Jan 23, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Paper mill Smurfit Kappa Sturovo, a s. estimates this year’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) at Euro 12 million. Company's spokesperson Robert Kiss informed SITA that the company expects EBITDA at Euro 9.3 million this year. Higher selling prices of fluting, the company's main product, should influence company’s earnings to the greatest extent. “We plan higher output and sales than over the past years,” said spokesperson for the Sturovo-based company. On the other hand the company expects the Slovak crown to keep appreciating gradually, which should negatively influence company’s results. “Rising prices of electricity and energy sources, chiefly the prices of coal and natural gas, which the company uses to produce its own energies will also have a negative effect,” said Mr. Kiss. "Since we directly influence the environment, activities in this field are our priority,“ he said. This year the company plans to invest around SKK 100 million (Euro 2.9 million). In 2006 the company reported the highest sales in Germany. It also exported its products to Italy, Denmark, Sweden, France, Great Britain, Norway and countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Smurfit Kappa Sturovo is the only producer of semi-chemical fluting in Europe. Parent company Smurfit Kappa Group controls 98.5% of the company Smurfit Kappa Sturovo, a.s. while the rest is in the hands of minority shareholders. At the end of December 2005 the Irish paper group Jefferson Smurfit and Dutch concern Kappa Packaging officially merged their production and trade capacities after getting the green light from the respective EU bodies.