M-real has said measures to raise product prices will continue in all business areas, and the implementation of price increases for coated magazine paper and folding boxboard is progressing.

Compared with the previous year, its operating result excluding non-recurring items was weakened by the increased wood, raw material and energy costs.

The paper giant has recorded sales for July to September totalled €826m (£650m), down 0.4% from €870m the same time a year earlier.

The operational result for the period was a loss of €8m, down from a profit of €44m the same time a year earlier.

M-real's total sales for January to September were €2.51bn, down 3.9% from the same time a year earlier.

Elsewhere, Stora Enso said it has recorded poor but "better than expected" third quarter results, following a drastic restructuring programme launched last year.

The company has made cost and capacity cuts, focused on pricing quality, increased Finnish wood sourcing and strengthened its balance sheets through divestment.

Chief executive Jouko Karvinen has said such actions have been "critically important".

The company recorded sales for January to September 2008 of €2.72bn compared with €2.87bn the same time a year earlier.

It reported an operating loss of €138m compared with a loss of €305m from last year, and a pretax loss of €161m compared with a loss of €329m in 2007.

Chief executive Jouko Karvinen said it has already achieved "meaningful and necessary" price increases in local currencies compared to the prior year.