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The PM40 closed Friday, 1 March 2024, at 5519.

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 1 March 2024 up 2.6% from the 3 March 2023 level.

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

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Thinking back over the decades, I can't hardly think of a time in the pulp and paper industry that was more unsettled than now. Whether it is the direction the industry is going, pricing, business solvency, or regulations, both domestically and abroad, suddenly it feels like everything is in turmoil.

This is the first time a customer has opted to use high-quality microwave only, rather than a combination of different measurement technologies, throughout an entire facility.

Andritz has received an order from Moorim P&P, South Korea, to upgrade an evaporation plant at its Ulsan mill, which produces bleached kraft pulp and different types of high-quality paper.

Doosan Škoda Power has successfully commissioned a state-of-the-art 270 MW steam turbine at Metsä Fibre Kemi bioproduct mill in Finland. The mill in Kemi is an advanced bioproduct mill that utilizes cutting-edge technology to produce high-quality pulp from sustainably sourced wood.

Valmet's board of directors has appointed Thomas Hinnerskov president and CEO of Valmet, and he will start in the position during the second half of the year. Hinnerskov succeeds Pasi Laine, who will continue as the president and CEO of Valmet until his successor starts.

Valmet will supply a partial bioconversion for PT. Cikarang Listrindo Tbk's coal-fired circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler in Babelan, Indonesia.

The measurements will be delivered during the Q4 2024.

The first-to-market solution provides a more sustainable package without compromise on performance.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has improved the circularity of material flows in two release liner production sites in Germany and the Netherlands. 95 % of the production waste is now used as secondary raw material for other industries, thanks to its strategic partnerships.

Mondi is increasing production of paper-based EcoWicketBags at its plant in Szada (Hungary), leveraging the Group's integrated value chain, from in-house paper production to coating and converting.

Rottneros introduces our brand; Spring by Rottneros - the same high-quality CTMP pulp as before but now with its own name. In connection with the brand introduction, the article structure is also simplified to harmonize with the usual way of classifying different CTMP qualities on the market.

Due to the significant increase in raw material costs, especially driven by pulp, alongside other manufacturing costs related to the recent supply chain constraints in the Red Sea, Lecta announces an unavoidable price increase on its specialty papers ranges of 8 to 10%.

This increase is necessary to maintain the viability of Sappi's business, the actual amount will depend on the product.

In order to contribute to the market's future need for biofuel and strengthen the profitability of the forest farm, Södra is adjusting the base price for GROT, i.e. branches and tops, as of February 28.

SCA is hiking the prices on white and brown kraftliner in Europe by Euro 80 per tonne. The new price is valid from April 1, 2024.

The firm announced that its board approved Joao Alberto Fernandez de Abreu, current head of rail operator Rumo , as its new CEO, replacing Walter Schalka.

Suzano has signed an agreement with Japan's Mitsui & Co, focusing on the development of new bioeconomy businesses based on the potential of sustainable biomass.

A Florida couple, Noel and Kelsy Hernandez Quintana, has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison each for their role in a scheme to evade approximately $42 million in duties by disguising the Chinese origin of plywood imports worth between $25 million and $65 million.

Company to upgrade fiber preparation line driving improved efficiency, sustainability and reliability.

The investment will increase its production in Austria by 20%.

SRM Concrete bought the 300-acre industrial parcel for $30 million. The company said this property fits the needs of their ready mix company which specializes in producing materials to make concrete.

The Fedrigoni Group announces the acquisition of certain assets of Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc., the company it entered into an industrial partnership with last September 2022 to strengthen the distribution of specialty fine papers in the North American market.

The transaction value is approximately $700 million, based on Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $100 million.

Founded in 1946 by Thom Brawner, the Company has been a driving force in the paper and janitorial supply industry for over 70 years.

The arrangement aims to further increase the flexibility of Metsä Group's wood supply. All Metsä Forest Eesti AS employees will transfer to the new owner's service as existing employees.

Mondi, under UK takeover rules, has a 'put up or shut up' deadline of March 7.

Veritiv Corporation, a leading specialty distributor of value-added packaging, facility solutions and print products and solutions, announced today that it has acquired Vivabox Solutions, a full-service provider of customized, premium marketing solutions including tailored, multi-brand kitting solutions and packaging products for global luxury and premium consumer brands.

The company said it "restarted the previously idled A62 paper machine in 2021 at a time when our North American customer base needed additional supply of uncoated freesheet paper," but now "demand for these products has reached a level that no longer requires this production capacity."

Digital speed limitation for timber trucks works well on stretches with a lot of infrastructure, and haulage companies show great commitment to safer timber transports.

Industrial waste heat from a local paper plant is being used to keep Ottawa-area buildings warm.

The Supreme Administrative Court of Finland dismissed the appeal made against the environmental permit package for Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill, as well as the appeal regarding the decision on the environmental permit package issued by the Vaasa Administrative Court on November 14, 2022.

These leases increase Rayonier's total acres under pore space lease agreements with ExxonMobil to approximately 59,000 acres.

Södra and the construction company SSEA will build 12 apartments in Malmö in a new pilot project in sustainable construction. The project, which is carried out on behalf of MKB Fastighets AB, aims to halve the climate impact by, among other things, using cross-glued wood.

Sonae Arauco has set itself the task of actively contributing to the sustainable transformation of the construction industry. The latest measure is a Wind Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) concluded for Germany with ENGIE, which comes into force on April 1.

Last spring, the board of the Rottneros Group decided to invest 93 MSEK in a solar park and energy storage.

Mike Brown, Executive Vice President of Wood Products, will retire effective May 3, 2024.

Pipefitter Gary Lefebvre, 45, was injured in a Jan. 31 accident at Intercontinental Pulp Mill in Prince George.

Three firefighters were evaluated for injuries.

International Paper is in the process of starting up its Riegelwood Mill after shutting it down due to a cyberattack, a company spokesperson said Thursday morning.

Effingham County Fire Rescue says they'll continue to fight a lumber yard fire into the night, this after crews have been there most of Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18.