Monthly Archives: June 2016

How America Saves Trees — With Paper

(Chicago, IL., April 18, 2016) It’s a common assumption: if paper comes from trees, then using paper must be bad for forests, right? Wrong. American-manufactured paper actually benefits our nation’s forestland and is a driving force in maintaining it for future generations. “It may seem counterintuitive, but the responsible production and use of paper is sustainable and helps keep forest land in the U.S. as forests,” said Kate McGlynn, Product Environmental Steward for Boise Paper. “Using wood-based products like office Read More...

China slaps AD duties on imports of unbleached sack kraft paper from EU, US and Japan

(Beijing, China, April 12, 2016) In accordance with the provisions of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping (hereinafter referred to as the “Anti-dumping Regulations”), on April 10, 2015, the Ministry of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the “Investigation Authority”) issued Announcement No. 9 of 2015, deciding to carry out anti-dumping investigation against imports of unbleached sack paper (hereinafter referred to as the “Products under Investigation”) originated in the U.S., the EU and Japan. The Investigation Authority Read More...

UPM’s PM3 in Changshu (China) inaugurated

(Helsinki, April 20, 2016) UPM announced on April 12 the official inauguration of the Paper Machine 3 (PM3) in Changshu, China. As an important milestone for the development of UPM in China, the new paper machine will further increase production capacity while implementing the Biofore strategy. With this investment UPM will continue to provide environmentally friendly, safe and broad product portfolios for customers in China and the Asia-Pacific region. (Source: press release) Read More...

Report: Trends driving innovation in tissue performance identified

(U.K., April 06, 2016) Smithers Pira publishes a new report entitled, The Future of Tissue Manufacturing to 2021, which provides an in-depth, long-term assessment of the rapidly evolving tissue manufacturing processes. Operating environment trends and diverging product performance levels will push alternative manufacturing technologies. Tissue manufacturers occupying economy segments compete primarily on price. This requires increased focus on productivity and cost control. Premium level product performance will drive increased adoption of structured sheet technologies supported by chemicals and fibres. Changes are Read More...

Ilim Group to Invest Over USD 2 Billion in Upgrades to Production Facilities in Russia

(Moscow, Russia, April 06, 2016) Ilim Group today announced its new Business Plan to 2020, which includes investments of over USD 2 billion into existing production facilities and other operations in Russia. Investments will focus on increasing the Group’s production capacity by over 500,000 tons per year (tpy). The overall investment program will cover all three of the Group’s production facilities in Bratsk, Koryazhma and Ust-Ilimsk. The business plan envisages a series of measures aimed at modernization, increasing the efficiency Read More...

International Paper to sell Chinese corrugated packaging business for $150 million

(Memphis, Tenn., USA, March 14, 2016) International Paper (NYSE: IP) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its corrugated packaging business in China and Southeast Asia to Xiamen Bridge Hexing Equity Investment Partnership Enterprise. International Paper’s corrugated packaging business in Asia has 18 plants and a workforce of approximately 3,000 employees. Under terms of the transaction, International Paper will receive a total of approximately RMB 1 billion (approximately US$150 million at current exchange rate), subject Read More...

M&As: Weyerhaeuser to Sell Liquid Packaging Board Business to Nippon Paper Industries for $285 Million

(USA, June 16, 2016) Weyerhaeuser Company [June 16] announced an agreement to sell its liquid packaging board business to Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. for $285 million in cash. Weyerhaeuser expects to use a substantial portion of the estimated $225 million after-tax proceeds for repayment of debt. The transaction includes one mill located in Longview, Washington, with an annual capacity of 280,000 tons. This announcement concludes a portion of the strategic review of the company’s Cellulose Fibers business, which was initiated Read More...

Capacities: Stora Enso inaugurates its new consumer board mill in China

(Helsinki / Shanghai, June 15, 2016) Stora Enso inaugurates its new consumer board mill in Beihai, China. The mill started up in May and it is expected to reach full production within 18 to 24 months. With an investment of EUR 800 million, this is the largest Nordic direct investment in China, and a significant investment in the history of Stora Enso. The Beihai consumer board mill has an annual capacity of 450,000 tonnes of high-grade carton board products. One Read More...

Cascades to permanently close deinked pulp mill in Auburn, Maine; “rapid erosion of P&W paper (&) MDIP market conditions, low potential integration’’, says CEO

(USA, June 17, 2016) Cascades Inc. today announced that it will permanently close its de-inked pulp mill located in Auburn, Maine. Production will end on July 8 and the mill’s doors will close on July 15. The pulp mill currently employs 45 people. “The rapid erosion of the printing and writing paper market, the overall deterioration of market conditions for de-inked pulp and the low potential for integration with other Cascades activities are all factors that have had significant negative consequences Read More...

Capacities: Stora Enso to close and divest Suzhou paper mill

(Helsinki, June 15, 2016) Stora Enso has signed an agreement to divest the key assets of its Suzhou Mill in China for approximately €240 million. Stora Enso has signed an agreement to divest the key assets of its Suzhou Mill in China, including the land-use rights and buildings, to the local government of Suzhou National New & Hi-tech Industrial Development Area (SND). The cash consideration for the divestment of assets is approximately €240 million. Based on annual figures for 2015, the Read More...

Nippon Paper Industries Acquires Japanese Paper Bag Producer Kyouei Seitai

(Tokyo, June 23, 2016) Nippon Paper Group announced that it has acquired shares in Kyouei Seitai K.K. and made it a subsidiary -- obtaining 60.2 percent of equity. Located in Marugame, Japan, Kyouei Seitai specializes in the production of heavy duty paper bags for food. As part of the 5th medium-term business plan (for the fiscal year 2015 to 2017), Nippon Paper Group said that it is working to enhance the competitiveness of its existing businesses and change the business structure Read More...

Price Watch: Södra raises price for softwood pulp in Europe from June 1st

(Stockholm, Sweden, June 22, 2016) Södra, Mercer International, and Metsӓ Fibre are trying to lift NBSK prices in Europe to $830/tonne. Sodra announced that due to a stronger global market and solid demand, it will increase its market price for NBSK deliveries in Europe to USD 830/tonne, effective from June 1st 2016. Recent market statistics support the positive signals we had already noticed. “The softwood pulp market is strong and we anticipate the market will tighten even further”, said Magnus Björkman, Read More...

Cascades to Build New $64 Million Tissue Converting Plant on U.S. West Coast

(USA, June 15, 2016) Cascades Inc. today announced that it will build a new tissue converting plant in Scappoose, Oregon (USA). The US$64 million investment includes new state-of-the-art converting lines that are scheduled for commissioning at the end of the first quarter of 2017. This new, modern and automated converting plant will employ 80 people once the work is finished. It will manufacture virgin and recycled bathroom tissue products and paper hand towels for the Away from Home market. The Read More...

Stats: US paper recovery nears 52 million tonnes in 2015

(Washington DC, June 16, 2016) According to data from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), around 52 million tonnes of paper was recovered nationwide last year. The association estimates the overall paper recovery rate at an all-time high of 66.8%, which compares to 65.4% in 2014. AF&PA credits the higher numbers to growth in the country’s recycling infrastructure and to paper mill demand for recovered material. Overall paper generation in the USA fell slightly to just under 78 million tonnes Read More...

Stats: U.S. Kraft Paper Shipments in May Down 1.3 Percent

(Washington DC, June 16, 2016) The American Forest & Paper Association released its May 2016 Kraft Paper Report which said total Kraft paper shipments were 138.0 thousand short tons, 1.3 percent lower compared to May 2015. Bleached Kraft paper shipments decreased from 8.5 thousand short tons in April to 7.0 while unbleached Kraft paper increased from 129.3 to 131.0 thousand short tons. Overall, shipments in the first five months of 2016 were 1.1 percent lower compared to the same period in Read More...
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