16/02/2009 Press release 16.02.2009 Demand for folding boxboard and linerboard declined rapidly during the last quarter of 2008. The situation in the beginning of 2009 has seasonally improved but order stocks have remained clearly below last year. In order to balance the challenging market situation M-real, the largest folding boxboard and coated linerboard producer in Europe, has started to take downtime at all its mills. “M-real continues to be a responsible player in the market. Last year we managed to get on the right track regarding market balance and prices, and we will do our utmost to retain this position. As the biggest player in the industry we take the responsibility and curtail our production roughly by 20 % during the coming months. So far achieved price increases are not enough to cover the severe cost inflation experienced during the recent years and therefore our profitability has continued unsatisfactory. We are considering new price increases to be implemented later this year.” says Mika Joukio, Head of M-real Consumer Packaging. For further information please contact M-real Consumer Packaging: Mika Joukio, Head of M-real Consumer Packaging Mobile +358 50 516 9024 E-mail: mika.joukio@m-real.com