Suzano has set a “sales record” in 2024 as it reaches nominal capacity and one million tons of production in “record time” on the world’s largest single-line eucalyptus pulp mill – its Andritz-delivered pulp mill in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil.
In its quarter four- and full-year results, its pulp and paper sales for the year reached a new record of 12.3m tonnes, rising 7% on 2023, and driven mainly by the additional capacity at Ribas do Rio Pardo.
Further capacity from the recent acquisition of paperboard mills in America has also contributed to the record sales volume.
Higher sales volumes and favourable exchange rates boosted export revenues and resulted in net revenues increasing 19% to R$47.4bn in 2024, 19% higher than in 2023.
Suzano reported a net loss of R$6.7bn due to the accounting impact of the US dollar denominated debt and hedging operations translating into Brazilian Real.
The company invested R$17.1bn in 2024, with R$4.5bn allocated to the Cerrado Project in Ribas do Rio Pardo which started operations on 21 July 2024.
Beto Abreu, Chief Executive of Suzano, said: “We successfully completed our Cerrado Project and made significant strides in our strategy, with the acquisition of assets in the US and a stake in Lenzing, the Austria-based textiles business.
“Despite these investments, we ended 2024 with lower net leverage than the prior year, reflecting Suzano’s discipline in capital allocation, operational competitiveness and financial strength.”
Less than six months after start-up and nearly four months ahead of schedule, Suzano reached a production milestone at its Andritz-supplied pulp mill in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil – the world’s largest single-line eucalyptus pulp mill.
On 29 December 2024, Suzano consistently produced bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp at an average daily rate exceeding the planned 7,203tpd for 30 days.
On 8 January, it reached its first one million tons of pulp. When fully operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 2.55m tons.
Leonardo Mendonça Pimenta, Director of Industrial Operations at Suzano in Ribas do Rio Pardo, said: “This achievement is the result of a combination of several factors, including excellent equipment, great suppliers, and very good project execution.
“The training of the operating team more than a year before the start of operations also played a major role in delivering these extraordinary results.”
The scope of supply by Andritz included a pulp mill with technologies for fibre production and chemical recovery including gasification plants on an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Civil Works (EPCC) basis.
