Operating earnings before depreciation, amortization and other items (adjusted EBITDA) was $30 million for the three-month period ended June 29, 2013, as compared to adjusted EBITDA of $27 million a year ago and adjusted EBITDA of $24 million in the prior quarter.
The Specialty Cellulose Pulp segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $19 million on sales of $120 million for the quarter ended June 29, 2013, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $14 million on sales of $120 million in the prior quarter. Overall, pricing was favourable, improving adjusted EBITDA by $1 million. Mill manufacturing costs were unchanged quarter-over-quarter. The current quarter cost of sales was reduced by $1 million due to a favourable net realizable value increase on the carrying values of viscose grade finished goods inventories. This is the opposite of the prior quarter when cost of sales had absorbed a charge of $1 million related to the net realizable value of viscose grade inventories. Higher profitability in Chemicals increased adjusted EBITDA by $1 million.
The Forest Products segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $7 million on sales of $110 million for the quarter ended June 29, 2013, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $7 million on sales of $104 million in the prior quarter. Sales increased by $6 million due to higher lumber shipments. Market conditions were strong at the beginning of the quarter, but declined in May and June. US $ reference prices for random lumber decreased by US $48 per mbf while stud lumber increased by US $12 per mbf. This is a seasonally stronger period for stud lumber as the impact of the housing construction season is more pronounced on this grade of lumber. Currency was favourable as the Canadian dollar weakened versus the US dollar. The net effect decreased sales and adjusted EBITDA by $1 million or $4 per mbf. Lumber shipments were equal to 83% of capacity versus 76% in the prior quarter. Sawmill costs decreased by $2 million. The summer months are seasonally higher productivity and lower cost periods.
The Paper Pulp segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $3 million on sales of $106 million for the quarter ended June 2013, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $4 million on sales of $122 million in the prior quarter. The $16 million decrease in sales was due to lower shipments of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp, partially offset by higher shipments of high-yield pulp. In May 2013, the Company completed the sale of its remaining NBSK mill located in Skookumchuck, BC. During the most recent quarter, the mill generated sales of $23 million and adjusted EBITDA of $3 million. In the prior quarter, the mill had generated sales of $50 million and adjusted EBITDA of $6 million. Market conditions for paper pulp remained relatively weak although demand was stable. The benchmark price (delivered China ) for NBSK increased by US $22 per tonne while reference prices for bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) increased by US $28 per tonne. Currency was also positive as the Canadian dollar weakened versus the US dollar. Overall, average paper pulp prices increased by $29 per tonne, improving adjusted EBITDA by $5 million. Paper pulp shipments were equal to 98% of capacity, unchanged from the prior quarter. Manufacturing costs increased by $3 million, primarily for energy at the NBSK mill and chemicals at the two high-yield pulp mills. Adjusted EBITDA was also negatively impacted by $4 million due to a volume variance associated with lower shipments of NBSK pulp.
The Paper segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $6 million on sales of $86 million for the quarter ended June 2013, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $5 million on sales of $87 million in the prior quarter. Lower newsprint shipments led to the $1 million decrease in sales. In terms of markets, coated bleached board improved slightly. The newsprint market weakened due to continued lower North American demand combined with the restart of previously idled capacity. The US $ reference prices for coated bleached board increased by US $33 per short ton while the US $ reference price for newsprint declined by US $8 per tonne. The weaker Canadian dollar was a positive. The net effect was a small increase in average coated bleached board price, increasing adjusted EBITDA by $1 million. Coated bleached board shipments were equal to 102% of capacity as compared to 97% in the prior quarter. The shipment to capacity percentage for newsprint was 91%, compared to 99% in the prior quarter. Manufacturing costs were relatively unchanged quarter-over-quarter with lower energy costs offset by higher fiber and freight costs.
Tembec is a manufacturer of forest products - lumber, pulp, paper and specialty cellulose - and a global leader in sustainable forest management practices. Principal operations are in Canada and France.