Ashland, Virginia, USA 19 May 2017 -- Newsprint capacities are shrinking further. White Birch Paper has decided to close down a newsprint mill in the US with a capacity of 240,000 tpy.

White Birch Paper has announced the indefinite idling of paper making operations at its Bear Island newsprint mill in Virginia, USA. The Bear Island mill has a capacity of 240,000 tpy of TMP and newsprint. About 165 employees will be affected by the closure. The final date of operations would be announced shortly, the company said.

White Birch Paper cited difficult market conditions. "Difficult market pricing, challenging cost fundamentals and declining demand necessitate identifying and optimising our lowest cost capacity," said Christopher Brant, the company's President and COO.

White Birch Paper is a manufacturer of newsprint, commercial papers, specialty papers, such as food-wrap paper or coloured newsprint, and paperboard. The company operates a total of four mills, with the Bear Island mill being the only one located in the US and the other ones in Quebec, Canada.

The F.F Soucy mill produces newsprint and specialty papers with a capacity of 265,000 tpy. The Papier Masson mill can produce up to 240,000 tpy of newsprint and the Stadacona mill produces newsprint and commercial papers as well as paperboard with a capacity of 250,000 tpy and 45,000 tpy respectively.