NORPAC Restructures Paper Machines to Remain Competitive in Face of Canadian Subsidized Competition

Determined to stay competitive in the face of Canadian government-subsidized competition, the North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) announced today the reorganization of its operations. In October 2017, NORPAC will reduce its production capacity by idling one of its three paper machines and expanding the remaining capacity to serve customers.

“As we seek to level the playing field under U.S. trade laws to counteract the dumped and subsidized imports from Canada, NORPAC will become a nimbler, stronger supplier to our customers by reorganizing around our two remaining paper machines,” said Craig Anneberg, CEO of NORPAC. “Our company is constantly working to improve both our products and operations to remain competitive despite unfair import pricing and Canadian government-subsidized competition.”

“To keep our company competitive and protect our employees, NORPAC will use all the tools at its disposal under the U.S. trade law to address and counteract the dumped and subsidized imports from Canada,” said Anneberg.

The reorganization and expansion of capacity for its remaining paper machines follows NORPAC’s filing on August 9, 2017 of antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the U.S. government.  The antidumping and countervailing duty petitions allege that Canadian producers of certain types of uncoated groundwood paper (UGW Paper) receive countervailable government susidies and are also dumping their product in the United States Market. Canadian federal and provincial governments provide significant assistance to Canadian UGW producers, whose exports the the United States have caused injury to NORPAC and other U.S. producers.

“All of our employees have dedicated their careers to making NORPAC what it is today – one of the finest papermills in the world known for quality, service and innovation. The closure of a paper machine has been a very difficult decision for everyone involved,” added Anneberg. “We will do everything in our power to make sure our teams of employees have a level playing field to commpete in the future. As we move forward, we will engage our teams in transition planning, which will include transition resources for impacted NORPAC employees.”

NORPAC is one of only two remaining U.S.-owned groundwood paper companies, and is one of the largest employers in rural Southwest Washington. These are strong, family wage manufacturing jos that cannot be replaced in a rural community that faces some of the highest unemployment in the state. NORPAC produces a broad range of high-quality papers to customers across the United States and around the world.
Source: NORPAC Press Release

Related Posts

Paper Excellence announces restart date of Powell River machine (mypowellrivernow.com)

The company confirmed that it plans to restart Number 11 Paper Machine at Catalyst Powell River, on or around May 1st. Paper Excellence says this restart reflects the recent recovery in global paper markets and its “long-term commitment to the Powell River facility.” A total of 200 jobs will return with the startup of the paper machine. The machine was curtailed last spring after an external malware attack, and the COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously impacted the mill’s paper production as well as global paper demand.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Announces Positive Third Quarter Results On Higher Lumber Prices And Lower Costs

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights: *Third quarter income from continuing operations was $29 million, $43 million better than comparable quarter in 2019 *Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $55 million, up $19 million from comparable quarter in 2019 primarily driven by higher lumber prices, improved reliability in High Purity Cellulose operations and lower costs *Generated $34 million of Free Cash Flow through the third quarter driven by reduced capital expenditures and improved working capital *Improved liquidity of $196 million, excluding a $33 million cash tax refund expected in fourth quarter plus an additional $22 million expected over the next twelve months

Suzano Notice to the Market – Temporary Downtime in Aracruz

Suzano S.A. informs its shareholders and the public that, regarding the project “Partial retrofit of the pulp production plant located in Aracruz involving the replacement of parts in the recovery boiler and installation of a crystallization system”, as disclosed in the Material Fact notice dated December 19, 2019, the following is planned during its implementation phase in the fourth quarter of 2022: • Temporary downtime of the A line production for around 45 days due to interventions in the recovery boiler; • No adjustments to the Company’s original operating plan for 2022, which will ensure that clients’ needs are fully met without any changes to the commercial strategy. The project’s capital investments amount to R$298 million, of which R$188 million was already invested by July 2022, with the remaining amount considered in the capex estimate for the year disclosed by the Company on July 27, 2022.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search