Yearly Archives: 2017
India’s domestic paper consumption at over 16 MTPA (with imports at over 2 MTPA); demand projected to grow to 23 – 36 MTPA by 2024-25
(New Delhi, January 2017) As in the past, the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) released its Indian Paper Industry Pre-Budget Memorandum 2017-18 last month, on the eve of the finance minister of India presenting the Union Budget 2017-18. The memorandum, while essentially a “wish list”, also gives a bird’s eye view of the state of the industry.
Following are some extracts:
The domestic market / consumption of paper is over 16 million tonnes per annum (TPA), with over 2 Read More...
Europe: stats show small drop in 2016 paper & board production over 2015; packaging grades to continue to grow
(Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 07, 2017) Paper and board production in CEPI countries shows a small decline from 2015. CEPI member countries paper and board production has decreased by 0.1% in 2016 compared to the previous year, according to preliminary figures. Total production in 2016 was around 91 million tonnes. Machine closures in Europe in 2016 were compensated by new capacities or upgrading of existing ones.
United States and Canadian production are expected to be down by 1.0% and 1.8% respectively. Read More...
Sappi reports strong first quarter results; to reduce European graphic paper capacity by 200,000 tpa by 2020
(Johannesburg, S Africa, Feb. 08, 2017) Sappi Limited reported results for its fiscal first quarter 2017. Highlights included:
• EBITDA excluding special items US$201 million (Q1 2016 US$175 million)
• Profit for the period US$90 million (Q1 2016 US$75 million)
• EPS excluding special items 16 US cents (Q1 2016 13 US cents)
• Net debt US$1,338 million, down US$396 million year-on-year
• Investments to enhance competitive advantage and increase speciality packaging capacity
• Increased capability to produce paper-based packaging at Somerset Mill in the USA
• Lightweight packaging and speciality paper capacity Read More...
Resolute Reports Preliminary Fourth Quarter and 2016 Results; Q4 net loss of $45 million
(Montréal, Canada, Feb. 2, 2017) Resolute Forest Products Inc. today reported a net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, of $45 million, or $0.50 per share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $214 million, or $2.39 per share, in the same period in 2015. Sales were $889 million in the quarter, essentially unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2015. Excluding special items, the company reported a net loss of $3 million, or $0.03 per share, compared Read More...
Glatfelter Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2016 Earnings
(USA, Feb. 7, 2017) Glatfelter today reported net income of $21.6 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with $64.6 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, in the year ended December 31, 2015. Adjusted earnings in 2016, totaled $60.7 million, or $1.38 per diluted share compared with $58.9 million or $1.34 per diluted share, in 2015.
For the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company reported a loss of $16.2 million, or $0.37 per Read More...
Graphic Packaging Holding Company reports fourth quarter and full year 2016 results
(USA, Feb. 7, 2017) Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK), a leading provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and consumer product companies, today reported Net Income for fourth quarter 2016 of $34.9 million, or $0.11 per share, based upon 317.9 million weighted average diluted shares. This compares to fourth quarter 2015 Net Income of $57.2 million, or $0.17 per share, based on 329.6 million weighted average diluted shares.
Fourth quarter 2016 Net Income was negatively impacted by $9.8 million (net Read More...
Link: UPM 4Q results — “cautious outlook and dividend caution”
(Helsinki, Jan. 31, 2017) A cautious outlook and dividend disappointment knocked shares in Finnish pulp and paper maker UPM-Kymmene on Tuesday, despite it notching up record profits for 2016.
UPM has so far protected its profitability with cost cuts as well as its focus on pulp, a product with a brighter outlook than paper. Pulp is also used to make tissue and packaging board, which are seeing growing demand, particularly from China.
For this year, UPM said it expected profitability to Read More...
Sappi Europe to Increase Prices for its European Coated and Uncoated Fine Papers
(Brussels, Feb. 7, 2017) Sappi Europe announced that it will increase prices for all European coated and uncoated fine paper business by 8% for both sheets and reels, effective March 15.
For fine paper grades exported outside of Europe, Sappi said it will selectively apply a price increase based on specific local circumstances.
In a press release Sappi explained, “The sudden and continuing sharp rise in input costs and the consequently squeezed profit margins make corrective pricing measures inevitable as Sappi Read More...
Lecta to Hike Prices for all its 2-side CWF Paper Grades in Europe
(Spain, Feb. 8, 2017) Lecta announced that it will increase the prices of all its 2-side CWF (coated woodfree) grades of paper in sheets and reels by 8% to 9% in Europe, effective with the deliveries from 13 March 2017.
Lecta said, “The price movement is unavoidable to offset rising manufacturing costs, particularly energy, pulp, latex and other raw materials.”
“The price increase will also be applied in export markets according to product format and on a country by country basis,” Read More...
Sonoco Announces Price Increase in North America for Molded Wooden Plugs
(USA, Feb. 07, 2017) The Reels Division of Sonoco today announced it is implementing a general price increase for both new and recycled molded wooden plugs in the United States and Canada.
Sonoco said that it has not increased prices for its plug products since 2011.
The price increase is expected to be in the range of 6-8%.
“This increase is necessary to capture inflationary pressure that has entered the market over the past 6 years across a range of operational and Read More...
Asahi Shiko becames wholly-owned subsidiary of Rengo; will work toward expanding the Rengo Group corrugated board business
(Japan, Feb. 07, 2017) Rengo Co., Ltd. has acquired all of Nippon Paper Industries’ shares of Rengo consolidated subsidiary Asahi Shiko Co., Ltd., making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Asahi Shiko has plants in three locations: Konosu-shi, Saitama Prefecture; Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture; and Kamisu-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan.
Rengo will strengthen the cooperation between Asahi Shiko and neighboring plants directly managed by Rengo, as well as with Group companies, and work toward expanding the Rengo Group corrugated board business in the Kanto Read More...
Digitalization and automation crucial for the survival of Scandinavian industries
(Stockholm, Feb. 08, 2017) There is an urgent need to create a new industrial paradigm in Sweden where not only environmental sustainability is safeguarded, but also new business models that secure long-term competitiveness. That is one of the key findings in the outlook report “The road ahead for Scandinavian industry”, published by Tieto and KTH today.
Digitalization is pressing on, customer demands are more challenging than ever and environmental concerns are calling for a re-organised approach toward industrial production. These Read More...
Shaping the future with 3D printing; opportunities for the forest industry?
(Stockholm, Sweden, 07 February 2017) 3D printing is emerging as one of the game changers of the past few years. The potential for these technologies, also called “additive manufacturing,” has gone beyond prototyping: 3D printing is now an exciting area that is opening broad possibilities for engineering and design manufacturing. But where are the opportunities for the forest industry? This is what FPInnovations will be exploring on February 15, 2017 in Montréal during a one-day workshop on 3D printing Read More...
What to expect at BIOFOR International
(Montreal, Canada, 07 February 2017) Following a very successful first edition, the BIOFOR International Conference is back!
Held in conjunction with PaperWeek, the most important conference dedicated to the forest products sector in Canada, the BIOFOR conference is dedicated to the advancements of the forest bioeconomy.
BIOFOR will revolve around 3 main focus areas:
MARKET development / PROCESS advancements / and new TECHNOLOGY.
In order to help maximize synergy between the forest and bioceconomy sectors and promote dialogue, the two events will Read More...
Hong Kong consumers willing to pay a premium for sustainable paper products
(Hong Kong, February 07, 2017) Gold East Trading (Hong Kong) Company Limited, a subsidiary of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), today announced the results of the "Sustainable and Safe Paper Usage in Hong Kong" survey which revealed that nearly 70% of Hong Kong consumers are willing to pay an additional 5% or more to purchase paper products from sustainable sources. Additionally, more than 70% of respondents prefer to visit restaurants which use safe food packaging.
The survey of 1,037 people Read More...