April 25, 2005 -- Commenting on recent reports in the Belgian news media, Sappi Limited confirms that the closure of one of its two paper machines at Lanaken mill is of a temporary nature. As known, due to the continuous sharp increase of input costs, Sappi's European management recently increased the price for coated papers. Consequently, its order intake reduced and forced the company to stop the paper machine to avoid the build up of excessive mill inventories. Prevailing healthy market conditions will ensure that the paper machine's start-up is imminent.