NorskeCanada Cuts Newsprint Production

By: Jim Rosenberg NorskeCanada said last week it will take more downtime in the first quarter than previously announced at its mills in British Columbia because of low demand and prices.

Estimated total curtailment of 112,000 metric tons is twice the amount taken in the preceding quarter.

"We will continue to match production with orders," said NorskeCanada Senior Vice President Jim Armitage, adding that demand for specialty grades (about 50% of NorskeCanada's output) is soft, but better than newsprint.