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The PM40 closed Friday, 30 December 2022, at 5116.

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 30 December 2022 up 8.3% from the 31 December 2021 level.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

We are starting off 2023 with some doubts.

Runtech Systems will supply a vacuum system rebuild to Norske Skog Golbey PM1 in France. The delivery includes eight RunEco EP600 Turbo Blowers with EcoDrop water separators and two low vacuum blowers. With the new RunEco vacuum system, PM1 will gain significant energy and water savings.

It is the second largest order ever signed by PulpEye.

Valmet introduces a new flame profiling application that enables real-time flame detection and monitoring in a pulp mill's lime kiln environments. At the same time, the Valmet Furnace Imaging System, IR is updated with new optics and a port rodder, improving the overall Valmet Boiler Diagnostics Systems offering.

The value of deliveries of this type is usually around EUR 5-8 million.

Seven UPM packaging papers are now proven to be industrially compostable, marking another step on UPM Specialty Papers' sustainability journey.

Amid unparalleled educational challenges brought on by COVID-19, Memphis-based International Paper has renewed its commitment to fighting childhood illiteracy, joining Coaching for Literacy as its signature partner for the sixth straight year.

Sappi North America Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, announced that has won a SEAL Business Sustainability Award for its Ideas that Matter grant program which honors Sappi's leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainable business practices.

Due to higher-than-expected major maintenance related costs at the company's Lewiston, Idaho mill, and other operational issues, the company now expects adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2022 to be in the range of $28M-$34M and full year 2022 adjusted EBITDA of $227M-$233M.

It was reported that the drivers were a man and woman. They say the Marysville Police Dept. told them they received a call about a woman heading south from Marysville with a gun. The woman at the plant had a shotgun pointed at the man. Responding officers were able to talk them down and take both individuals into custody.

Domtar operated a disposal site for the waste from production from 1998 to 2020, when the Port Huron plant closed.

Billerud, who took over the mill last year, plans to transform the mill, which has struggled with years of declining profits, into a state-of-the-art, high-end packaging manufacturer. Billerud's Vice President of Technical Services, Michael Glodowski sees their new product line as a way to maintain profitability for decades to come.

The cash and debt free consideration value is €370 million.

Marcal Paper, a leading manufacturer of recycled and eco-friendly bath, towel, and tissue products, announced today that it has acquired von Drehle Corporation, a premier provider of quality towel and tissue products for the away-from-home market. Von Drehle Corporation will operate as a division of Marcal Paper.

The selling price amounts to approx. Euro 134 million.

The transaction remains on course to close in the first half of 2023, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the closing of the merger.

The Russian authorities have not approved the sale of Mondi's Syktyvkar mill in the Komi Republic, Russia. Possible reason is too high transaction price.

Recycled paper producer Saica Group has reached an agreement to acquire the majority of shares (76%) of Fox Recykling, a waste management company in Poland. Thanks to this acquisition, Saica strengthens its growth strategy in Eastern Europe and expands the footprint of one of its business divisions: Saica Natur.

SCA has acquired its first wind farm with the purchase of 36 wind turbines in Markbygden in Piteå municipality, northern Sweden. The park is acquired from the German company Enercon.

This follows Wynnchurch's investment in Nekoosa Coated Products, LLC ("Nekoosa") in November 2022.

Enviva Inc. announced the signing of a new 10-year take-or-pay off-take fuel supply contract with an existing European customer, extendable for up to five years. Enviva expects to supply 800,000 metric tons of industrial-grade wood pellets per year, with deliveries expected to commence during 2027, subject to certain conditions precedent.

UPM is finalizing the construction works of the new pulp mill in Uruguay and enters the final phases of the project. The start-up of the UPM Paso de los Toros pulp mill is expected by the end of the Q1 2023.

Major winter storm wreaks havoc

3M Co has set a 2025 deadline to stop producing PFAS, the "forever chemicals" used in anything from cell phones to semiconductors that have been linked to cancers, heart problems and low birth weights.

International Paper (IP) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are helping landowners in Texas restore and manage their forests through IP's Forestlands Stewards partnership. These efforts will benefit drinking water supplies and wildlife habitat, improve recreational opportunities, and support forest sector jobs.

PotlatchDeltic Corporation announced it has established a 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions of 42 percent and a Scope 3 value chain GHG emissions reduction target of 25 percent from a 2021 baseline.

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. is announcing the immediate curtailment of its Intercontinental Pulp Mill, which is expected to be in place for four weeks. The curtailment is due to the lack of available economic fibre as a result of sawmill curtailments. The downtime will remove approximately 24,000 tonnes of market kraft pulp.

Over 450 Unifor members in Dryden have voted overwhelmingly in favor of three new contracts with Domtar.

What is being described as a "perfect storm of events" has resulted in the unexpected shutdown of International Paper Company's Georgetown mill - and the Christmas weekend freeze is to blame.

An electrical fire knocked the power out to the Tolko Industries sawmill in Armstrong after the site's electricity substation went up in flames early Dec. 28.

The fire had been discovered by mill employees, who activated the fire suppression system for the machinery.

Workers at Port Hawkesbury Paper have signed their first agreement in 10 years, making long-overdue gains for members of Local 972.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced that its facility at Jesup, Georgia has been impacted by a force majeure declared by its natural gas provider, Southern Natural Gas Company, L.L.C., due to an unscheduled outage of the Elba Express Pipeline's Hartwell Compressor Station (the "SNG Force Majeure Event", or "Event").

The Event impacted natural gas supply to the Company's facility in Jesup, Georgia, and has resulted in an estimated $4 million EBITDA impact to the Company. The Company continues to reserve all rights to more fully examine, and potentially contest, the validity of the financial penalty it has been assessed.

Over 200 Unifor Local 5025 members voted strongly in favor of a new deal with Resolute Forest Product's Thunder Bay Sawmill that will see the current collective agreement re-opened and extended by 4 years to September 8th, 2028. The new extension will include key language improvements, an additional 24% average pay raise and achieve all provisions of Unifor's Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern established back in May.

Tolko says the curtailment affects the Armstrong and Soda Creek lumber operations, and that the downtime will be evaluated at the end of January to determine the next steps.

Despite efforts to rescue him, a worker died in a hopper accident at a Newark gypsum plant and distribution center Tuesday, Dec. 27 according to the Alameda County Fire Department.