According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 3% in December compared to December 2023. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers increased 1% in November compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels remained essentially flat (+0.2%) when compared to November 2024. November year-to-date (YTD) total U.S. net imports grew 13% compared to the same period last year. UFS and CFS net imports increased by 17% and 60% YTD, respectively. MECH shipments however, increased by just 1% YTD.

Canfor Corporation announced that it will implement reduced operating schedules at its BC sawmills, with the exception of WynnWood, starting the week of August 30. As a result, Canfor’s BC mills are expected to operate at approximately 80% of production capacity and operating schedules may continue to vary as economic conditions warrant. “Due to challenging market conditions, we are implementing reduced operating schedules at our BC sawmills that will remain in place until demand and pricing meaningfully improve. We recognize the impact that volatile lumber markets have on our employees, contractors and communities and we will make efforts to mitigate the negative effects,” said Stephen Mackie, Executive Vice President, North America, Canfor. “We will also leverage our global operating platform to minimize disruptions in supply to our customers.”

Sappi Europe today announced the initiation of a consultation process at its Kirkniemi Mill in Finland as part of a proposed asset restructure. This step is being taken in response to a structural decline in demand across Europe and sustained financial challenges. The proposed changes are intended to ensure long term competitiveness in the Graphic Paper Market and align production capacity with changing market dynamics and customer needs. Sappi Europe has today announced the potential closure of Paper Machine 2 at its Kirkniemi Mill in Lohja, Finland. If implemented, this step would reduce the mill’s annual capacity of coated magazine paper by 175,000 tonnes. The proposed asset closure is part of Sappi’s strategy to align capacity with market demand and improve operational efficiency with paper machines 1 and 3 remaining in operation. The process would be carefully managed to ensure continuity of supply with no disruption to customers. The biggest coated publication paper mill in the world, Kirkniemi Mill has a production capacity of 750,000 tons of coated paper for heatset web offset printing serving mainly the high-volume print market. A major investment to convert on-site power generation to biofuels eliminated 90% of the mill’s direct, Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.