Apr 29, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Norbord Inc. reported positive EBITDA of $14 million in the 1Q 2011, a $6 million improvement from the same quarter last year and unchanged from the 4Q 2010. North American operations generated EBITDA of $7 million in the 1Q 2011 versus $8 million in both the first and fourth quarters of 2010. European operations generated EBITDA of $11 million in the 1Q 2011 versus $4 million and $11 million in the first and fourth quarters of 2010, respectively. Norbord recorded a loss of $2 million in the 1Q 2011 compared to $7 million in the same quarter last year and $9 million in the prior quarter. “Our 1Q results improved from a year ago and were better than we expected,” said Barrie Shineton, President and CEO. “I continue to be pleased with the performance of our European business which almost tripled its EBITDA contribution of last year. Our UK-based business is benefitting from a currency advantage that is positively impacting both domestic markets and export opportunities. Our European mills ran at capacity and panel shipments were up by almost 30%. In North America, our sales volume to our core home improvement and industrial customers was strong and we expanded our export order files.” “I expect the positive momentum we are seeing in our European business to continue. In North America, I am not discouraged by the slow start to this year. Repair and renovation activity has picked up, existing home sales are recovering, US economic news is improving and unemployment numbers are falling. As a result, I believe we will begin to see stronger housing activity in the second half of 2011.” Norbord Inc. is an international producer of wood-based panels with assets of $1 billion, employing approximately 2,030 people at 13 plant locations in the United States, Europe and Canada. Norbord is one of the world’s largest producers of oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to OSB, Norbord manufactures particleboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF) and related value-added products.