Finnish paper company Stora Enso Oyj (STERV.HE) said Wednesday it expects its operating result to be "clearly down" in the first quarter of 2009 from the fourth quarter of 2008, due to customer destocking and weak demand.

In the fourth quarter of last year, Stora Enso said its operating profit totaled EUR28.4 million, "excluding one-offs and fair valuations."

"In Europe, market demand is expected to remain weak and clearly less than a year earlier for all of the Group's products throughout at least the first half of 2009 due to the current economic downturn," the company said.

"Stora Enso remains committed to preserving cash flow through large production curtailments, stringent working capital management and other means," it added.

The company said it will cut its capital expenditure target for 2009 to EUR400 million from EUR500 million. It also said that with Brazilian partner Aracruz (ARCZ6.BR) it will delay the Veracel II pulp mill project by at least a year and reduce the joint venture's 2009 capital expenditure.

Company Web site: http://www.storaenso.com

-By Gustav Sandstrom, Dow Jones Newswires; +46-8-5451-3099; gustav.sandstrom@dowjones.com