Domtar Corporation reported net earnings of $47 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to net earnings of $59 million for the third quarter of 2016 and net earnings of $57 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $1.3 billion.

For fiscal year 2016, net earnings amounted to $128 million compared to net earnings of $142 million for fiscal year 2015. Sales amounted to $5.1 billion for fiscal year 2016.

John D. Williams, president and CEO, said that the company’s personal care segment started manufacturing baby diapers using Ashdown fluff pulp, and initial trials provided good results. “This production is the first step towards qualifying Ashdown fluff pulp for the hygiene market,” he adds.

Personal care sales in the fourth quarter were $242 million, and $917 million for 2016.

Williams comments, “The fourth quarter marked our highest Personal Care sales and EBITDA of the year, which included the results of our recent HDIS acquisition. We are scaling up our capabilities in the rapidly growing direct-to-consumer channel, while expanding our partner-brand strategy to capture sales growth and higher margins by continuing to differentiate the way we sell our products.”