Helsinki, Finland, 24 May 2006 -- Stora Enso has decided to build its third corrugated packaging plant in Russia, at Lukhovitsy, some 130 km southeast of Moscow. The annual production capacity of the plant, which will employ some 175 people, will be 150 million m2 of corrugated board. The capital expenditure is estimated at EUR 54 million. Construction of the plant will begin in September 2006, with production starting up in the first quarter of 2008.

Stora Enso has positive experience of the corrugated packaging business in Russia and aims to be the leading producer of corrugated board in the European part of Russia.

The new plant will serve the growing demand for high-quality packaging in Russia, especially in the Moscow region. Customers will be mainly in the food, beverage, cigarette and electronics industries, representing both international and Russian brands.

Stora Enso already has two corrugated packaging plants in Russia. The first plant started operations at Balabanovo in 1998 and the second at Arzamas in 2004. The two plants have 450 employees and produced a total of 215 million m2 of corrugated packaging board in 2005.