72.7% US RCP To China

72.7% of US recovered paper exports in February were sold to China, even though overall exports for the month declined vs January's total, according to figures from the US Dept of Commerce, Bureau of Census. China purchased 1.2 million tonnes in February, with more than half being old corrugated containers at 640,397 tonnes. The other half was mostly a mix of old newspapers and mixed papers. India followed with 123,369 tonnes and exports to Canada were quite low at 59,286.

 

Time Q1 Ad Revenues Down

Time Inc. Subscription, Advertising Revenues Down in Q1 2012: Time Inc. reports a loss in both advertising and subscription revenue in the first quarter of 2012. Ad revenue decreased five percent (equivalent to $19 million), with subscription revenue down two percent (valued at $6 million).

The American Prospect Looks To Avoid Closure

The American Prospect Seeks $500,000 to Avoid Closure: The American Prospect is looking to raise half a million dollars this month, and gain $700,000 worth of pledged support for the new fiscal year starting in July, in order to avoid suspending publication, cutting back frequency or complete closure.

Resolute Forest Products Reports Q1 Results

Resolute Forest Products reports net income of $23 million in first quarter, 2012:
AbitibiBowater, doing business as Resolute Forest Products, is reporting a net income of $23 million in its first quarter of 2012, on sales of $1.1 billion.
These results can be compared to net income of $30 million on sales of $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

BHK Pulp Producers Raise Prices

International Paper and Resolute Forest Products separately informed customers that they're increasing prices on their grades of bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) pulp by $30/tonne, effective May. Alberta-Pacific and Sappi Fine Paper North America  had previously announced their May 1 NBHK prices would rise by $30/tonne, to $785/tonne (Alpac's aspen NBHK) and $790/tonne (Sappi's aspen and mixed NBHK) in the USA. At least two major Brazilian producers, Fibria and Suzano, separately announced $40/tonne price increases on bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) in the USA, effective May 1.

Gap Names Old Navy President

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/aggregatedcontent/gap-inc-names-global-brand-president-old-navy

Completing a global search that began in February, Gap Inc. today announced that Stefan Larsson, a veteran of nearly 15 years with the successful fashion retailer H&M, will become the first global brand president for Old Navy.  Larsson will join the company by October.

Taunton Press Names President

Taunton Press Promotes EVP/CFO Tim Rahr to President: Enthusiast consumer publisher Taunton Press taps Tim Rahr as its new president. Rahr, who has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer with Taunton since 2005, succeeds Sue Roman. These changes are effective immediately.

Amazon/Texas Settle Sales Tax Dispute

Amazon settles sales tax controversy with Texas: Amazon.com, at the center of an ongoing battle over the collection of sales tax by out-of-state online retailers, has struck a deal with Texas, agreeing to increase its in-state presence and collect sales tax on items sold to Texas residents.

USPS: Mail Still Best for Driving ROI

USPS adopts new products and services to stay solvent: USPS Postal Service Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe's set out his vision for the agency's future in light of the congressional gridlock, including new products such as incentivizing businesses to include 2D codes in direct mail flyers...and increasing its package business.
Donahoe emphasized the continued importance of mail as the best channel for strengthening brand relations and driving ROI. “People actually read what they get in the mail,” he said. 

Manufacturing Grows for 33 Months

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303916904577377810884607948.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the 33rd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 35th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

Newspapers Report Gains

Newspapers report digital-print circulation gains: New York—The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and newspapers overall reported increases in total print-plus-digital circulation, with gains influenced by a new Audit Bureau of Circulations reporting standard that combines free or reduced-cost digital subscriptions with paid print subscriptions.

Another Step in Post Hawkesbury Mill Process

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/81891--tentative-energy-deal-reached-for-idled-paper-mill-in-cape-breton

The Vancouver-based company planning to buy the idle NewPage Port Hawkesbury paper mill in Cape Breton has reached a tentative energy agreement with the province's electric utility company, a key step in its bid to get the mill operating again.

Pacific West Commercial Corp. announced late Friday it had submitted the seven-year agreement for approval to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Q1 Chinese Pulp & RCP Imports Up

China's total pulp imports went up 27.3% in March compared to the same month last year, according to data from China Custom. For the first quarter, pulp imports rose 15.4%. BSK imports increased 29% for the month and 17% for the quarter.

Chinese recovered paper imports were up 12.7% in March compared to the same month in 2011 and 10.1% in Q1 2012/Q1 2011.

Mercer Withdraws Fibrek Offer

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mercer-abandons-battle-for-fibrek/article2417768/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2417768

Fibrek Inc. confirmed today that Mercer International Inc. has announced that it has unilaterally terminated its support agreement with Fibrek with respect to its offer to acquire all of the common shares of Fibrek.

U.S. Ad Spending Forecast Up 4.1%

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120430/ADVERTISING14/304309993/warc-says-u-s-ad-spending-to-increase-4-1-this-year Warc says U.S. ad spending to increase 4.1% this year

U.S. ad spending will increase 4.1% this year over last year, according to marketing intelligence company Warc.

Next year, U.S. ad spending will slow to 3.3% growth, “when there will be no quadrennial boost from the presidential elections and the Olympics,” Warc said in a statement.

First CMR Released by Magazine

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120430/MEDIABUSINESS16/304309988/the-economist-is-first-weekly-to-release-consolidated-media-report

The Economist is the first weekly magazine to release a Consolidated Media Report from the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The CMR is designed to verify a media brand's reach on separate platforms.

House & Senate Postal Bills Differ

Postal Service Bill Faces Roadblocks: It’s looking increasingly unlikely that the House and Senate will agree on a plan to save the Postal Service by May 15, when a moratorium on closing postal processing plants expires.

Q1 European Coated Demand Down, SC Up

http://euro-graph.antidot.be/who_we_are-7283.html

EURO-GRAPH has reported that European demand for coated mechanical paper in the first quarter fell -4.6% s compared to the same period last year. Exports jumped 14.6%. Coated woodfree demand declined -3.1% for Q1 and exports decreased -8.1%. Supercalendered paper demand rose 8.4%. SC exports fell -11%.

IP Reports Q1 Results

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/04_27_2012international_paper_earnings.html

International Paper today reported first-quarter 2012 net earnings attributable to common shareholders totaling $188 million compared with net earnings of $281 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $354 million ($0.81 per share) in the first quarter of 2011.

Katahdin's Millinocket to be Industrial Park

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/approved/0001/11/30/cate-street-plans-industrial-park-millinocket-pape/1186902

Cate Street Capital, buyer of the two Katahdin region paper mills in September announced plans Wednesday to turn the Millinocket site into an industrial park.

Catalyst Paper Delays Meeting with Creditors

Catalyst Paper adjusts date for meeting of its creditors:
Catalyst Paper has announced that the date for the meetings of its secured and unsecured creditors to consider the plan of arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act has been changed from May 2, 2012 to May 15, 2012.

min Tracked Ad Pages Down 5.8%

http://www.minonline.com/news/20371.html

Of the 150 mags we track at min, 62 showed gains in May (27 of which were up by double-digit percentages) and 88 plummeted.  Cumulative 2012-versus-2011 differentials were -5.90% (May) and -5.81% (year-to-date).

 

Hearst Launches Cosmopolitan for Latinas

http://www.pubexec.com/article/hearst-magazines-introduces-cosmopolitan-latinas/1

Hearst Magazines, one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, today announced that the first stand-alone issue of Cosmopolitan for Latinas, a new women's lifestyle publication targeted at English-speaking Latinas, will hit newsstands nationwide on May 1.

GDP Grows 2.2% in Q1

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304811304577369640809969900.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

Valassis Announces Q1 Results

Valassis Announces Q1 Results: Revenues Decreased by 5.2%: Valassis today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. First-quarter 2012 revenues were $518.6 million, a decrease of 5.2% from $547.0 million in the prior year quarter.

UPM Q1 Sales Up 10%

http://www.upm.com/EN/MEDIA/All-news/Pages/default.aspx

Sales for Q1 2012 were EUR 2,591 million, 10% higher than the EUR 2,356 million in Q1 2011. Sales increased due to the Myllykoski acquisition in Paper in August 2011, as well as higher delivery volumes in other UPM businesses.

Second Uncoated Mill Announces Increase

Leading North American uncoated freesheet paper producer Domtar informed customers it will raise prices on all white business papers by $2/cwt ($40/ton) effective May 29.

Domtar Reports Q1 Net Earnings

Domtar reports net earnings of $28 million in first quarter, 2012:
Domtar Corp. is reporting net earnings of $28 million in their first quarter of 2012, compared to net earnings of $61 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Sales for the first quarter of 2012 amounted to $1.4 billion.

Graphic Packaging Reports Q1 Earnings

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=103159&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1687718&highlight=
Graphic Packaging Holding Company,  a leading provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and other consumer products companies, today reported Net Income for first quarter 2012 of $17.2 million. This compares to first quarter 2011 Net Income of $26.7 million.

Senate Passes Postal Reform Bill

U.S. Senate passes Postal Service reform bill: The U.S. Senate Wednesday passed a bill intended to relieve financial pressures on the U.S. Postal Service while retaining as many services as possible. The House of Representatives is considering its own version of the bill.

New Page Won't Build Bio-Refinery

New Page drops plans for bio-refinery in Wi...:
Four years ago, the U.S. Energy Department awarded a $30 million grant for the bio-refinery. The project was originally sought by Stora Enso, a previous owner of the Wisconsin Rapids mill.

IP Closing 4 Temple-Inland Plants

International Paper closing four plants as result of Temple-Inland merger:
International Paper Co. is shutting down four plants across the country in the next two months and eliminating a total of 215 jobs.

IP Announces Uncoated Paper Increase

http://www.internationalpaper.com/

International Paper announced to customers a $2/cwt or 3-4% price increase on uncoated freesheet imaging papers effective May 21, 2012.

Another Coated Increase

FutureMark has announced a $2.00/cwt increase on its coated mechanical paper, effective July 1.

Verso Announces Exchange Offer

http://www.versopaper.com/ Verso Paper Corp. announced today that two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc. (together, the "Issuers"), have launched an exchange offer and consent solicitation for their outstanding 11⅜% senior subordinated notes due 2016 (the "Old Subordinated Notes"). In addition, the Issuers have amended certain terms of the existing exchange offer and consent solicitation for their second priority senior secured floating rate notes due 2014 (the "Old Secured Floating Rate Notes").

NBSK Downtime Reported

Two major North American market pulp producers, Resolute Forest Products and Domtar, have annual maintenance closures at their northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) mills in Ontario this month that will trim 29,000 tonnes of output.

Nippon Relocating Headquarters

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/04_25_2012nippon_paper_group.html

Nippon Paper Group, Inc. said that it has decided to relocate its headquarters and the headquarters of major Group companies. In addition, the company today decided to review its existing holding company system, and transform its business structure using the Group’s comprehensive strength.

DS Smith Buying SCA Packaging, France

SCA has accepted DS Smith´s offer to acquire its packaging operations
SCA has accepted DS Smith´s formal offer to acquire the packaging operations in France following consultations with appropriate works councils.  The agreed purchase price amounts to EUR 1.7bn on a debt free basis.

Meredith Reports FY Q3 Results

Meredith's National Media Group Profits Down: Meredith Corporation released its fiscal third quarter results today and the overall picture is a mixed one for its National Media Group. Revenues were flat at $268 million compared with the same period the previous year, but profits were down 23% to $37 million.

Forrester: B2B to Grow 6.8%

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120425/STRATEGY06/304259996/forrester-says-b-to-b-marketers-will-increase-budgets-6-8-this-year

B2b marketers will increase their marketing budgets by an average of 6.8% this year, according to a report from Forrester Research.

Resolute/Fibrek Fight Continues

The Fibrek Inc. Board of Directors continues to recommend that shareholders TENDER to the superior $1.40 offer made by Mercer International Inc., which will be open for acceptance until 11:59 on April 27, 2012. As of April 11, almost 25% of Fibrek shares had already been tendered to Mercer's superior offer, representing approximately half of Fibrek's minority shareholders.

 Separately, it was reported that AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, today announced that it has taken up and accepted for payment 2,664,351 additional shares of Fibrek Inc... Resolute holds approximately 48.8% of the currently outstanding Fibrek shares.

Brazil Sets Duties on LWC

Brazilian authorities today confirmed anti-dumping duties against lightweight coated (LWC) with basis weights of 50-72 g/m² imported from the USA, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Canada and Germany. The request was made by Brazil's sole local LWC producer Stora Enso.The U.S. imports very little coated mechanical to Brazil.

Google Closes Subsciption Model

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/google-folds-paid-content-service-one-pass

After only a year and some change, Google folded its paid content platform One Pass. According to reports, Google made the decision public on its blog.

One Pass launched in early 2011, shortly after Apple announced its subscription model. The service appeared to be another option for publishers who did not want to play by Apple’s subscription rules.