Metsä Fibre Taking Temporary Downtime at Its Joutseno Pulp Mill in Finland

June 9, 2025 - Metsä Fibre is initiating a temporary production shutdown at its Joutseno pulp mill in Lappeenranta, Finland, starting today, June 9.

The shutdown is the result of low order volumes from Asia.

"Our Joutseno pulp mill will be shut down until further notice," said Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsä Fibre. "This temporary production shutdown enables us to adjust our pulp inventory levels to match the low order volumes from Asia and the uncertain market situation."

The Joutseno pulp mill has the capacity to produce 690,000 tonnes per year of softwood pulp. The mill employs about 190 people.

"We are actively monitoring the development of the market situation, especially in the Asian markets, and will determine the duration of the shutdown and the timing of the mill's restart based on how the situation evolves. Wood supply and other operational conditions are well in place for resuming production." Nousiainen said.

Metsä Fibre, a member of the Metsä Group, is a leading producer of wood-based bioproducts, such as pulp, sawn timber, biochemicals and?bioenergy. The company produces pulp and bioproducts at four mills and sawn timber products at four sawmills in Finland.

SOURCE: Metsä Fibre

UPM Expands Its Baltic Sea Collaboration to Include Forestry Water Protection

June 10, 2025 - UPM is deepening its over 15-year collaboration with the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) by developing forestry water protection. The new commitment focuses on research into sustainable forestry and the development of new practices in peatlands, among other areas.

"As part of our Forest Action forest responsibility program, we want to be at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices in forestry water protection," said Tuomas Kara, Environmental Manager at UPM Forest. "A lack of clear, research-backed information in certain areas is still holding back the development of effective practices. We want to offer research plots that can be used to find concrete ways to reduce environmental impacts on water and climate emissions in forests, for example."

Jussi Heinonsalo, Professor of Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki, explained, "Research supported by companies can be a significant step forward in finding and mainstreaming more sustainable practices. The plots will be integrated into a wider network of plots coordinated by the University of Helsinki, which is open to all researchers to conduct scientific studies."

Taina Ihaksi, Director of the BSAG Forest Project, added, "According to studies, the impacts of forestry on water quality and carbon balance are significant, which supports the promotion of better practices. We will have the opportunity to explore with researchers, in particular open questions related to the regulation of groundwater level and to the carbon cycle, as well as impacts on water bodies."

New Operating Models for Water Protection in Forest Management

In addition to research, practical forestry measures are also being developed as part of the collaboration. New guidelines are being drawn up for water protection in forestry, both for UPM's own forests and privately owned forests. UPM is also committed to communicating the new operating models and guidelines to its forest owner customers.

"We aim to give greater attention to water bodies affected by forest management and to take into account their special characteristics," Ihaksi noted. "The impacts of forestry on water bodies are addressed through everyday decisions: Which type of regeneration or soil preparation methods are chosen? When to harvest? What kind of machines are used and where? This is already a part of everyday activities in forestry. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement in preventing environmental harm, and for that, we need more science-based information. Small changes in forest management methods can also help restore water conditions in forests towards a more natural state. Implementing research results requires commitment and continuous training of personnel."

Long-term Collaboration for the Protection of the Baltic Sea Continues

Sami Lundgren, Vice President, Responsibility, for UPM, said, "The collaboration between UPM and BSAG is a great example of long-term and multidimensional work that has succeeded in developing operating methods and finding new solutions. The commitments have covered topics that are central to the Baltic Sea, ranging from harmful chemicals to nutrient recycling and maritime emissions. It's only natural that the next theme was found in the forest sector."

Among others, UPM was the first Finnish shipper to commit to BSAG's Ship Waste Action initiative and to discharge its sewage from sea transport to land for recovery from spring 2022.

UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. The company operates globally and employs approximately 15,800 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately EUR 10.3 billion.

SOURCE: UPM

CMPC Celebrates Official Launch of Forest Products Business Unit in Atlanta

June 10, 2025 - With the presence of key clients, CMPC on May 12 celebrated the official launch of CMPC Forest Products in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).

According to the company, the Atlanta office marks a new step in its internationalization strategy and closer relationship with the North American market.

"This step allows us to be closer to our customers in the United States and respond more quickly to their needs, offering first-class service right down to the last mile," said Francisco Ruiz-Tagle, general manager of CMPC.

The event brought together nearly 20 clients from the pulp, boxboard, sack kraft, and wood businesses, who participated in various meeting opportunities organized by the team. The event also featured an opportunity to unveil the newly remodeled offices.

CMPC Forest Products, operating since January 1, 2024, is the result of a joint venture with International Forest Products (IFP), and has a team of 24 people who manage sales and logistics services for CMPC's businesses.

Dan Kraft, President and CEO of IFP, commented, "We are proud to continue building a strong relationship with CMPC, which will allow us to offer comprehensive solutions to clients in the United States."

CMPC is a global company that produces and commercializes forestry products, cellulose, paper, and tissue products from its responsibly managed, certified plantations.

SOURCE: CMPC

AF&PA Details U.S. Paper Production and Capacity Trends

May 19, 2025 - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released the 65th Paper Industry Annual Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey. The report provides detailed data on U.S. paper industry capacity and production compiled by the AF&PA statistics team.

The industry utilized its assets more effectively with total paper and paperboard operating rate reaching 87.5% in 2024, a nearly four percentage point increase from 2023.

U.S. paper and paperboard production increased 3.2% last year, with increases in all categories, led by strong growth in containerboard. U.S. paper and paperboard capacity declined by 2.0% in 2024, to 78.1 million tons. By comparison, the average annual rate of decline since 2015 was 0.9%.

The industry continues to invest in new machines and machine conversions, particularly in the packaging and tissue sectors. Four machines came online in 2023 producing containerboard, one boxboard machine came online this month, and another will start up later this year. One new tissue machine is planned for startup in the second half. However, more capacity has been removed across all sectors resulting from investments in mill system modernization and streamlining of businesses for efficiency and competitiveness.

U.S. Paper-Based Packaging Capacity

Containerboard capacity declined 0.9% in 2024. Despite three consecutive declines in 2022 through 2024, containerboard capacity continues to account for more than 50% of total U.S. capacity to produce paper and paperboard.

Packaging paper capacity increased 4.6% on the heels of a strong 4.8% growth rate in 2023. For the second year, all the growth came in unbleached packaging papers while bleached packaging papers has now declined for six consecutive years. Meanwhile, boxboard capacity declined 3.3% percent in 2024. One bleached boxboard machine came online this month following conversion from printing-writing and a recycled boxboard machine is scheduled to come online in the fourth quarter of this year as part of a new mill.

U.S. Printing-Writing and Tissue Capacity

Printing-writing capacity fell 6.9% in 2024, the steepest decline since the pandemic-induced drop of 14.9% in 2021. After printing-writing capacity dropped below 10 million tons for the first time in 2023, the level is now below 9 million tons. Printing-Writing accounted for just 12% of total U.S. paper and paperboard capacity in 2024, the same as in 2023.

Tissue capacity declined 1.7% in 2024. In spite of the three recent consecutive year-over-year declines, the tissue share of total U.S. paper and paperboard capacity has grown steadily compared to other grades over time, from 7.2% to 11.3% since the year 2000.

What is Capacity?

Capacity is the tonnage of paper, paperboard or pulp that could be produced with full use of equipment and adequate supplies of raw materials and labor, and assuming full demand.

AF&PA's Capacity Survey details U.S. industry capacity data for 2024 and 2025 for all major grades of paper, paperboard and pulp, as well as fiber consumption. It is based on a comprehensive survey of U.S. pulp and paper mills. It includes production data for 2024.

AF&PA data represent about 89% of U.S. paper and paperboard industry capacity, with estimates completing the data set.

How to Purchase the AF&PA Capacity Survey?

The complete Survey is available for purchase online. Please visit our website afandpa.org/statistics-resources/reports or contact [email protected] or 202-463-4716 for this report and other industry reports.

About AF&PA and the Forest Products Industry

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day.

The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. The industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually.

AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry's decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030.

SOURCE: AF&PA