Euro-Graph Publishes October 2022 Statistics of the Euorpean Graphic Papers Industry

Net sales for the third quarter 2020 decreased $310 million compared to the third quarter of 2019, as a result of significant declines in sales volume and unfavorable price/mix. Of the $310 million, or 50%, net sales decline, $36 million, or 6%, was attributable to the closure of our Luke Mill in June 2019 and $145 million, or 24%, was a result of the sale of our Androscoggin and Stevens Point mills in February 2020, and $70 million, or 11%, was attributable to the indefinite idling of our Duluth and Wisconsin Rapids mills in July 2020. Total company sales volume was down from 679 thousand tons during the third quarter 2019, to 382 thousand tons during the same period of the current year. Of the 297 thousand ton volume decline, 36 thousand tons were attributable to the closure of our Luke Mill in June 2019, 146 thousand tons were a result of the sale of our Androscoggin and Stevens Point mills in February 2020, 79 thousand tons were attributable to the indefinite idling of our Duluth and Wisconsin Rapids mills in July 2020, and the additional decline in volume resulted from lower customer demand driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Operating loss was $44 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $72 million when compared to operating income of $28 million for the third quarter of 2019.

Mondi, a global leader in the production of sustainable packaging and paper, recently put a new slitting and rewinding unit into operation at its Slovak paper mill in Ružomberok. The equipment allows for an extended capacity in narrow reels thus complementing Mondi’s portfolio offering. “We want to give our customers supply security for their paper needs in folio and various reel widths and for this we needed to extend our narrow reel capacity,” explains Bernhard Cantzler, Marketing and Sales Director at Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper. This wide paper portfolio is offered from Mondi SCP, Mondi’s integrated pulp and paper mill located in Slovakia fulfilling strict sustainability requirements. All Mondi uncoated fine paper brands produced at the site are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at the Bronze level. This certification ensures that, regardless of the level, all certified products are safe, circular and responsibly made. Depending on the specific product the papers carry the EU Ecolabel and are chain of custody certified according to PEFC and/or FSCTM requirements.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced a preliminary update to the company’s previous outlook for fourth quarter 2020 Adjusted EBITDA of $52 to $62 million. Due to significantly greater than expected demand in tissue, strong operating performance, and favorable cost trends, the company now expects Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2020 to be in the range of $71 to $76 million. “Demand for tissue products increased significantly in November through mid-December. We believe that the recent increase in COVID-19 cases caused a temporary change in consumer buying patterns, which are starting to normalize in later December,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “We now expect our fourth quarter volumes to be above our previous guidance, with shipments exceeding those experienced in the fourth quarter of 2019,” Kitch concluded.