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The PM40 closed Thursday, 28 March 2024, at 5799.

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 28 March 2024 up 16.3% from the 31 March 2023 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Rayonier Advanced Materials and DS Smith.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

After this column last month, a couple of correspondents implied that I had said it was OK to turn in a poor performance if the market conditions were less than stellar. Not so! And if you got that from my column, I apologize.

Next-generation Autoline delivers accurate and repeatable quality reports in minutes for more consistent performance and higher profits.

DS Smith anticipates long-term energy savings, and increased machine speeds and production.

Opturion has entered a long-term contract to build, commission and support a supply chain optimisation solution for the forestry and transport operations of Arauco based on its proven optimisation platform.

Enersense, a provider of zero-emission energy solutions, has made an agreement with Andritz Oy for the mechanical installation works of a new debarking line at Stora Enso's Oulu cardboard factory.

International technology group Andritz has received an order from Lignatherm AG to supply a pressurized refining system for a new insulation board production plant in Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland.

Metsä Group will construct a demo plant for lignin refining in connection with its Äänekoski bioproduct mill in Finland.

Valmet has decided to invest in filter fabric manufacturing in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in order to better respond to the growing demand of high-performing filter fabrics in both the mining and pulp and paper industries in South America.

Crown Paper Mill has decided to invest in a second Valmet's Advantage DCT tissue line including an extensive automation package, flow control valves and Industrial Internet solutions to its mill in Saudi Arabia.

After the technical integration phase, which will begin in the next few weeks, the Rotofinish, Gloria and Saturn machines will be produced in the Weinig Group from 2025 and offered under the Weinig brand name.

The Clean200 list ranks the top 200 publicly traded companies worldwide that are leading the way with solutions for a clean energy present and future.

In addition to exploring key sustainability trends in Ahlstrom's environment, the report includes information on Ahlstrom's ongoing transformation, progress on its innovation agenda, and the transition plan for climate change mitigation.

The Centraide campaign, which takes place every fall in Centre-du-Québec, is a well-established cause at Cascades for several decades.

Reusable, water-resistant, food contact safe boxes from leading sustainable packaging manufacturer give consumers an alternative to plastic bags.

Ideal for supermarkets, restaurants and bakeries, the new products include a variety of BPI-Certified bags and wraps with no-added PFAS.

Fortune evaluated companies on three key areas: product innovation, process innovation and innovation culture. Fortune ranked the 200 U.S. companies with the highest scores.

Available nationwide starting April 1, 2024, LP SmartSide Pebbled Stucco Panel Siding comes in 9 and 10 foot lengths, offering both square edge or shiplap detailing.

Since mid-March, Magnus Källström has been press and PR manager at Södra. He is responsible for Södra's proactive, ongoing and reactive press work nationally and internationally.

Based on data reported through CDP's 2023 Climate Change, Forests and Water Security questionnaires, the MM Group is one of only 10 companies worldwide that achieved a triple 'A', out of over 21,000 companies scored in 2023.

Neenah Industrial Solutions, a Mativ brand and leading manufacturer of critical components and specialty solutions, today announces a name change and rebrand to Indafor.

Innovative Household FusionTM solution is a first-ever co-mailing option that combines multiple pieces from different marketing or periodical mailers, reducing escalating postage costs.

Canadians have trusted Royale tissue products for over 60 years and now the brand welcomes a new member to its family, baby diapers.

Sappi Southern Africa has achieved GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance (FSA) 2020 certification for Pelletin, one of its Lignin products used as an additive in animal feed manufacturing, making it only the second organisation in Africa to attain this prestigious certification.

The Better Planet 2050 targets quantify the company's commitment to delivering a sustainable future through: low-carbon, circular packaging solutions; increasing support for the communities in which it operates; and further enhancing the lives of its employees.

Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, offers ways to keep restrooms in tip-top shape while prioritizing sustainability this International Cleaning Week, March 24-30. International Cleaning Week promotes the value of cleaning and shows appreciation for cleaning professionals.

Phoenix Paper is proud to announce the latest addition to their Premier Treated Inkjet Line of quality papers with the release of Premier Inkjet Envelope TM.

UPM Specialty Papers and Fazer have jointly developed a new type of packaging for Fazer's Oat Rice Pies. Traditional plastic laminated packaging paper has been replaced with an innovative paper solution, which is easier to recycle and does not compromise the protection it provides the rice pies inside.

WestRock, a leading provider of sustainable fiber-based packaging solutions, has ranked among the top 200 U.S. companies on Fortune's list of America's Most Innovative Companies 2024.

Rengo Co., Ltd. announces that it will revise the prices of its corrugated board/carton and folding carton. An increase of 10% or more over current prices will be applied to all consignments delivered from April 1, 2024 onwards.

Sonoco announced it is implementing a €60 per ton, £50 for UK market, price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) sold in Europe effective for deliveries after 15th April 2024.

A class action lawsuit filed in 2023 that alleged gas emissions from a Kalamazoo paper mill violated the Clean Air Act and civil rights was dismissed by a federal judge on Friday.

People living near New-Indy's paper mill in Catawba, South Carolina, say they've experienced health problems due to the plant's emissions.

The order value amounts to just over SEK 1.5 million ($141,242). Training of the customer's staff is included in the price, but costs for commissioning are added.

Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, the largest independent, retail-focused packaging and merchandising solutions provider in the United States with a network of design centers, manufacturing plants, contract packaging, and fulfillment service centers, plans to infuse $70 million in capital into its Richmond, Indiana footprint as part of an ongoing U.S. network modernization initiative.

Billerud will keep and continue to operate its Wisconsin Rapids converting facility and the 130 employees at that site and will sell the idled mill and related assets to Capital Recovery Group, the company said in a Thursday news release.

Representing an important win in the bottleneck battle faced by Western Canada's resource industries, Buffalo Rail & Infrastructure Corporation ("Buffalo") is pleased to announce the $7 million acquisition of Canfor Pulp Products' pulp mill assets, including 300+ acres of heavy industrial land, in Taylor, BC.

Essity has completed the divestment of its entire holding of 51.59% of shares in the Asian hygiene company Vinda International Holdings Limited (Vinda) for HKD 23.50 per share.

The cash funded at closing consisted of the previously announced transaction value of $538 million, plus $38 million for a ticking fee that compensates the seller for earnings that inure to Greif, other customary debt/cash adjustment items, and FX impact.

The proposal comes less than three weeks after DS Smith reached an in-principle agreement with its UK-listed rival Mondi, which made an all-share takeover offer valuing DS Smith at 5.14 billion pounds.

Jamestown Container Companies announced an agreement to acquire Midwest Box Company's packaging business in Cleveland, Ohio. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging and material science, today announced the acquisition of UP Paper, a leading producer of recycled kraft paper. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The transaction marks significant investment in RRD's existing digital marketing and print capabilities.

A unanimous vote from the S.C. Ports Board of Directors Tuesday pushed the purchase of the former WestRock paper mill site forward, and S.C. Ports officials believe the deal will close as soon as it is "practical."

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, announced today that after nine years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ron Delia has informed the Board of Directors of his decision to retire from the Company and step down from the Board for health reasons, effective April 15, 2024.

Roaring Spring is officially saying goodbye to the Appvion papermill which closed in 2021. 300 people lost their jobs when it closed. Being founded in 1866, the papermill was part of the community being one of the largest employers in the area.

Silvernail joins IP from KKR & Co., Inc., a global investment firm, where he served as an executive advisor. Silvernail also served as the Chairman and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the world's largest privately held companies.

ND Paper says it is making some changes to its mill in Rumford due to "challenging market conditions."

The pre-engineering has now been completed and Metsä Board has decided not to proceed with the investment in the Kaskinen folding boxboard mill.

Mondi, which produces sustainable packaging such as paper wrappers and envelopes, finalized its purchase of the pulp and paper mill last month for $5 million.

Kari Jordan (Chair), Håkan Buskhe and Reima Rytsölä were elected members of the People and Culture Committee. Christiane Kuehne (Chair), Helena Hedblom and Richard Nilsson were elected members of the Sustainability and Ethics Committee.

Enviva Inc., a leading producer of sustainably sourced wood-based biomass, announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (the "Court") approved, among other matters, its previously announced $500 million debtor-in-possession financing.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that The European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU.

Kruger's Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPP) announced that, under an agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, it will sell excess green energy from its Deer Lake Power assets to Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.

Holmen's Board has decided to invest SEK 1.5 billion ($142 million) in the construction of Blisterliden Wind Farm in Skellefteå Municipality, Sweden. As part of Holmen's drive to develop its renewable energy business, the investment will boost hydro and wind power production by 20%.

Starting from May, Metsä Group's contract entrepreneurs will use the Phlebiopsis gigantea fungus for stump treatment and biodegradable oil to lubricate harvesters' saw chains. The changes will support Metsä Group's goals of regenerative forestry and reduce fossil carbon dioxide emissions from harvesting.

Mondi is committed to reducing water use and increasing water recycling in its operations. A great local initiative on reducing water use comes Mondi's Stambolijski mill in Bulgaria.

CDP's annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is recognized as a standard for corporate environmental transparency.

UPM Biochemicals has announced the launch of a new range of bio-based plant stimulants, UPM SolargoTM. This launch marks UPM's entry into the large and profitable agrochemicals market with an innovative, sustainable alternative to fossil raw materials-based products.

One man is dead following a forklift accident at a Weyerhaeuser sawmill facility.

Fedrigoni announces a significant transformation in its executive team: Rodrigo Lacerda (formerly Bostik) will take over the Self-Adhesives business unit and Fulvio Capussotti will lead RFID, Innovation, ESG and Energy Transition.

The Greensville Volunteer Fire Department says a large fire resulted from an explosion at the Georgia Pacific facility in Emporia.

Four contract workers were injured in the incident that created a 'fireball' at the mill on Friday.

A gas explosion occurred at Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill in the evaporation plant during welding work on Thursday 21 March 2024. Three people were slightly exposed to hydrogen sulphide and were referred for a health check. The persons have returned to work after the check-up.

According to Longview Fire Department Fire Marshall Jon Dunaway, a fire was reported around 9 p.m. in a conveyor belt system. The damage was limited to the system, and no injuries were reported.

The spokesperson said West Fraser is cooperating with Alberta Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) during its investigation.

Roseburg Forest Products will be shutting down its Missoula facility later this Spring. The company has announced it "will permanently end operations" at the particleboard plant on May 22.

Orozco will lead execution of Roseburg's strategic initiatives to drive company growth, diversification, and profitability.

Stora Enso on Friday said it would start fully ramping down its Imatra and Oulu mills on Sunday due to ongoing political strikes that are hitting ports and transportation in Finland.

Production at the Rauma, Vilppula, Renko and Lappeenranta sawmills will stop on Friday 22 March. The production of board mills in Simpele, Kyro, Tako (Tampere) and Äänekoski is expected to stop on Monday 25 March.