The Portucel Soporcel group is one of Portugal's strongest players on the world stage, operating in a core sector for the country's economy, and amongst the largest producers on the international market for uncoated woodfree (UWF) paper for the printing industry and for office use, as well the largest European producer of bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp (BEKP).

With annual production capacity of 1.55 million tons of paper and 1.34 million tons of pulp, the Portucel Soporcel group generates turnover in excess of 1,100 million euros. The Group is Portugal's third largest exporter, and accounts for approximately 3% of all Portuguese exports.
Once operating at full capacity, the new Paper Plant will boost the Group's annual exports by more than 400 million euros. This will be added to current annual exports of more than 950 million euros to more than 90 countries over five continents, corresponding to approximately 90% of its paper and pulp sales.

The Portucel Soporcel group's pulp and paper mills are a benchmark for the international industry, in terms of size and technology. Leading the way is the group's new paper mill in Setúbal, which houses the world's largest and most sophisticated paper machine, boasting annual capacity of 500 thousand tons and which started production on 15 August 2009. This mill represents a major leap forwards for the international standing and industrial development of the Group, whose production facilities are located at the industrial complexes in Setúbal, Figueira da Foz and Cacia. All these industrial units operate to high standards of environmental protection, meeting the strictest international standards as dictated by the demands of today's market.

Forestry, which provides its raw materials, is a strategic area for the Portucel Soporcel group, which is responsible for management of some 120 thousand hectares of woodlands and the leading operator in the eucalyptus sector. Having pioneered the process of forest certification in Portugal, the Group is the first organization in the country to obtain certification under the PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes, since August 2009, corresponding to woodlands covering more than 118 thousand hectares. This success, achieved by meeting pan-European standards for sustainable forestry management, comes on top of certification by the FSC - Forest Stewardship Council, enjoyed by the Group since 2007.

An advocate of active management of biodiversity in its forests, the Group has established partnerships with the WWF - Worldwide Fund for Nature, allowing it to classify more than half of its certified woodlands as areas of high conservation value in terms of landscape. The Group is also directly involved in this field in the task - of critical importance for Portugal - of protecting forests against wildfires.

In the field of research and development, work of particular significance has been conducted by RAIZ - Instituto de Investigação da Floresta e Papel, in which the Portucel Soporcel group has a 94% share. This work has focussed on genetic improvement of eucalyptus strains, the prime raw material for production of high quality paper, as well as on improving forestry management techniques.

Over the years the Group has pursued with great success a strategy of developing its own brands, which now account for around 60% of its manufactured products. This strategy has been founded on excellent standards of quality and service and the Group's Navigator brand has established itself as the world's best selling brand in the premium office paper segment. The Group has its own sales network, operating in the European and American markets, assuring a permanent presence and close contact with its customers, assuring that their needs are met.

The production processes used offer another example of sustainability and energy efficiency, thanks to the use of a renewable fuel, forestry biomass, as the main energy source, positioning the Portucel Soporcel group as Portugal's leading producer of energy from this source. The Group plays an important role as a carbon sink, and consequently in reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The Portucel Soporcel group employs a workforce numbering 2200 direct employees, and the start-up of the new mill in Setúbal offers a prime example of the company's role in generating skilled jobs and specialized professional careers.

As part of its social responsibility policy, the Portucel Soporcel group support and takes part systematically in projects designed to improve the well-being of its local communities and preservation of the natural heritage of the regions in which its mills and forestry plantations are located.

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