UPM Raflatac helps brands increase efficiency and hit sustainability goals with expanded OptiCut™ Linerless Label portfolio

Red Leaf Pulp Ltd., developer of a proprietary wheat straw-based pulp mill, announced the Company will locate its initial facility in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Company has secured properties on the west side of the City of Regina and will commence construction of the $350 Million facility in early 2022. The initial plant will have the capacity to produce approximately 182,000 tonnes of market pulp annually from waste wheat straw collected and aggregated from local producers. This represents a $350 Million direct investment in the local community and is expected to create 110 permanent full-time jobs, and 250 jobs during construction.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its April 2022 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments remained essentially flat (+0.3 percent) in April compared to April 2021. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased one percent when compared to March 2022. U.S. purchases of uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers in April increased one percent compared to last April while the inventory level increased one percent compared to March 2022. UFS imports increased 12 percent while exports decreased 26 percent in March 2022. Coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments increased five percent compared to April 2021 while the inventory level increased two percent compared to March 2022. CFS imports increased 16 percent while exports decreased ten percent in March 2022. U.S. purchases of coated mechanical (CM) papers in April decreased 21 percent compared to last April while the inventory level increased six percent compared to March 2022. CM imports and exports both decreased compared to March 2021, down 21 percent and nine percent respectively. Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 15 percent compared to April 2021 while the inventory level increased one percent compared to March 2022. UM imports increased 13 percent while exports remained essentially flat (-0.1 percent) in March 2022.

Total European shipments of graphic papers in October 2021 were down 3.1% vs. October 2020 and were UP 4.5% year-to-date. Total European shipments of newsprint in October 2021 were down 6.4% vs. October 2020 and were down 3.7% year-to-date. Total European shipments of sc-magazine in October 2021 were down 12.5% vs. October 2020 and were UP 0.7% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mechanical reels in October 2021 were down 7.6% vs. October 2020 and were UP 2.4% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated mechanical (improved & others) in October 2021 were down 77.2% vs. October 2020 and were UP 3.5% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in October 2021 were UP 13.2% vs. October 2020 and were UP 11.6% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in October 2021 were down 0.1% vs. October 2020 and were UP 11.2% year-to-date.