Total U.S. Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Decreased 8% in November 2025

“AF&PA looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress on important infrastructure investment proposals, many of which are included in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan. Modernizing our nation’s infrastructure and investing in manufacturing jobs will be welcome improvements for the U.S. forest products industry, which employs approximately 950,000 individuals and manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually. “However, AF&PA cannot support the tax increases put forth in the Made in America Tax Plan. These increases would adversely impact U.S. manufacturing and put jobs at risk during a fragile economic recovery. This aspect of the proposal would significantly upset global competitiveness while undermining the promises of the American Jobs Plan."

Metsä Group has started a planning process with the City of Äänekoski with the aim of expanding the production of mechanical wood products at the Äänekoski mill site in the future. A detailed plan is being applied for as an industrial area for the Henttalanmäki area south of the existing mill site. The area currently has a general plan in force and it is mainly owned by Metsä Fibre, a part of Metsä Group. “One of Metsä Group's strategic targets is to increase the production of products that store carbon for a long time such as sawn timber, LVL and plywood. With the plan change that is now being launched, we are preparing to expand the production of our mechanical wood products at the Äänekoski mill site. The synergy benefits of operating in a large mill integrate are significant related e.g. to the utilization of raw materials, logistics and energy, ”says Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group.

Fourth Quarter of 2022 Highlights: *Fourth quarter 2022 net loss from continuing operations was $25.9 million, compared to net loss of $16.3 million in the third quarter of 2022on the same basis . This result reflects the sharp downturn in lumber market prices seen during the fourth quarter. *Lumber prices dropped, reflecting economic headwinds and lower demand in Q4 2022, with an average selling price of $644/mfbm compared to $800/mfbm in Q3 2022. Steadily rising interest rates since Q2 2022, in response to high inflation, reduced US housing starts and caused flagging homebuilders’ confidence, which worsened during the fourth quarter.