Euro-Graph Publishes Monthly Statistics of the European Graphic Papers Industry

Net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2020 declined by $273 million or 47% compared to the three months ended December 31, 2019 as a result of significant declines in sales volume and unfavorable price/mix. Operating loss was $118 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of $128 million when compared to operating income of $10 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. Net sales for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 declined by $1,085 million or 44% compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 as a result of significant declines in sales volume and unfavorable price/mix. Operating loss was $128 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of $91 million when compared to operating loss of $37 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019.

SCA is changing the name of its business area Paper to business area Containerboard as of January 1, 2021. Following the discontinuation of its publication paper operations during the first quarter, SCA’s paper production will consist solely of packaging paper, a product with a stable and growing demand. SCA’s business area Containerboard will then comprise of the paper mills of Munksund, near Piteå, and Obbola, near Umeå (both in Sweden). Together, they have a production capacity of just over 850,000 tonnes. SCA is currently investing SEK 7.5bn in the Obbola paper mill, which will increase SCA’s containerboard capacity to 1,140,000 tonnes and further strengthen SCA’s position as a leading supplier of kraftliner on the European market.

International technology group ANDRITZ has established a new inline Wetlace™ CP pilot line with an original design at its center of competence in Montbonnot, France. From now on, ANDRITZ partners will be able to conduct trials and test all options available for wipes production – from carded staple fibers to pulp and various combinations thereof – thanks to the new inline Wetlace™ CP line. Customers will benefit from the expertise of the ANDRITZ specialists with this fully engineered process, combining both spunlace and wetlaid technologies, so that they can move forward to more sustainable options while maintaining a high level of product quality, in particular by achieving high CD strength and good linting properties. Over the past few decades, ANDRITZ has continued to innovate with various nonwoven processes, like spunlace, WetlaceTM and Wetlace™ CP, with the aim of optimizing the use of raw materials and focusing on sustainability by reducing the synthetic fiber content.