Profit warning: Demand for Ahlstrom's products has continued to weaken in the first quarter of 2009

Ahlstrom Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 18.3.2009


Ahlstrom Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty papers and
nonwovens, announces that the very challenging market conditions that
impacted Ahlstrom's business in the fourth quarter of 2008 have
prevailed in the beginning of this year. Consequently, the demand
pattern for most of Ahlstrom's products has continued to weaken in
the first quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

In its Financial Statements Bulletin published on February 5, 2009,
Ahlstrom anticipated the market environment to be very challenging in
2009 with a very short-term visibility of the demand for Ahlstrom
products. The company announced that the demand would vary
significantly by product line and depending on the general
development of the customer industries.

Ahlstrom will publish its interim report for January-March 2009 on
April 29, 2009.


Further information:

Ahlstrom Corporation

Jan Lång
President & CEO
Tel. +358 (0)10 888 4700

Jari Mäntylä
CFO
Tel. +358 (0)10 888 4768


Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com


Ahlstrom in brief

Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and
marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and
specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of
everyday products, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and
tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach,
the company has a strong market position in several business areas in
which it operates. Ahlstrom's 6,400 employees serve customers via
sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on
six continents. In 2008, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.8
billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The
company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.