Jan 25, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV) reported a loss from continuing operations of $9 million in the 4Q 2011. Excluding special items, principally charges related to the forthcoming spinoff of the Consumer & Office Products business, income from continuing operations in the 4Q 2011 was $44 million versus $71 million in 2010 on the same basis. The decline was primarily due to lower volume across certain U.S. and European packaging markets as customers aggressively responded to uncertain demand trends caused by ongoing global macroeconomic developments, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. MWV reported a net loss of $15 million for the three-month period ended Dec. 31, compared with a profit of $47 million a year ago. Its loss from continuing operations was 5 cents per share. Total sales in the 4Q 2011 were unchanged compared to 2010. Growth in global markets for food, beverage and healthcare packaging, and higher sales of performance chemicals for inks, adhesives, and oilfield drilling markets were offset primarily by lower demand in home and garden, beauty and personal care packaging, particularly in Europe, and in general paperboard packaging. Total sales for full-year 2011 increased 6% compared to 2010. Full-year 2011 pre-tax income from the company’s business segments (before Corporate and Other) increased 15% to $840 million led by significant profit improvements in Packaging Resources of 25% and Specialty Chemicals of 44%. Growth in global markets for food, beverage and tobacco, as well as in performance chemicals for adhesives, inks and oilfield markets drove the company’s improved full-year 2011 results. “Another year of record results in 2011 demonstrates that our market-focused strategies will deliver strong, sustainable financial returns for our shareholders,” said John A. Luke, Jr., Chairman and CEO. “We are confident that our growth model centered on commercial excellence, innovation, emerging markets and expanded participation will extend and accelerate this outstanding progress over the next several years.” Luke continued, “Even as our customers responded to slower economic conditions and weaker demand in the fourth quarter, the profitable growth strategies we have been implementing still had a positive impact on our results during this difficult period. We gained new brand-owner relationships and expanded existing ones in food, beverage, and beauty and personal care markets while also continuing to expand our business in key emerging markets. We also added new capabilities and technologies to our platform with the acquisition of Polytop, a caps and closures business that will strengthen our position in food, beauty and personal care, and home and garden markets around the world. Our continued progress in each of these areas gives us great confidence that we will achieve our long-term revenue and earnings growth targets.” MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV), provides packaging solutions to many of the world’s most-admired brands in the healthcare, beauty and personal care, food, beverage, home and garden, and tobacco industries.