Abitibi-Consolidated
AbitibiBowater produces a broad range of forest products marketed in more than 90 countries around the world. Our customers include many of the world’s largest publishers, commercial printers, retailers, consumer products companies and building supply outlets.
We are also among the largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines in the world. The sustainability of our forest resources is a key priority: it is both an ethical and business imperative. Our sustainability certification process stands as proof of our commitment to current and future generations of employees, to the communities in which we live and operate, and to investors.
Our company is nearly 16,000 employees strong, owning or operating 25 pulp and paper mills and 30 wood products facilities in North America and offshore, with pro forma 2007 annual revenues of close to US$7 billion.
REVENUES
41% Newsprint
We are the largest producer of newsprint in the world, with annual capacity estimated at 5.4 million metric tons. Major newspapers all over the world choose AbitibiBowater for their publications. In addition to newspapers, our newsprint is an important component of a wide variety of other applications including advertising inserts, flyers, brochures, circulars, telephone and other directories, and commercial guides. Approximately one-third of our total newsprint production is sold to markets outside North America.
35% Commercial printing papers
We are a global leader in the production of commercial printing papers. We produce approximately 3.1 million metric tons of coated and uncoated papers annually for magazines, catalogs, direct mail inserts, instruction manuals, maps, advertising inserts, flyers, and some of the world’s best-selling books.
16% Market pulp
We produce approximately 1.1 million metric tons of market pulp. AbitibiBowater sells its pulp in 18 overseas markets. Our pulp is used to make a range of products including consumer goods such as tissue, paper towels and diapers, as well as printing and writing papers.
8% Wood products
We have an annual capacity of approximately 2.8 billion board feet of wood products—enough to build 200,000 homes. We also remanufacture and engineer wood for greater strength for specialized applications such as mobile homes, roofing and flooring material, and other products.
History
Originally, Abitibi-Consolidated was formed by the merger of Abitibi-Price and Stone-Consolidated on May 29th, 1997. Both companies were premier, Canadian-based, forest product companies. Both were looking for an opportunity to become a global company. Both found an equal partner with which to grow. The deal was approved by over 99% of the companies’ shareholders, creating the world’s largest producer of newsprint and uncoated groundwood paper.
In 1998, Abitibi-Consolidated formed a joint-venture partnership with Norske Skog of Norway and Hansol Paper Co. of South Korea. The resulting partnership is the world’s leading newsprint and groundwood paper company in the Asian-Pacific region.
On April 18th, 2000, Abitibi-Consolidated acquired approximately 96% of the Class A Subordinated Voting Shares and approximately 92% of the Class B Shares of Donohue Inc., a major Canadian integrated forest products company engaged in forest management and in the manufacture and sale of newsprint, specialty papers, market pulp and wood products with mills located in Québec, Ontario, British Columbia and Texas.
On August 16th, 2002, Abitibi-Consolidated increased its stake in Pan Asia Paper Company Pte Ltd. from 33.3% to 50%.
On November 17, 2005, Abitibi-Consolidated completed the sale of its 50% share ownership in Pan Asia Paper Company Pte Ltd. to Norske Skog.