Metsä Group’s comparable operating result in the third quarter of 2020 better than expected

British Columbia-based Catalyst Paper Corp. projects that a $56 million investment in a tissue-making machine at its Rumford mill would support 62 full-time jobs. The Bangor Daily News reported that Catalyst has applied for a $25 million loan through the Finance Authority of Maine's Major Business Expansion and for $12.7 million in state tax credits or taxpayer cash through the state's New Markets Capital Investment program, to help finance the machine. Catalyst plans to put in $13.9 million of its own money into the project.

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 21 percent in September compared to September 2019. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased 20 percent in September compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased seven percent when compared to August 2020. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 19 percent compared to September 2019 while the inventory level decreased six percent compared to August 2020. UFS imports and exports both decreased compared to August 2019, down 18 percent and 40 percent respectively. U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in September decreased 12 percent compared to last September while the inventory level decreased 10 percent compared to August 2020. CFS imports and exports both decreased compared to August 2019, down 36 percent and 27 percent respectively. Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 31 percent compared to September 2019 while the inventory level increased two percent compared to August 2020. CM imports decreased 30 percent while exports increased five percent in August 2020. U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in September decreased 28 percent compared to last September while the inventory level decreased eight percent compared to August 2020. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to August 2019, down 15 percent and 44 percent respectively.

Total European shipments of graphic papers in June 2017 were UP 0.5% vs. June 2016 and are down 0.8% year-to-date. Total European shipments of newsprint in June 2017 were down 1.7% vs. June 2016 and are down 3.8% year-to-date. Total European shipments of sc-magazine in June 2017 were down 2.2% vs. June 2016 and are UP 2.2% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mechanical reels in June 2017 were UP 1.7% vs. June 2016 and are down 2.0% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mechanical (improved and others) in June 2017 were UP 0.6% vs. June 2016 and are UP 1.4% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in June 2017 were UP 5.7% vs. June 2016 and are UP 1.4% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in June 2017 were down 1.1% vs. June 2016 and are down 0.8% year-to-date.