Sylvamo Advances Efficiency and Growth Initiatives Globally

Sawlog prices were up in most regions of the world in the 3Q/17. The price increases from the 2Q/17 were generally smaller in local currencies than in US dollar terms because of the weakening US dollar. In US dollar terms, quarter-to-quarter prices were up the most in Europe (+7.9%) and Oceania (+6.1%), while the upward price adjustments were more modest in North America (+2.8%) and Latin America (+2.2%). The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) has gone up for three consecutive quarters to reach $75.69/m3 in the 3Q/17. The increase of 5.1% from the 2Q/17 was the biggest quarter-to-quarter jump since 2010. In addition, the GSPI is at a three-year high because of the recent strengthening of sawlog prices throughout the world. With the outlook for continued strong demand for lumber in key markets and higher consumption of sawlogs, it is likely that the price index will continue upward in the coming quarters. Click Read More below for additional information.

HEINZEL GROUP is pleased to announce the successful completion of its acquisition of the Steyrermühl paper mill in Upper Austria from UPM. This strategic move reinforces Heinzel's commitment to sustainability and growth in the paper and packaging industry. The acquisition agreement for the mill including its roughly 400 employees was signed in June 2022 for a takeover in 2024. Already in March 2023 the ownership of an idled graphic paper machine in Steyrermühl was transferred to HEINZEL GROUP and a conversion project there is well on track. Once converted by the second quarter of 2024, the machine will produce up to 150,000 tons of brown and white low-grammage kraft papers per year to be marketed under HEINZEL GROUP’S well-established STARKRAFT brand. With the closing of the transaction HEINZEL GROUP has now also taken over the Steyrermühl sawmill, a local power plant run with biomass and residues, and other facilities. HEINZEL GROUP plans to develop Steyrermühl into a supply center for heat and renewable energy for both the neighboring Laakirchen paper mill and the wider Laakirchen community.

International technology group ANDRITZ supplied and recently commissioned two new refining and cottonizing lines for Van Robaeys, France. With the new lines, Van Robaeys is responding to the growing demand from the French market for cottonized and high-quality textile fibers from natural sources. Europe is the world’s largest producer of flax fibers, showing a 133% increase in flax cultivation areas between 2010 and 2020. The ANDRITZ teXline bast fiber lines can process up to 800 kg/h of fiber and use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure a high degree of flexibility throughout the fiber processing operations.