Nov 05, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. NewPage Corporation announced its results of operations for the 3Q 2010. Net sales were $943 million in the 3Q 2010 compared to $791 million in the 3Q 2009, an increase of $152 million, or 19%. The increase in net sales resulted primarily from higher sales volumes, company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. "We expect our business for the remainder of the year to be generally consistent with trends at the end of the 3Q 2010," said George F. Martin, President and CEO for NewPage. "We also expect to see continued price realization in the fourth quarter from our previous price announcements." Net loss attributable to NewPage was $67 million in the 3Q 2010 compared to $138 million in the 3Q 2009. The improvement was primarily a result of higher sales volumes and lower interest expense partially offset by lower other income recognized for alternative fuel mixture tax credits. Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as further adjusted as shown in the attached reconciliation) was $106 million in the 3Q 2010 compared to $140 million in the 3Q 2009. "In the 3Q 2010, our total sales volume increased 16% compared to the 3Q of last year. Demand increased relative to last year and we started to realize the benefit of our previously announced price increases, plus we are seeing results from our cost reduction initiatives," added Martin. As a result of higher demand and lower industry production capacity, NewPage did not take any market-related downtime in the 3Q 2010 compared to 101,000 tons in the 3Q 2009. Gross margin for the 3Q 2010 was 6.2% compared to 0.8% in the 3Q 2009, primarily as a result of higher sales volumes and the effects of not taking market-related downtime in 2010. NewPage Corporation is the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America. The company's product portfolio includes coated freesheet, coated groundwood, supercalendered, newsprint and specialty papers. NewPage owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nova Scotia, Canada.