Mercer International 3Q sales down 9% year-over-year, to Euro 203.1 million

For the 3Q 2013, net loss declined to Euro 2.2 million from a net loss of Euro 9.7 million in the 3Q 2012 and a net loss of Euro 9.9 million per share, for the 2Q 2013.

Jimmy S.H. Lee, President and Chairman, stated: "In the current quarter, Operating EBITDA improved to Euro 24.8 million from Euro 14 million in the prior quarter which included costs and production losses associated with our Celgar mill's shutdown. Our results in the current quarter reflect generally stable pulp prices, severance and personnel costs associated with the Celgar workforce reduction, a strong Euro versus the U.S. dollar and continued high fiber costs in Germany."

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2013 decreased by approximately 9% to Euro 203.1 million from Euro 223.3 million in the same period in 2012, due to lower pulp revenues and marginally lower energy and chemical revenues.

Pulp production decreased by approximately 1% to 369,011 ADMTs in the current quarter from 373,369 ADMTs in the same quarter of 2012.

For the 3Q 2013, operating income increased to Euro 10.1 million from Euro 7.2 million in the comparative quarter of 2012, primarily due to higher pulp sales realizations.

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 decreased by approximately 5% to Euro 611.5 million from Euro 645.7 million in the same period in 2012, due to both lower pulp and energy and chemical revenues.

Pulp production decreased by approximately 3% to 1,079,677 ADMTs in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 from 1,118,758 ADMTs in the same period of 2012, primarily due to lower pulp production at Celgar mill.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, operating income decreased to Euro 18.8 million from Euro 41.8 million in the comparative period of 2012, primarily due to the combined effect of higher fiber costs, the impact of a weaker U.S. dollar relative to the Euro and the Celgar mill's maintenance shutdown.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2013, operating EBITDA decreased to Euro 63.1 million from Euro 85.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.