UPM reported third quarter 2020 results.
Q3 2020 Highlights
"During Q3 we delivered on many fronts: performance, cost reduction actions, transformative projects as well as safety and health of our personnel. We are taking action to ensure competitiveness, and our businesses delivered satisfactory performance under the highly exceptional circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite weak paper markets and low pulp prices, our profitability improved slightly compared to the previous quarter, our cash flow recovered, and our EBIT margin remained above 10%. UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers and UPM Energy continued to perform well. Our financial standing is strong and puts us in a unique position to proceed with our transformative projects with determination.
Compared to Q3 of last year, sales prices were lower across all of our business areas, and graphic paper deliveries were down by 21%, resulting in sales of EUR 2,028 million, a decrease of EUR 464 million in a single quarter. Comparable EBIT decreased by 37% to EUR 215 million. Operating cash flow totaled EUR 365 million. At the end of Q3, our net debt was very low at EUR 89 million, and cash funds and unused credit facilities totaled EUR 2.3 billion.
During Q3, UPM took forward plans for decisive restructuring and efficiency improvement.
Closing of the UPM Jyväskylä plywood mill in Finland and the UPM Chapelle paper mill in France were finalized.
Decision on closing the UPM Kaipola paper mill in Finland was taken in October and the plan to sell the UPM Shotton paper mill in Wales was announced.
Streamlining began in the business functions of UPM Communication Papers, in Finnish pulp mills, at the UPM Tervasaari mill and at UPM Forest.
UPM Raflatac and UPM's global functions announced efficiency improvement plans in October.
All of [the above] measures combined are expected to result in annual cost savings of approximately EUR 130 million.
The implemented and announced measures are unfortunate to many UPMers, but they are nevertheless necessary to ensure performance in the short term and competitiveness in the long term. UPM is also taking measures to support transitions from job-to-job.
Demand for UPM Communications Papers has been most severely affected by COVID-19-related measures. As expected, demand in Q3 partly recovered compared to the lockdown part of Q2, but still remained low. Market prices decreased by 5%. However, thanks to the ongoing cost reduction measures and improved efficiency, the business was able to turn back to positive EBIT in Q3.
During the spring, UPM Raflatac and UPM Specialty Papers benefited from exceptionally good demand in many end-use areas, especially those related to daily consumer goods and e-commerce. During Q3, the markets somewhat normalised, but the businesses continued to perform well.
UPM Biorefining had a strong quarter in terms of pulp production and deliveries. UPM Biofuels achieved a new production record. However, pulp prices remain at very low levels, which are affecting the profitability of the business area.
For UPM Plywood, the market for spruce plywood was good, both in terms of demand and price. The market for birch plywood, on the other hand, remained highly competitive in some high-end products.
UPM Energy continued to deliver good results. As the hydrological situation normalized and market prices improved, UPM Energy successfully optimized production in the volatile market.
We are on track to deliver long-term earnings growth and sustainability-driven new business. Our transformative projects in Uruguay and Germany proceed on schedule. Construction in the Paso del los Toros pulp mill site is making good progress, and a long-term service agreement on rail cargo operations was signed. The construction of the biochemicals refinery began in Leuna, and infrastructure leases were signed with the chemical park operator InfraLeuna.
The work on these construction sites, as well as production at all existing UPM facilities, has continued uninterrupted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to high health and safety standards. As part of the UPM Biofore Share and Care program, we helped Finnish officials in procuring 30 million protective face masks. In addition, we donated 500,000 masks to health care and educational facilities and nursing homes in UPM's operating countries.
As one of the 41 companies world-wide, UPM was once again recognized as a UN Global Compact LEAD Participant for our strong commitment to responsible business. We greatly value this recognition, as responsibility is at the core of our Biofore strategy. We have signed the UN's 1.5°C climate target, committing ourselves to reducing emissions, practicing climate-positive forestry and innovating products that replace fossil materials and contribute to climate change mitigation.
UPM's value creation is based on offering sustainable products and solutions to consumers and businesses and strong focus on performance. Our Biofore strategy has delivered results in all circumstances and enables growth of sustainable businesses for a future beyond fossils."
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