Feb 04, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Domtar Corporation reported net earnings of $325 million for the 4 Q 2010 compared to net earnings of $191 million for the 3Q 2010 and net earnings of $124 million for the 4Q 2009. Sales for the 4Q 2010 amounted to $1.4 billion, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. “4Q paper shipments were weaker partly due to seasonal factors, but our average pricing held up well. We were able to post best ever fourth quarter profit before items even though production related issues resulted in higher than expected maintenance costs. Higher pulp shipments, net of the impact of the sale of the Woodland hardwood pulp facility, helped offset seasonal weakness. In addition, we redeemed all of our 2011 notes, effectively completing our systematic debt reduction program,” said John D. Williams, President and CEO. For fiscal year 2010, net earnings amounted to $605 million, compared to net earnings of $310 million for fiscal year 2009. Sales amounted to $5.9 billion for fiscal year 2010. Commenting on the 2010 performance, Mr. Williams said, “We continued to aggressively execute on our “Perform, Grow, Break out” strategic journey, thanks to excellent cost management and decisive actions that realigned our asset portfolio and reduced our exposure to challenging businesses. We have also made strategic investments in growth markets that bode well for the future, notably in fluff pulp and nanocrystalline cellulose, and built a flexible balance sheet that provides us with the ability to seize opportunities. We are well positioned for the year to come.” Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp.