Oct. 29, 2008 - Finland-based pulp producer Metsa-Botnia (Botnia) said that due to weakening market conditions and growing pulp inventories it will curtail production at its mills.

Within the company's mills in Finland, production capacity will be cut by about 50,000 tons during the last quarter of 2008.

In Uruguay, Botnia's Fray Bentos mill will take 14 days of downtime, which will eliminate about 40,000 tons of pulp production.

Founded in 1973, Metsa-Botnia manufactures high quality bleached pulp grades under the name Botnia. Botnia is owned by M-real, Metsäliitto, and UPM-Kymmene. In Finland, the company's pulp mills are located in Joutseno, Kaskinen, Kemi, Rauma, and Äänekoski. Botnia's also operates a pulp mill in Fray Bentos, Uruguay.

SOURCE: Metsa-Botnia