Market News of Note

Sonoco is implementing a $50/ton (USD/ST) increase on all domestic and export corrugating medium grades shipping from its Hartsville, South Carolina paper mill. The prices are effective with shipments on and after November 2, 2020.

Due to market conditions that remain unfavorable, after a 6-month temporary shutdown, Kruger Specialty Papers is forced to permanently shut down its newsprint, specialty papers and pulp production at its Brompton Mill. However, the water treatment plant will continue to operate and the biomass cogeneration plant will restart.

Schweitzer-Mauduit International says it is rapidly increased production of its Alphastar Electrostatic Media product at its Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing facility amid doubled customer demand from the prior year.

Södra Cell is increasing the price of its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp in Europe by $40/tonne to $880, effective 1 October.

SCA increases the price on bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK) by $40 per tonne. The new price, $880 per tonne, is valid from October 1, 2020.

Resolute Forest Products is continuing plans to reopen its sawmill in El Dorado, Ark., that has been closed since last summer.

SCA has confirmed a new harvesting plan which shows that the harvesting level in the own forest will increase over the coming five years by an additional one million cubic meters per year more than the current level. The increased harvesting level gives an increased cash flow of 300-400 MSEK per year with full effect from 2025.

Norbord Inc. announced an update regarding the 2Q 2020 capacity utilization of its North American oriented strand board (OSB) and European panel mills.

Södra is planning a new investment for its state-of-the-art pulp mill in Värö which will allow the mill to increase capacity yet further, in steps toward 850,000 tpy.

Södra is planning a new investment for its state-of-the-art pulp mill in Värö which will allow the mill to increase capacity yet further, in steps toward 850,000 tpy.

Sonoco announced its Tube & Core North America division will implement a tube and core scrap return subscription service, effective July 1, 2020.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced a preliminary update to the company's previous outlook for second quarter 2020 Adjusted EBITDA of $45 to $55 million.

In four years, the number of pine seedlings from Södra that are sold has risen from just over 3 million to just over 6 million.

In early March 2020, we informed you that our IT systems had been affected by malware. During this period, we faced some challenges running a manual operating system to fulfill our customer orders and commitments. Today, we have full visibility of our order fulfillment process and expect to return to the excellent customer service levels to which you are accustomed.

Sonoco announced it is increasing prices for all rigid paper containers and closures sold in North America by a minimum of 5.5 percent, effective with shipments on, and after, June 8, 2020.

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. says it is withdrawing its production outlook for the year due to the uncertain impact of measures to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pixelle Specialty Solutions' Androscoggin Mill is back in operation after a dramatic explosion but the loss of its pulp operation is going to hurt loggers and truckers.

Nearly 700,000 tons of tissue produced by U.S. mills in March, more than any other month since 2007.

Norske Skog ASA closely monitors the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and continuously implements adequate measures to reduce the risk for employees and ensure continuity of operations. Norske Skog adheres to the individual recommendations and measures taken by the national authorities.

Canfor Corporation is undertaking additional temporary reductions in production capacity due to the impact of COVID-19 on the price of lumber and demand.

Mondi will not pay a final dividend for 2019, it said on Thursday, as it cuts costs and capital spending after seeing a deterioration in its order book in Europe and South Africa from the end of March.

IT Tech Packaging, Inc. announced that its tissue paper production lines are now running at full production capacity to fulfill orders. The average selling price of tissue paper increased 8% from USD $836 per tonne to USD $903 per tonne in the first quarter, resulting from growing demand because of Covid-19.

The company is planning reductions in plywood production of 25-35% and in EWP volumes of 20-40% depending on location, in comparison to 1Q levels. The reductions in production are expected to be implemented through a combination of periodic curtailments and reductions in operating schedules at specific facilities.

Sonoco announced it is increasing prices for all paperboard tubes and cores sold in the United States and Canada by a minimum of 8 percent, effective with shipments on and after Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

The new price on bleached softwood kraft pulp, $880 per tonne, is valid from May 1, 2020.