CHILE – Arauco’s sales revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014 reached USD 1,380.8 million, 9.6% higher compared to the USD 1,260.3 million obtained in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Sales growth is mainly explained by a 20.6% increase in total sales of the pulp business, 16.9% increase in sales of the sawn timber business, and partially offset by a 3.2% decrease in panel sales.

Arauco’s Panel division’s revenues fell 6.1% explained by lower average prices and volumes. The main markets that experienced these drops during the fourth quarter were Brazil and North America. In Brazil, for the fourth quarter 2014, MDF and particleboard sales and prices fell by around 9.5% and in North America, Arauco adjusted volumes in order to avoid an oversupply of MDF given that supply increased from competitors.

The fourth quarter 2014 also brought the approval of the expansion of the particleboard and melamine capacity in one of the Group’s Flakeboard mills in South Carolina. The investment will be USD 30 million and will increase production by 100,000 cubic meters annually through increased dryer capacity. The estimated start-up of this expansion is during the 4Q of 2015.

Results October-December

Million USD

Arauco Results

Million USD