The main variances during this quarter were an increase in total sales of our pulp business, with a 10.6% increase in sales volume and a 3.9% increase in average prices; an increase in panels products, mainly explained by an increase of 11.7% and 3.3% in sales volume and average prices, respectively; and an increase in total sales of its sawn timber business, with a 6.5% increase in sales volume and a 3.8% increase in average prices.
During the 2Q 2013, production volume of Pulp business remained stable at 794 thousand Adt, a 0.9% decrease compared to the 801 thousand Adt produced in the previous quarter. Production volume in panels division increased 8% or 96 thousand cubic metres when compared to the previous quarter. This was mainly as a result of the new capacity from the second Jaguariaiva MDF line, which started in February 2013. The production volume from Sawn timber division remained stable at 701 thousand cubic metres, a 0.4% increase when compared to the 1Q 2013.
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the 2Q 2013 was $345.9 million, 46.4% higher than the $236.2 million reached during the previous quarter. This increase is in part explained by a higher EBIT of 58.2.1% or $92.9 million compared to the previous quarter. Also, during this quarter there were extraordinary gains coming from the sale of non-strategic lands in Uruguay of 14.3 million.
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the 2Q 2013 was higher by 50.8% or $116.5 million than the $229.4 million reached in the same period of 2012.
Net income for the 2Q 2013 was $162.5 million, an increase of 73.8% or $69 million compared to the $93.5 million obtained in the 1Q of the year. This is mainly explained by an increase in Operating income of 70.1% or $69.3 and by a 35.8% or $26.7 million increase in Other operating income. Income tax during the 2Q had a 49.7% or $23.4 million increase mainly as a result of higher Pre-tax income.
Compared to the $63.5 million obtained in the 2Q 2012, consolidated net income was $99.1 million higher during the 2Q 2013, mainly explained by a 51.8% or $155 million increase in Gross Margin.
Arauco is one of the major forestry companies in Latin America. It provides employment for 40 thousand people in the world, through its industrial operations in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, United States and Canada in addition to its network of sales offices around the world.