Clearwater Paper Corp.'s Pulp and Paperboard Segment Sales Surged 7%

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Spokane, Washington- headquartered Clearwater Paper Corporation announced results for fourth quarter and full year 2018.

The company reported lower net sales of $428.7 million in Q4 last year, as compared with the year ago quarter. The sales had totaled $436.7 million in Q4 ’17. The lower sales were mainly due to the sale of the company’s Ladysmith, Wisconsin mill in August last year. Lower tissue shipments too impacted quarterly sales. EDITDA during the quarter was significantly higher at $(149.7) million, as compared with $52.2 million in Q4 2017. The adjusted EBITDA too dropped sharply by 21% year-on-year.

The Consumer Products segment sales were down by 9.3%, whereas the Pulp and Paperboard segment sales surged higher by 6.9%.  

In 2018, the company reported flat sales of $1.7 billion. The decline in tissue shipment volumes was offset by price increases in tissue and paperboard. The adjusted EBITA dropped from $189.5 million in 2017 to $176.7 million in 2018.

Commenting on the Q4 and full-year 2018 result, Linda K. Massman, president and CEO noted that the solid fourth quarter results by the company was primarily driven by strong execution of its pulp and paperboard business. The year witnessed several key developments including implementation of a regional consumer products operating model, completion of sale of Ladysmith recycled tissue mill and significant progress in start-up of converting lines in Shelby facility, Massman noted.