Forisk Consulting (news@forisk.com) is out with a new white paper noting that 31 wood-using pulp mills have closed in the United States from 2019 through July 2026. They do not state whether this includes mills in Canada.

However, the increase in the consumption of recycled fiber plus the South American increase in virgin pulp capacity leaves one unsurprised with this news.

Add to this the realization that there have been no new pulp mills announced and built in the United States since 1989--37 years--and the story is complete.

The consumption of pulp to make paper and paperboard grades has not diminished as much as timber prices and environmental pressures have put the squeeze on North American production. Reminds me of Mr. Whipple (ask your parents who Mr. Whipple was).

The only shoe left to drop is whether the US tariff foolishness will affect the sourcing.

Jim Thompson is CEO of Paperitalo Publications.