to Per Strand, Mill Manager at SCA Östrand: “We appreciated the solid design of the ANDRITZ economizers and the dedication shown by the project team. When we tested the SYNERGY concept, we found it to offer a structured approach that we believe can support our efforts to optimize pulp production at the Östrand mill.”

The year 2024 was marked by significant advancements in the Company's strategy, including the acquisition of new businesses and the start-up of the new mill in Ribas do Rio Pardo and the conclusion of its learning curve as early as December, anticipating the initial nine-month forecast. Regarding the performance of the pulp business unit in the last quarter of the year, base prices in China fell by 15% until the end of November (vs. the 3Q24 average), but it has been stable after this period. The quarter was also marked once again by the significant appreciation of the average USD against the average BRL and the increase in sales volume, both factors offsetting the decline in the average net pulp price. The cash production cost (excluding the effect of scheduled maintenance downtime) was 7% lower than in 3Q24, also benefited from the gradual stabilization of production at the Ribas do Rio Pardo unit. Therefore, adjusted EBITDA from pulp remained stable compared to 3Q24 but increased 53% compared to 4Q23. In the paper business unit, adjusted EBITDA declined in 4Q24 vs. 3Q24 (-9%), but remained stable in relation to 4Q23, in which the Company concluded the acquisitions of the Pine Bluff and Waynesville units.

For the first six months of 2022, Clearwater Paper reported net sales of $1 billion, a 22% increase compared to net sales of $832 million for the first six months of 2021. Net income for the first six months of 2022 was $31 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, compared to net loss for the first six months of 2021 of $40 million, or $2.37 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, Clearwater Paper reported adjusted net income in the first six months of 2022 of $36 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, compared to first six months of 2021 adjusted net loss of $6 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months was $122 million, compared to the first six months of 2021 Adjusted EBITDA of $69 million. Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard Products segment were $562 million for the first six months of 2022, up 26% compared to net sales of $447 million in the first six months of 2021. Segment operating income for the first six months of 2022 was $102 million, compared to $38 million for the first six months of 2021.