Solenis to Increase Prices in North America for Pulp & Paper and Industrial Water

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 11 percent in May compared to May 2020. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers increased six percent in May compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels remained essentially flat (+0.3 percent) when compared to April 2021. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments increased 22 percent compared to May 2020 while the inventory level increased two percent compared to April 2021. UFS imports and exports both increased compared to April 2020, up 10 percent and 25 percent respectively. U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in May decreased 16 percent compared to last May while the inventory level decreased one percent compared to April 2021. CFS imports decreased 14 percent while exports increased 32 percent in April 2021. Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 14 percent compared to May 2020 while the inventory level increased one percent compared to April 2021. CM imports decreased 17 percent while exports increased five percent in April 2021. U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in May increased 16 percent compared to last May while the inventory level decreased 15 percent compared to April 2021. UM imports increased 10 percent while exports decreased 17 percent in April 2021.

Highlights • Q1 2024 net loss from continuing operations was $13.4 million compared to net loss of $21.6 million in Q4 2023. • Average lumber prices for Q1 2024 were higher than Q4 2023, with an average selling price of $626/mfbm compared to $601/mfbm in Q4 2023. • The valuation provision for lumber and log inventory was decreased to $1.0 million from $4.3 million at the end of Q4 2023, generating a $3.3 million credit to lumber cost of sales in Q1 2024. • Our lower duty rate has positively impacted the Company’s earnings and free cash flow since August 1, 2023. • There continues to be downward pressure on newsprint and paper products prices in North America.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö continues to focus on the growth segment of electrification, expanding its latest product offering, totally dedicated to filtration media solutions for electric vehicles. The new solutions for fuel cell electric vehicles complement the products launched earlier in the year for all electric vehicles, including filtration solutions for cabin air, transmission and cooling systems. Ahlstrom-Munksjö understands the market challenges and is developing new commercial solutions to address unmet customer needs for high performance filtration materials for electric vehicles. This now includes a new dedicated filtration solution for fuel cell air intake. “I am very pleased to introduce our new filtration solution for fuel cell air intake,” said Cedric Vallet, Head of Business Development, Industrial Filtration & New Vehicles. “By protecting fuel cells from harmful gases and particulates, we ensure the effective operation of the fuel cell over the entire service lifetime of the vehicle.”