Cost pressures and lower volumes pull down US pulp,paper industry profits in 1Q;margins decline to an average of 2.5%

摘要

Despite gaining positive momentum during fourth quarter 2006,US paper and forest products companies faced powerful headwinds from increased cost pressure coupled with seasonally lower demand,particularly for containerboard,uncoated freesheet,newsprint,and wood products,which more than offset higher prices for most pulp and paper grades.The result was lower profit margins compared with last year's fourth quarter.