Press ReleasesFirst Woodchip Carrier Enters Pier 1 of Minamihama at Port of Ishinomaki after Earthquake- Operation of Kraft Pulp Production Facilities to Resume in December -

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

Endeavoring to restore Ishinomaki Mill (Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture) affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Haga) is pleased to announce that Pro Grace, a woodchip carrier, entered Pier 1 of Minamihama at the Port of Ishinomaki, Miyagi today. This is the first woodchip ship to enter the pier since the Great East Japan Earthquake, carrying a full cargo of woodchip (radiata pine and eucalyptus) that had been stowed at the Port of Portland, Australia (25,200 tons in total).

Ishinomaki Mill resumed operation of Paper Machine 8 on September 16. Paper Machine N4 and Coating Machine 4 followed on November 15. The mill is currently preparing to restart the production line for kraft pulp used for paper production from the middle of December. The woodchip has been procured according to the operation schedule.

Ishinomaki Mill has continued the restoration work based on the Plan for Paper Business Revitalization announced on August 3, and is planning to steadily resume operation of paper machines along with the Plan.