In a speech to shareholders on Wednesday UPM-Kymmene announced that its expects paper demand will continue to be good in 2008, though demand for sawn timber products is still weak.
Chief executive Jussi Pesonen said:"Paper demand continues to be good. Already announced and completed capacity reductions further improve market balance in Europe.”
He added that UPM’s profitability programme for 2006-2008 was proceeding as planned and the company expected cost savings of around 150 million euros in this year and 200 million euros in 2009.