Recent Articles

Stora Enso has finalised the sale of approximately 175,000 hectares of forest land in Sweden, representing 12.4% of its total holdings in the country, for an enterprise value of SEK 9.8 billion, equivalent to Euro 900 million. The buyers include Soya Group, which acquires a 40.6% stake, and a consortium led by MEAG, the asset management arm of Munich Re, with a 44.4% stake. Stora Enso retains 15% ownership in the new structure.

Stora Enso has issued a layoff warning that could affect around 60 employees at its operations in Skoghall and at the Gruvön sawmill in Grums.

The mill's increased capacity will create more than 600 new jobs in the province's forestry supply chain.

Following the death of longtime chairman and CEO Richard G. Verney on Sept. 10, Monadnock Paper Mills and Monadnock Non-Wovens have announced that former CFO Andrew Manns will return as CEO and operations will continue without interruption under the direction of the board and Manns.

Hunt Forest Products, Tolko Industries Ltd. and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois has dedicated what's being called Louisiana's newest and most technologically advanced sawmill in Bienville Parish.

The Norwegian Research Council (NFR) has awarded NOK 15 million to support Borregaard's innovation initiative, Biomer. The project aims to develop bio-based alternatives to polycarboxylates - fossil-based polymers commonly used in agriculture, industry, and household products.

A media release from the company said 107 employees were laid off at the facility in Dillard, an unincorporated community about 10 miles south of Roseburg. Work related to other product lines in Dillard will continue.

Pregis®, a global leader in protective packaging, mailing & bagging, and flexible packaging solutions, opened a new 477,000-square-foot paper converting center in Elgin, Illinois, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 19, 2025. The facility will support over 500 manufacturing jobs and can produce more than 1 billion curbside recyclable paper packaging solutions annually.

Employees at the facility said two men were burned in both incidents.

JBM Packaging, a leading provider of eco-friendly paper packaging and contract packaging services, broke ground on the construction of a new 52,500-square-foot building in Lebanon, Ohio. The building marks a significant step in JBM's continued growth as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. As the new home to JBM's expanding packing and kitting operations, it positions JBM to scale its operations for long-term growth opportunities in the years ahead.

Mondi welcomed international customers and partners to celebrate the start-up of its Duino mill in Italy following the successful conversion of its existing paper machine into a high-quality recycled containerboard machine.

The review is expected to be concluded by the end of 2026.

No injuries were reported, and no buildings were damaged.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced the resignation of Gabriela Garcia, the Chief Accounting Officer and Vice President, Corporate Controller, effective October 10, 2025. Her resignation was not due to any disagreements with the company.

Ottawa paramedics were called Wednesday and found a person was trapped under a forklift. The victim was declared deceased at the scene.

Strengthening Global Position in Waste Paper Recycling and Stock Preparation

After an initial mill closure announcement, efforts had been made to find a buyer. However, those efforts did not find success, and the company announced they would close on Aug. 10 and lay off 780 workers.

Billerud has decided to launch a cost saving program targeting annualized savings of SEK 800 million. The planned cost savings will affect Billerud's European operations and Group functions globally and will include reduction of up to 650 positions.

Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging distribution, facility solutions and print products and solutions, announced that it has acquired Subotnick Packaging, an Oregon-based distributor of packaging products and equipment serving the building materials, food, e-commerce, and transportation industries.

48 employees will be let go, in total, including 29 assemblers, two buyers, six inventory specialists, one inventory supervisor, one manufacturing supervisor, one parts coordinator, one parts and service manager, three quality control technicians, one quality supervisor, two shipping and receiving clerks, and one planner.

The maintenance shutdown of the UPM Kaukas pulp mill, which began in August, will be extended for two weeks until October 11, 2025. In addition, the UPM Pietarsaari pulp mill will be temporarily shut down for approximately two weeks in November.

Often, when the books are full and profitability is high, management is loath to take maintenance downtime. Is the opposite true--when profitability is down should we take more maintenance time?

The PM40 closed Friday, 3 October 2025, at 5452.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 3 October 2025 down 8.9% from the 4 October 2024 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Sappi and Weyerhaeuser.