Catalyst Paper announced that it will curtail production at all mills during the seasonally slow Christmas period, reflecting reduced demand expected in the first quarter of 2009 as paper markets continue to be affected by the economic slowdown worldwide.
Curtailments of varying duration are planned beginning December 19 and extending into the first week of January 2009. This will remove an additional 21,000 tons of newsprint, 14,000 tons of specialty printing papers, and 2,000 tons of pulp from production in the fourth quarter. The additional downtime brings the total announced fourth quarter curtailment to 70,000 tons of newsprint, 29,000 tons of specialty printing papers, and 78,000 tons of pulp.