inland’s forest industry could be forced to reduce capacity again as rising raw material costs and weaker market conditions weigh on profitability. That assessment comes from Juha Varis, senior portfolio manager at S-Bank, who warned in the Talousaamu programme that the sector faces mounting pressure. The warning comes amid a more challenging environment for pulp and paper producers. Wood prices remain elevated while demand for several forest industry products has developed more weakly than expected, increasing investor expectations that production cuts may follow. Stora Enso CEO Hans Sohlström commented on the situation in the same programme, noting that the company’s Finnish pulp production is integrated with its paperboard operations, which affects overall profitability assessments. UPM CEO Massimo Reynal gave a similar view in an interview with Kauppalehti. He said the situation is challenging for forest companies across the northern hemisphere. – If the situation continues in the same way going forward, it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine that mill closures would not occur. This is not a matter of opinion, but a fact, he told the newspaper.

Neenah Paper, Inc. announced that it had completed the previously announced purchase of the outstanding equity of W.A. Sanders Coldenhove Holding B.V. Coldenhove is a specialty materials manufacturer based in the Netherlands, with a leading position in digital transfer media and other technical products. Upon closing, the Company made a cash payment of approximately $45 million. The payment was financed through almost $14 million of available cash on hand, with the balance from incremental borrowing against the Company's existing global revolving credit facility. Interest rates on the additional short term debt were under two percent.

tora Enso is stepping up its strategic transformation as it sharpens its focus on renewable materials and fibre-based packaging, while reshaping its portfolio to support long-term value creation. A key milestone is the planned separation of the company’s Swedish forest assets business into a new, independently listed entity. Expected to be completed in the first half of 2027, the move aims to create two companies with distinct strategic profiles: a packaging-focused renewable materials group and Europe’s largest listed pure-play forest company. In parallel, Stora Enso has launched a strategic review of its Central European sawmills and building solutions operations. Several scenarios are being assessed, including a potential divestment, as part of the group’s active portfolio management and tighter strategic focus. Packaging growth remains anchored in the Oulu site in Finland, where the ramp-up of a new consumer board production line continues. While still impacting short-term profitability, production volumes are gradually increasing, with full capacity expected in 2027. The acquisition of Junnikkala Oy further strengthens the wood supply chain supporting the site. From 2026, Stora Enso will also introduce a new reporting structure, consolidating packaging activities into Consumer Packaging and Integrated Packaging, alongside Biomaterials and Other, to reflect a more business-focused operating model.