SWEDEN (News release) -- Increasing costs, falling pulp prices and a weaker USD in the long term are the reasons why 24 people have been given notice of redundancy at Rottneros Group's Vallvik mill.

The paper and pulp industry has generally had a good year in Sweden, but the Rottneros Group now needs to reduce its costs to prepare for the future.

"It may be difficult to understand that we have to lay off staff, but it is necessary for us to have a long-term profitable operation at Vallvik mill," says Lennart Eberleh, President and CEO.

Last year, 36 people were made redundant at Rottneros mill in Värmland when a pulp line was shut down due to a declining market and increased costs.

Rottneros is an independent producer of market pulp.