Pulp prices boost Fibrek Inc.

November 5, 2010 by timbercommunity

Strong balance sheet following the recent refinancing in Fibrek.
The upsurge in international softwood pulp prices this year continues to boost performance at Longueuil's Fibrek Inc., operator of the big St. Felicien mill in the Saguenay region and two smaller U.S. mills.
reports Montrealgazette after the Fibrek reports results for its third quarter.

FIBREK REPORTS RESULTS FOR ITS THIRD QUARTER OF 2010
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:

Strong EBITDA(1) of $19.8 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to EBITDA of $6.4 million in the same quarter of 2009. Net earnings of $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to a net loss of $14.5 million in the corresponding quarter of 2009

Cash flows generated from operations of $18.1 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to cash flows used in operating activities of $7.3 million in the corresponding quarter of 2009. (Cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 totalled $46.4 million, compared with cash flows used in operating activities of $5.7 million for the same period of 2009.)

Woodchip price reductions with all of its suppliers to result in cost savings of approximately $10 million for the 12-month period beginning September 1, 2010
Longueuil, Québec, November 4, 2010 – Fibrek Inc. (TSX: FBK), a leading producer and marketer of high-quality virgin and recycled kraft pulp, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Sales amounted to $132.2 million, compared with $112.8 million for the third quarter of 2009. For a fifth consecutive quarter, positive EBITDA(1) were recorded with $19.8 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to $6.4 million for the corresponding quarter of 2009. Net earnings for the quarter totalled $3.8 million, or $0.03 per share, compared with a net loss of $14.5 million, or $0.16 loss per share, for the third quarter of 2009.

Commenting on the third quarter results, Pierre Gabriel Côté, President and Chief Executive Officer, indicated: “Higher market pulp prices, more efficient mill operations and higher pulp output drove year-over-year improvements in our third quarter results. Our refinancing has strengthened our balance sheet and favourably impacted our results for the third quarter with reduced financial charges and increased flexibility in cash management. Our operational excellence initiative helped drive results in the third quarter by increasing productivity and efficiency in our mills. However, in the RBK pulp segment, these gains were largely offset by the cost of sorted office paper (SOP).”

Sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 totalled $64.9 million, compared with $63.1 million for the corresponding period of 2009, representing an increase of $1.8 million. This increase is attributable to higher pulp prices of $23.8 million partly offset by a lower sales volume of $18.4 million and a stronger Canadian dollar compared to the US currency of $3.6 million.
NBSK market pulp price (for pulp delivered in North America) was higher by US$267 per tonne or 36% on average during the third quarter of 2010 when compared with the corresponding quarter of 2009. The increase in NBSK market pulp prices, partly offset by a stronger Canadian dollar when compared with the third quarter of 2009, resulted in an average sales price of CAN$1,039 per tonne, CAN$234 per tonne above the average sales price recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2009.
The NBSK pulp sales volume totalled 73,920 tonnes in the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of 20,919 tonnes when compared with 94,839 tonnes for the corresponding period of 2009. The lower sales volume was mainly due to a strong recovery quarter in 2009 and an increase in world supply in 2010.
Production at the Saint-Félicien mill during the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 totalled 92,492 tonnes, compared with 89,910 tonnes in the third quarter of 2009. The increase in production volume was due to better productivity.

“NBSK pulp market has begun to soften towards the end of the third quarter but at a slower pace than anticipated. In a downward commodity market, it is normal behavior for customers to hold back orders until prices are confirmed. There is currently no consensus amongst forecasters in our industry, but market fundamentals such as tight inventories, a weak US dollar and a significant Chinese presence in the market continue to support a soft landing for NBSK pulp prices. As per the October 21, 2010 issue of the Pulp & Paper Products Council’s report, sales to China amounted to 685,000 tonnes in September, up 70% from August. Year-over-year world pulp shipments were up 2.9% with softwood pulp shipments up by a healthy 6.2%.
The RBK pulp market continues to be negatively impacted by dropping hardwood kraft pulp prices. RBK pulp prices typically follow wastepaper prices which, at this time, are not going in the same direction as hardwood kraft pulp prices. Consequently, customers who can substitute RBK pulp for hardwood kraft pulp and who have no recycled content requirements have left the RBK market. While, the financial results of this business segment are disappointing, North American RBK volumes continue to increase as demand for greener applications and recycled contents are coming back.

The expected woodchip price reduction has materialized during the third quarter through the yearly exercise of setting the market price, effective September 1, 2010, as part of the supply agreement with AbitibiBowater. Fibrek has reached price reductions with all of its woodchip suppliers which will result in cost savings of approximately $10 million for the 12-month period beginning September 1, 2010.
During the month of October 2010, the Fairmont Mill took its scheduled maintenance shutdown resulting in 10 days of downtime. As for the Saint-Félicien Mill, it will proceed with its regular major maintenance in November 2010 and plans to benefit from the downtime to install a machine press, an investment project that should increase production efficiency, reduce costs and result in an additional capacity of approximately 13,000 tonnes per year. The major maintenance shutdown and installation of the machine press should take eight days to complete and the Saint-Félicien Mill is expected to run at the new capacity level in December 2010.

The impact of the refinancing has not only strengthened the balance sheet but also reduced financial charges and provided increased flexibility in cash management. As of today, Fibrek’s $75 million ABL credit facility is totally unused,” concluded Pierre Gabriel Côté.