International Paper recently reported second-quarter 2012 net earnings attributable to common shareholders totaling $134 million ($0.31 per share) compared with net earnings of $188 million ($0.43 per share) in the first quarter of 2012 and $219 million ($0.51 per share) in the second quarter of 2011. Amounts in all periods include the impact of special items.
Earnings from continuing operations and before special items in the second quarter of 2012 totaled $203 million ($0.46 per share), compared with $247 million ($0.57 per share) in the first quarter of 2012 and $338 million ($0.79 per share) in the second quarter of 2011. Earnings from continuing operations and before special items were impacted by seasonally peak maintenance outage expenses and an unfavorable non-cash foreign exchange swing at our Ilim joint venture in Russia. Partially offsetting these items were Temple-Inland integration benefits and synergies tracking ahead of plan as well as modest improvements in costs and pricing.
Quarterly net sales were $7.1 billion compared with $6.7 billion in the first quarter of 2012 and $6.6 billion in the second quarter of 2011.
Operating profits were $426 million in the second quarter of 2012, down from $462 million in the first quarter of 2012, both of which included special items.
"I'm very encouraged by the speed of the integration efforts related to the Temple-Inland acquisition, as well as the successful start-up of our Franklin, Virginia fluff pulp facility," said John Faraci, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite continued slow growth in North America, uneven global demand and currency headwinds primarily at our Ilim joint venture, we managed to turn in a solid quarter. Looking forward to the third quarter, our strong balanced portfolio is positioned to perform well in this environment."
