Buckeye Intends to Sell Lumberton Fiberline Operations and Facility

Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 23 January 2007 --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BKI) today announced its intention to sell its Fiberline operation located in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Buckeye Lumberton entered the bleached cotton fiber market in September of 2001 with state of the art equipment and technology that used a batch bleaching process to treat a variety of cotton fibers. Bleached cotton fibers are used in personal care, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products around the world and are gaining acceptance in nonwoven applications. The Lumberton operation has the capacity to produce 8000 metric tons of fiber annually and is currently operating at about 90% capacity. Its annual sales revenue is approximately USD 14 million.

"When Buckeye Technologies entered the bleached cotton fiber market in 2001, the new manufacturing line at the Lumberton site complemented the existing cotton linter fibers operation," said John B. Crowe, Buckeye chairman. "In August of 2003, we consolidated the Lumberton cotton linter fibers operation into our Memphis facility due to the decline in demand for cotton content printing and writing papers. Since 2003, the Lumberton team has made the necessary modifications to manufacturing costs and product mix to become a profitable, growing and labor efficient stand alone operation. However, with the closure of the cotton linter fibers operation, Buckeye Lumberton is no longer a strategic component of our future plans and we believe it could provide a strategic growth opportunity for the right owner. If a suitable sales arrangement is not found, we intend to continue to operate and optimize Buckeye Lumberton."

Buckeye has retained Morgan Keegan and Company, Inc. as its exclusive financial advisor in connection with the possible sale of Buckeye Lumberton Inc. Interested parties should contact Morgan Keegan and company at (901) 529-3713.

Buckeye, a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty fibers and nonwoven materials, is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The company currently operates facilities in the United States, Germany, Canada, and Brazil. Its products are sold worldwide to makers of consumer and industrial goods.

Source: Buckeye Technologies Inc.