Euro-Graph Reports November 2022 Statistics of the European Graphic Papers Industry

Stora Enso’s pilot facility for producing bio-based carbon materials from lignin has started operations. This follows the company’s EUR 10 million investment announced in 2019. Pilot production of Lignode® by Stora Enso, wood-based carbon for batteries, is currently being ramped up. Applications include electric vehicles and consumer electronics as well as large-scale energy storage systems. The global battery market is projected to grow tenfold over the next decade as battery producers seek more sustainable materials for the electrification of mobility. Since sustainability is becoming a top priority for the automotive industry, car manufacturers and battery producers are focusing heavily on reducing carbon emissions in electric cars. Today, fossil-based carbon is used in the anodes of rechargeable batteries. By converting lignin separated from wood into carbon-based anode materials, the synthetic and non-renewable graphite material can be replaced.

The recent $40 million modernization projects at the Irving Pulp & Paper and Irving Tissue facilities in Saint John represent an investment in the future of New Brunswick. At peak, the projects included over 1200 workers from 84 local contractors and more than 400 employees at these two Saint John mills. Every year there are more than 1700 small N.B. businesses across more than 250 communities - from two employees to hundreds - that supply goods and services to the JDI forest products value chain. From seed to shelf we are adding value and jobs. Click Read More below for additional information.

President and CEO Ilkka Hämälä: The economy continued to be weak in the third quarter of 2024. In the wood market, trade was normal, and prices remained at a record high, compared with figures across the last two decades. A high cost level combined with low demand across the board resulted in a weak result for the third quarter. The quarterly result was significantly improved by the business interruption insurance compensation for the accident at the Kemi bioproduct mill, which was allocated to the first half. Negotiations on the final insurance compensation are still underway, but EUR 67 million in compensation was recorded for the third quarter. The slowdown in the construction industry continues, and there are no signs of a change in the demand for sawn timber and plywood. Demand for Kerto® LVL has remained strong, proving the product’s competitiveness in construction industry solutions. In China, the pulp market picked up in September, and prices began to gradually increase in softwood pulp trade. Demand remained stable in the European pulp market even though prices continued to decrease, still remaining higher than the price level in Asia. In Europe, the paperboard market continues to be affected by Asian paperboard imports to regions neighbouring the EU such as Türkiye. In the US, the market situation has remained slightly stronger than in Europe. As is typical of consumer products, demand for tissue papers has been stable, and profitability has remained at a reasonable level.