Holmen and SCA evaluates a new sawmill in Rundvik

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices by five to 30 percent on all process chemicals, effective immediately or as customer contracts allow. The price increases are due to increases in key raw material costs, escalating freight costs and decreased market availability of several raw materials. “We are committed to delivering high-value, innovative solutions to help customers maximize their productivity,” said Varun Ratta, Senior Vice President, Product and Pricing Management. “While these price increases are necessary for us to reliably supply and support our customers, we’ll continue our efforts to help mitigate these increases and control their costs with beneficial process improvements.”

Financial summary for the quarter: *Severe impact from Covid-19 on profitability *EBITDA excluding special items US$26 million (Q3 2019 US$118 million) *Loss for the period US$73 million (Q3 2019 Profit of US$8 million) *Net debt US$1,977 million (Q3 2019 US$1,728 million) *EBITDA from packaging and specialities segment increases 109%. For the quarter dissolving pulp (DP) and graphic paper sales volumes were 29% and 40% lower respectively. In response, a number of cost containment initiatives were implemented which, along with a positive currency movement, resulted in fixed costs being US$67 million less than the equivalent quarter last year. Consequently, the group generated EBITDA excluding special items of US$26 million compared to US$118 million in the equivalent quarter last year, which led to a decline in profitability and a loss of US$73 million for the quarter.

Resolute Forest Products announces production cuts to their paper business in Calhoun. The company will close paper machines #3 & #5 at the Calhoun plant. That will cost 222 jobs to the operation on the Hiwassee River at the McMinn/Bradley line. The company says they are still committed to the remaining operations at the plant. 491 workers will remain. Resolute has recently expanded operations there, investing in a tissue machine and converting operation, and a continuous pulp digester. Both will remain in operation. Click Read More below for more of the story.