Archives

The PM40 closed Friday, 14 February 2025, at 5938.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 14 February 2025 up 10.3% from the 16 February 2024 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Nine Dragons and Sonoco.

The Trump Administration's executive orders cut across dozens of industries. This searchable tool breaks down the orders and their impact.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, more than 150 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile Norm Dove, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

In your relaxing time are you a spectator or a participant?

Aikawa Fiber Technologies (AFT) has appointed Ali Raheem as its new CEO, reinforcing its leadership and strategic growth focus. Ali brings extensive global experience in business development, strategy, and leadership across multiple industries.

ANDRITZ has acquired LDX Solutions, a leading provider of emission reduction technologies and related services in the North American industrial market, with annual revenues of about $100 million.

SPM Instrument AB has received a strategically important order from Nordic Paper's mill in Bäckhammar in Värmland, Sweden, for a larger volume of the Airius LTE-M wireless vibration sensor.

Suzano has reached remarkable production milestones at its new pulp mill in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil, delivered by ANDRITZ.

CDP's evaluation is based on the company's disclosure about its climate-related strategy, targets, governance, risks and opportunities, risk management, and actions in the last reporting year.

The start-up is scheduled for the third quarter 2025.

The delivery is scheduled for the first quarter 2025.

The company states: "We continue to experience challenging SBS industry conditions, with supply exceeding demand, but we remain optimistic about the future growth prospects of paperboard packaging. We are taking actions to address the resulting near term margin pressure by reducing fixed costs, including eliminating more than 10% of all positions across the company. These combined actions should deliver $30 to $40 million in cost savings in 2025. While our industry is currently in a down cycle, we continue to invest in our assets to ensure that they remain competitive in the long-run."

The state of North Carolina has settled its lawsuit against Pactiv Evergreen, with the company agreeing to repay about half of the $12 million it received for creating jobs at the now-shuttered Canton paper mill..

Domtar plans to start construction on the new treatment system later in 2025.

Georgia-Pacific continues its investment in its plywood mill located in Prosperity, South Carolina through $14 million worth of upgrades and improvements to mill operations. One of the major focuses of this project will be to upgrade the existing boiler, which will increase fuel efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and help boost the local economy through the jobs the project will create during the renovation.

Kruger Inc. announced a $6.5-million investment to implement an innovation project aimed at diversifying production at its Wayagamack Mill in Trois-Rivières.

Investment doubles site's workforce, introduces industry-first equipment, and drives digital printing evolution.

The company's expansion of its Ackerman sawmill will increase its production capacity from 120 million board feet per year to 300 million board feet per year. To facilitate the project, Southeastern Timber Products will install a new sawmill line, new dry kilns and storage facilities.

Sylvamo announces major investments at its two South Carolina facilities. The company plans to invest approximately $145 million in high-return projects to reduce costs and significantly enhance the capabilities at its mill in Eastover, South Carolina.

Norwegian company Norske Skog has accepted a $27 million offer by Melbourne businessman David Marriner for the mill at Boyer, on the edge of New Norfolk in Tasmania's Derwent Valley.

Setra Group AB is considering selling its sawmill in Malå, Sweden, during 2025, aiming to strengthen its operations in central Sweden.

UPM Raflatac has acquired Metamark, a UK-based company to further accelerate its growth in Graphics business. UPM Raflatac's existing Graphics business complemented with Metamark will strengthen UPM Raflatac's overall competitiveness, bring major synergies and make UPM Raflatac a significant player in the fast-growing, high value-added Graphics segment. The Enterprise Value of the transaction is GBP 146 million (approx. EUR 175 million).

Domtar's subsidiary company, Paper Excellence, entered into a settlement with the provincial government following the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in 2020. As part of the settlement, which resolved a $450-million lawsuit filed by Paper Excellence against the provincial government over closure, Domtar agreed to explore the viability of opening a new mill in Liverpool.

The company also said it will close its recycling plant in Phoenix and box plant in Hazelton, Pa., during the same time period.

Jussi Vanhanen, LLM, MBA, has been appointed as Metsäliitto Cooperative's new CEO. He will also be the President and CEO of Metsä Group. Jussi Vanhanen will start in his new position on 1 July 2025. Until 30 June 2025, the position will be held by Metsä Group's current President and CEO Ilkka Hämälä, who will then transfer to special duties within the company. These duties will continue until 23 October 2025, when he retires.

The project would create over 400 new jobs and increase the UK's self-sufficiency in the tissue paper market to approximately 85%.

Layoffs are expected to begin April 11 and conclude on or before June 13, the notice states.

Sealed Air (SEE) announced that Dustin Semach has been appointed to serve as the president and CEO, effective immediately. Semach will also serve as a member of the board of directors and its executive committee.

Huhtamaki is separating the Fiber Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business segment into two distinct business segments, Fiber Packaging and Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania. The change is expected to take effect as of April 1, 2025, at the latest.

Norske Skog Saugbrugs and its insurance company has agreed on a final settlement of all remaining insurance claims related to the rockslide at the Saugbrugs site on 27 April 2023. The settlement amount of NOK 540 million will be jointly covered by the insurance company, the Norwegian Natural Perils Pool and the reinsurers.

Interfor Corporation has been cleared of mismanagement claims in regards to its logging practices north of Grand Forks.

A process malfunction at the Georgetown paper mill caused by freezing temperatures spread a sulfur odor through the city, officials said Tuesday.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a modified air quality permit to International Paper - Riegelwood Mill in Columbus County.

Materials from the McKinley Paper mill in Combined Locks have been spilling into the Fox River for over two weeks.

By the end of 2024, Stora Enso achieved a 53% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, surpassing the target of a 50% reduction by 2030 from the 2019 base year. This milestone reflects the Group's long-term commitment to proactive decarbonisation efforts.

Company officials said the contractor was working last month at the Skowhegan mill when he was seriously injured.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, announced in March 2024 that it will start a development programme to produce new products on the current uncoated white kraftliner production line (BM2) at its Husum mill integrate in Sweden. The aim was to find alternatives for uncoated kraftliner production.

The change negotiations cover the entire staff of Lappeenranta, Renko and Vilppula sawmills, approximately 245 people.

The workers voted on Saturday to accept an improved deal, with their return scheduled for 6:00am Sunday, February 16th.

Oji Fibre Solutions has announced the outcome of a consultation process to simplify operations at Kinleith Mill, aimed at further action to stabilise and strengthen the company.