Market News of Note

Due to rising input costs, particularly but not only for pulp, Sappi Europe intends to increase prices for coated and uncoated fine papers by 8% effective from 7 April 2025.

Sonoco Products Company, a sustainable packaging solutions provider, will implement a price increase of $70 per tonne for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the US and Canada.

Weyerhaeuser's stock is gaining as investors anticipate that the company will benefit from new 25% tariffs on Canadian lumber imports. The Seattle-based firm, which owns 10.4 million acres of timberland in the U.S. and logging rights on another 14 million acres in Canada, is expected to sell lumber and wood panels at higher prices without the added cost of tariffs on cross-border shipments.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has proposed increasing the anti-dumping duty on Canadian softwood lumber from 7.66% to 20.07%, nearly tripling the rate set three years ago.

KP Tissue Inc., part owner of Canada's largest toilet and tissue paper producer, says it won't provide guidance for its next quarter and has delayed a decision on a major capital investment because of U.S. tariffs.

British Columbia Premier David Eby has ordered the removal of all U.S. alcohol products from BCLIQUOR stores in response to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about his intention to impose tariffs targeting Canada's dairy and lumber industries.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has launched its seventh administrative review of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber for the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, Feb. 27, that his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will take effect on March 4 as planned.

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."

International Paper's fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the company cut costs, but lower sales volumes in many categories of paper and packaging and the shutdown of a U.S. mill weighed on its results.

In Asia, the price increase will be $20 per ton. For Europe and North America, the price increase will be more significant, with a rise of $60 per ton.

Essity could move more of its production into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada if tariffs are introduced by President Donald Trump, but is not considering facility closures, CEO Magnus Groth said.

PotlatchDeltic Corporation reported net income of $5.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, on revenues of $258.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Rayonier Inc. announced the results of shareholder elections relating to the special dividend declared by its Board of Directors on December 2, 2024. The dividend of $1.80 per common share will be paid on January 30, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 12, 2024.

Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) announced a profit for its fourth quarter that increased from the same period last year but missed the Street estimates.

The Board of Directors has not yet made its decision for proposal for dividend for the financial year 2024 to the Annual General Meeting. Such decision will be communicated as soon as it has been made.

Weyerhaeuser reported a sharp drop in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday as it struggled with higher forestry and road costs in its timberlands unit due to wet weather conditions.

The new price is valid from March 1, 2025.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued a statement regarding President Donald Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on all products from Canada and Mexico.

Tariffs on building materials like softwood lumber, gypsum, and steel are increasing construction costs, driving up home prices and harming housing affordability.

SCA will increase the price on NBSK pulp (Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft) in Europe by 50 USD per tonne. The new price will be effective February 1st.

President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports could significantly disrupt the U.S. lumber supply chain, according to Rajan Parajuli, an associate professor of forest economics and policy at NC State University.

Essity has received information that a minority of investors, in some of its Luxembourg-listed bond series, have initiated proceedings in English court.

If the Order Sought is granted by the AMF, Smurfit Westrock will cease to be a reporting issuer in the Canadian Jurisdictions and, as a result, will no longer be subject to continuous disclosure requirements under Canadian securities legislation.

Metsäliitto Cooperative has signed a new EUR 200 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility with a syndicate of eight banks. This new credit facility refinances the existing EUR 200 million facility signed in December 2018 and will be used for general corporate purposes. The facility has a tenor of five years and includes two one-year extension options.