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FINDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING CELLULOSE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO MARKET
SHAKER CHANDRASEKARAN
Senior Vice President, Cellulose Fibers
SITUATION SNAPSHOT
- The global pulp market overall continues to grow, led by increasing demand for absorbent products, especially in Asia.
- Various softwood supply-side issues, including fiber shortages and high energy costs, have shifted the cost curve upward, resulting in high manufacturing costs.
- Our primary markets — absorbents, premium towel and tissue — are much less affected by the structural and cyclical reduction in North American and European papergrade demand.
OPERATING STRATEGY
- Focus on value-added, innovative products and services to strengthen our position in the existing markets of hygiene (absorbents, premium towel and tissue), textiles and construction materials, as well as develop new markets in plastic composites and agriculture.
- Leverage sales and technical resources to reach the global markets served by this segment (pulp, newsprint and liquid packaging board).
- In liquid packaging, continue to strengthen our customer portfolio to improve returns.
- Rebalance our product portfolio at NORPAC to expand our positioning in higher-value papers, which will augment our newsprint business.
- Improve our cost-competitiveness and prudently invest capital.
- Achieve operating excellence via supply chain execution.
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