INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO NEW
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 21, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Feb 21, 2025
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Business Segment Results
The Company currently operates in two segments: Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers. On September 18, 2023, the Company completed the sale of its Ilim equity investment and, as a result, all historical results of the Ilim investment are presented as Discontinued Operations, net of taxes and our equity investment is no longer a separate reportable segment.
The following tables present net sales and business segment operating profit (loss), which is the Company's measure of segment profitability. Business segment operating profit (loss) is a measure reported to our management for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to our business segments and assessing the performance of our business segments and is presented in our financial statement footnotes in accordance with ASC 280 - "Segment Reporting". During 2024, business segment operating profits (losses) used by the chief operating decision maker were adjusted to include accelerated depreciation as part of the measure of business performance. As such, results for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been recast to reflect $422 million for accelerated depreciation related to mill strategic actions in business segment operating profit (losses). For additional information regarding business segment operating profit (loss), including a description of the manner in which business segment operating profit (loss) is calculated, see Note 20 - Financial Information by Business Segment starting on page 95 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING
Demand for Industrial Packaging products is closely correlated with non-durable industrial goods production, as well as with demand for e-commerce, processed foods, poultry, meat and agricultural products. In addition to prices and volumes, major factors affecting the profitability of Industrial Packaging are raw material and energy costs, freight costs, mill outage costs, manufacturing efficiency and product mix.
| Industrial Packaging | ||
|---|---|---|
| In millions | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net Sales | $15,534 | $15,596 |
| Operating Profit (Loss) | $951 | $919 |
Industrial Packaging net sales for 2024 decreased to $15.5 billion compared with $15.6 billion in 2023. Operating profits in 2024 were 3% higher than in 2023. Comparing 2024 with 2023, benefits from higher sales prices net of an unfavorable mix ($310 million), lower maintenance outage costs ($17 million) and lower accelerated depreciation expense ($336 million) were partially offset by lower sales volumes ($128 million), higher operating costs ($390 million) and higher input costs ($113 million).
| North American Packaging Solutions | ||
|---|---|---|
| In millions | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net Sales (a) | $14,293 | $14,293 |
| Operating Profit (Loss) | $891 | $839 |
(a) Includes intra-segment sales of $114 million for 2024 and $95 million for 2023.
North American Packaging Solutions' net sales were flat as the benefits of higher prices for both containerboard and corrugated boxes were offset by an unfavorable geographic mix and lower sales volumes. Sales volumes decreased in 2024 compared with 2023 for corrugated boxes reflecting the impact of our box go-to-market strategy. Total maintenance and economic downtime was about 1.2 million short tons lower in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to economic downtime that was favorably impacted by the mill strategic actions taken in the fourth quarter of 2023. Cost of products sold decreased by $53 million and was impacted by higher operating costs, lower planned maintenance downtime costs and higher input costs. Operating costs were higher primarily due to increased costs on materials and services, increased spending on maintenance and reliability and higher employee benefits costs, partially offset by lower economic downtime. Input costs were higher, driven by higher recovered fiber costs, partially offset by lower energy, freight and wood costs. Selling and administrative expenses were $347 million higher due to higher incentive compensation expense. Distribution costs were $64 million lower driven by lower sales volumes.
Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2025, compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, sales volumes for corrugated boxes are expected to be higher. Average sales margins are expected to be lower. Operating costs are expected to be lower. Planned maintenance downtime costs are expected to be lower. Input costs are expected to be lower, primarily for recovered fiber.
| EMEA Industrial Packaging | ||
|---|---|---|
| In millions | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net Sales | $1,355 | $1,398 |
| Operating Profit (Loss) | $60 | $80 |
EMEA Industrial Packaging's net sales were lower in 2024 than in 2023 reflecting lower average sales prices partially offset by a favorable product mix and higher sales volumes. Cost of products sold decreased $55 million and was impacted by higher operating costs, higher planned maintenance downtime costs and lower input costs. Operating costs were negatively impacted by a warehouse fire in Morocco and higher administrative spend. Input costs were lower in 2024, driven by energy and chemical costs mostly offset by higher purchased pulp costs. Input costs benefited from an energy subsidy in both 2024 and 2023. Selling and administrative expenses were $26 million higher driven by incentive compensation expense. Distribution expenses were flat.
Entering the first quarter of 2025, compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, sales volumes are expected to be stable. Average sales margins are expected to be lower, reflecting higher containerboard costs. Operating costs are expected to be lower. Planned maintenance outage costs are expected to be lower. Other input costs are expected to be lower. Earnings will be impacted by the non-repeat of an energy subsidy received in the fourth quarter 2024.
GLOBAL CELLULOSE FIBERS
Demand for Cellulose Fibers products is closely correlated with changes in demand for absorbent hygiene products, primarily driven by the demographics and income growth in various geographic regions. It is further affected by changes in currency rates that can benefit or hurt producers in different geographic regions. Principal cost drivers include manufacturing efficiency, raw material and energy costs, mill outage costs, and freight costs.
| Global Cellulose Fibers | ||
|---|---|---|
| In millions | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net Sales | $2,793 | $2,890 |
| Operating Profit (Loss) | $(226) | $(92) |
Global Cellulose Fibers net sales for 2024 decreased 3% to $2.8 billion, compared with $2.9 billion in 2023. Operating profits in 2024 decreased compared to 2023. Comparing 2024 with 2023, benefits from higher sales volumes ($9 million), lower operating costs ($11 million), lower planned maintenance outage costs ($50 million) and lower input costs ($43 million) were more than offset by lower average sales price net of a favorable mix
($100 million) and higher accelerated depreciation expense ($147 million).
Net sales in 2024 compared with 2023 were lower, driven by lower average sales prices. Total maintenance and economic downtime was about 535,000 short tons lower in 2024 compared with 2023, due to both economic and maintenance downtime. Economic downtime was impacted by the mill strategic actions taken in the second half of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024. Cost of products sold decreased by $138 million and was impacted by higher operating costs, lower planned downtime costs and lower input costs. Operating costs increased, driven by higher costs on materials and services and reliability incidents. Input costs were lower, driven by energy, chemicals, freight and wood. Selling and administrative expenses increased $51 million driven by higher incentive compensation expense. Distribution costs were lower by $40 million.
Entering the first quarter of 2025, compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, sales volumes are expected to be stable. Average sales margins are expected to be lower. Operating costs are expected to be lower. Planned maintenance outage costs are expected to be higher than in the fourth quarter of 2024. Input costs are expected to be stable. Operating profit will benefit from the non-repeat of accelerated depreciation expense in the fourth quarter of 2024.
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